Essential Precaution Tips to be taken during pregnancy

Avoid certain types of food

Certain types of food have a high risk of carrying infections and ingredients that could harm you and your baby.

• • For example, shellfish like clams, oysters and mussels and food that contains raw seafood such as sushi can be contaminated with toxoplasmosis or salmonella.

• • Meat is a good source of protein, but whatever poultry or red meat you consume must always be properly cooked and eaten while it’s hot.

• • Avoid Deli meat, unpasteurized milk and dairy products made from unpasteurized milk as they may contain bacteria that can cause an in-utero infection.

• • Fish with high mercury levels such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish should also be avoided.

• • Lastly, raw eggs and dishes that contain raw eggs such as homemade mayonnaise and Hollandaise sauce might contain salmonella and should not be included in your diet.

Cut down on caffeine

For many women, giving up their morning cup of coffee is the biggest challenge, but it is necessary for the safety of your baby.

• • Caffeine is a stimulant that can cross over to the placenta. This might affect the growing baby’s metabolism.

• • Caffeine is also a diuretic. This can not only increase the number of trips you take to the bathroom and make you feel dehydrated, but also increase your blood pressure and heart rate.

• • The important thing to remember is that caffeine is present not just in tea and coffee but also in chocolates, carbonated drinks and sodas.

Keep your distance from kitty litter

If you have a cat at home, you probably need to change the cat’s litter every week or the house will start smelling.

• • Cat excreta can carry bacteria responsible for a rare parasitic disease called toxoplasmosis. Though it is a rare condition, it can be harmful for pregnant women and the foetus.

• • In extreme cases, it can result in a miscarriage or stillbirth.

• • Hence, it is best to get someone else to take responsibility for changing cat litter.

• • If you must do it on your own, wear a clean pair of gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after emptying the litter box.

Don’t eat for two

A certain amount of weight gain is normal during pregnancy, but if you don’t take care of what you eat, this weight gain can be unhealthy as well.

• • Not only is excess weight harmful for the to-be-mother, babies born to obese mothers may have a higher risk of obesity at a later stage in life.

• • What you need to do is eat a healthy, well-balanced meal that satiates your hunger and meets your calorific needs.

• • Balance this with moderate exercise. While you may be advised by doctors not to start lifting weights, you can go for walks, practise yoga and find other ways to stay active.

Don’t ignore tiredness

As your body gets used to changing hormone levels and supports the growing baby,you will begin to feel more tired. Simple tasks and everyday chores can make you feel quite exhausted by the end of the day.

• • Don’t take this as a sign of weakness and try to push yourself to do more.Put your feet up. Give your body the rest it needs.

• • Take a nap whenever you can and set a sleep schedule that gives you 8-9 hours of continuous sleep at night. This may be difficult if you’re used to late nights. So, dim the lights, close all the curtains, play some soft music and switch off all devices.

• • Remember, once the baby arrives, getting sleep may be much harder, so make the most of what you can get while you’re pregnant.

Every pregnancy is unique, but these simple precautions should help reduce the risk of complications. Visit your doctor regularly and follow all the medical advice given. If you find yourself in a situation where the advice given by your family and the doctor is contradictory, you should be able to speak to the doctor freely about it and reach an informed decision. And, if you’re ever in doubt, trust in what the doctor says.