Pregnancy Dos and Don'ts

Provided by The National Women’s Health Information Center

Eat this. Don't eat that. Do this. Don't do that. Pregnant women are bombarded with Dos and Don'ts. It's tough to keep it all straight. Here's help.

Pregnancy Dos

Follow these helpful hints for a healthy pregnancy.

• Get all essential vitamins and minerals every day. Women need a lot more iron when pregnant. And sometimes it's hard to get enough by eating alone. Ask your doctor if you should be taking a daily prenatal vitamin or multivitamin.
• Get 400 micrograms (or 0.4 mg) of folic acid daily. Getting enough folic acid (or folate) reduces the chances of some birth defects. Some women eat lots of certain foods and others take multivitamins to get enough folic acid during pregnancy.
• Eat a healthy diet. Load up on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (such as whole-wheat breads or crackers). Eat plenty of calcium-rich foods (such as non-fat or low-fat yogurt, milk, and broccoli) that your baby needs for strong bones and teeth. If you live in areas where fruits and vegetables aren't in season, frozen vegetables are a good option. Avoid eating a lot of fatty foods (such as butter and fatty meats). Choose leaner foods when you can (such as skim milk, chicken and turkey without the skin, and fish).
• Gain a healthy, not excessive amount of weight. Research shows that women who gain more than the recommended amount during pregnancy have an elevated risk of obesity. On average, 25 to 30 pounds is a healthy weight gain over the 40 weeks of pregnancy. Check with your doctor to find out how much weight you should gain during pregnancy.
• Get enough sleep (try to get seven to nine hours every night). Aches, pains, anxiety and bathroom runs keep many pregnant women awake at night. To get some zzzzs, eat any large meals at least three hours before going to bed, get some easy exercise (like walking) and avoid long naps during the day. Sleep on your left side and use pillows between your legs and under your belly to help you get comfortable.
• De-stress. If you can, control the stress in your life. When it comes to work and family, figure out what you can really do. Set limits with yourself and others. Don't be afraid to say NO to requests for your time and energy.
• Get Moving! Getting regular, low-impact exercise is good for you and your baby. Talk to your doctor about what is safe.
• Get a handle on health problems. Talk to your doctor about how your health problems can affect you and your baby. If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar levels. If you have high blood pressure, monitor it closely. If you are overweight, talk to your doctor about whether you should lose weight.
• Ask your doctor before taking any medication. Prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medicine can all harm your baby. Find out if should continue taking prescription medicines.
• See your doctor regularly. Prenatal care can help keep you and your baby healthy, spot problems if they occur and prevent difficulties during delivery.
• Consider getting a flu shot. The flu can be dangerous for some moms-to-be. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests vaccinations for all women who are at least 14 weeks pregnant during the flu season. Ask your doctor if you should get a flu shot.
• Wear your seat-belt correctly. Seat belts used correctly protect you and your unborn baby in a car crash. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that pregnant women use seat belts that have a lap belt and a shoulder strap (3-point restraint). Seat belt straps should never go across your belly. The lap strap should go under the belly, across the hips. The shoulder strap should go off to the side of your belly and between your breasts. If you are not driving, the back seat is the safest place to sit.
• Ease the aches and pains. Don't just accept discomfort as a necessary part of pregnancy. Hemorrhoids, heartburn, and leg cramps can all be helped.

Pregnancy Don'ts

Steer clear of these pregnancy no-no’s to help keep you and your baby safe and healthy.

• Don't eat fish with lots of mercury.
• Don't disregard food-borne illness. Eat, cook, handle and clean food safely! For both mother and baby, food-borne illness can cause serious health problems — or even death.
• Don't use chemicals. Products including herbicides, pesticides, paint, stains, and some cleaning solutions may be harmful to your baby. If you must use these things, wear gloves, a mask, and keep the room well-ventilated.
• Don't clean or change a cat's litter box. This could put you at risk for an infection called toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite that cats can carry in their feces. Toxoplasmosis can harm a fetus.
• Don't take very hot baths or use hot tubs or saunas. High temperatures can be harmful to the fetus, or cause you to faint.
• Don't use scented feminine hygiene products. Pregnant women should avoid scented sprays, sanitary napkins, and bubble bath. These products might irritate your vaginal area, and increase your risk of a urinary tract infection or yeast infection.
• Don't douche. Douching can irritate the vagina, force air into the birth canal and increase the increase the risk of infection.
• Don't have optional x-rays. X-rays are a form of radiation that is linked to a very small risk of cancer for an unborn baby. But x-rays are usually safe during pregnancy. If your doctor says you need x-rays for a health problem you should follow her advice, but sometimes doctors can use other tests in place of x-rays and other times, x-rays can wait until after the baby is born.
• Don't smoke tobacco. Tell your doctor if you smoke. Quitting is hard, but you can do it. Ask your doctor for help. Smoking during pregnancy passes nicotine and cancer-causing drugs to your baby. Smoke also keeps your baby from getting needed nourishment and raises the risk of stillbirth and premature birth (a small baby born too early).
• Don't drink alcohol. Stop drinking alcohol if you drink it regularly. Experts are still unsure of the exact amount of alcohol needed to cause problems in your baby, but, both drinking every day and drinking a lot of alcohol once in a while during pregnancy can harm the baby.
• Don't use illegal drugs. Tell your doctor if you are using drugs. Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, speed (amphetamines), barbiturates, and LSD are very dangerous for you and your baby.