While there are plenty of things you should do to help make sure you have a smooth pregnancy and give birth to a beautiful, healthy baby, there might be even more things that you shouldn’t do to make sure everything goes well. Here are a few tips of things and products to avoid while you’re pregnant.

1.) Do Not Smoke or Be Around Others Who Do. This is such a well-known hazard that most people are extremely familiar with it. Not only is it harmful to the mother, but the potential effects it could have on the baby as well could be profound. Second hand smoke is just as important as first hand. You want to avoid others who do smoke as well. First and second hand smoke are known to cause premature births, birth defects, and even infant deaths.

2.) Do Not Drink Alcohol. Alcohol is very harmful to your baby, just like cigarettes and smoking are. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, FAS, is the most serious result of a woman drinking during pregnancy. Depending on the frequency and dosage, FAS is linked to severe mental retardation and other physical and mental abnormalities.

3.) Do Not Consume Over the Counter Medications. Unless your doctor recommends that you are able to, do not take any prescription drugs when you are pregnant. Drugs that you may take when you are not pregnant could be devastating to a fetus if taken during pregnancy

4.) Try To Avoid Exposure to Pesticides. Pesticides can have all types of different effects on your unborn baby because there are many different types of chemicals. The length of time and amount of exposure to these chemicals will increase the potential effects on your baby. Since pesticides are widely used throughout the United States in many products, such as dog and flea collars, bug spray, and even various food sources, it is impossible to avoid them completely; but try to minimize contact with pesticides.

* Below is a short hand list of things to avoid while pregnant

1.) Avoid Hot Dogs

2.) Avoid Caffeine

3.) Avoid Contact with Reptiles

4.) Avoid Tick Bites

5.) Avoid Junk Food

6.) Avoid X-Rays

7.) Avoid Microwaves

8.) Avoid Electric Blankets

9.) Avoid Water Beds

10.) Avoid Tap Water

11.) Avoid Hot Tubs

12.) Avoid Saunas

13.) Avoid Undercooked or Uncooked Meat and Fish

14.) Avoid Heavy Lifting

15.) Avoid Aerosol

Return to “Having My Baby” home page