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First off, congratulations on your pregnancy. Naturally, we all know that pregnancy entails a list of dos and don’ts. While some of us are familiar with a few of them such as no alcohol, smoking, and amusement parks, there are a few other things you’ve probably not heard of that can’t do while pregnant. Curious to know what they are? Read on to know about the 8 things you can’t do during your pregnancy.
1. Eating Raw Or Uncooked Eggs
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Raw eggs carry the risk of a bacteria called salmonella. Hence it is recommended that pregnant women do not eat any food item that has raw eggs. This includes unbaked cake dough, mayonnaise, homemade Caesar salad dressing, and Hollandaise sauce among other things (1).
2. Drinking Too Much Caffeine
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Sure, we all need a little caffeine boost in the morning to help us power through the day. And if you are somebody who has the habit of drinking tea or coffee every day, it might be even harder to go cold turkey on caffeine. Experts suggest that you have to limit your caffeine intake to 300 milligrams per day as anything above this can have detrimental effects on your baby and pregnancy (2).
3. Relaxing In A Hot Tub Or Sauna
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Relaxing in hot water might seem like the ideal solution to ease any pregnancy discomfort that you may experience. But here’s why you shouldn’t do it. Hot tubs are known to increase your body temperature to abnormally high levels or cause hypothermia. This can lead to congenital abnormalities. You may also want to steer clear of other activities such as pilates, hot yoga, and sunbathing for long as it can cause your body temperature to spike (3).
4. Cleaning The Litter Box
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Changing litter boxes puts pregnant women at risk of toxoplasmosis which can be present in cat poop or cat litter. Although very rare, the infection can pass onto the fetus from the mother and cause severe defects such as eye damage, blindness, brain damage, and intellectual disabilities (4).
5. Eating Fish That Contain High Mercury Levels
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Now that you are pregnant, you would be more likely to eat all kinds of fish to ensure that your body gets enough omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and proteins during pregnancy. However, it’s best to avoid consuming fish with high levels of mercury content in them as methylmercury is a neurotoxin that can damage your nervous system. Fishes with high mercury content include swordfish, shark, and king mackerel (5).
6. Eating Raw Fish Or Meat
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This might come as a shock to all sushi lovers out there. But if you are pregnant, it’s best to avoid anything with raw meat or fish as they carry the risk of foodborne illnesses which can cause fever, dehydration, and intrauterine sepsis which can be fatal to the unborn baby (6). So experts recommend waiting until after your pregnancy before you gobble down raw oysters and sushi.
7. Taking Certain Medications
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Whether it’s a mild fever or cold, we often rely on over-the-counter (OTC) medications. But most OTC medications and prescription drugs have proved to be unsafe during pregnancy and can potentially harm the fetus (7). Hence it is always best to consult with your doctor and discuss its safety rather than self-medication.
8. Sleeping On Your Back
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If you are a back sleeper, then you may want to switch this position as it causes potential health risks to your baby. As you approach the second trimester of pregnancy, sleeping on your back will cause less blood flow to your heart, and subsequently to your baby. Doctors generally recommend pregnant women to sleep on their left side for increased blood flow (8).
We understand that sleep may not come easy during the later months of pregnancy and you may find yourself twisting and turning in bed. If you are finding it hard to sleep on your side, you can also try using a pregnancy pillow for comfy sleep.
Though you might be disappointed to learn about some of these restrictions that follow pregnancy, remember that these are just a few things to keep in mind for a safe and healthy journey. If you have any concerns or doubts regarding pregnancy, feel free to contact your healthcare provider.
