Question:
Pregnancy, what to avoid?
shorty08
2008-05-27 16:28:58 UTC
I recently found out i might be pregnant, i have missed my last period, my mom found out but she's always busy and she said she would take me to the doctor when she gets the chance. im not sure when is going to be.. I want to know in the mean while what am i sopose to take care of or what should i avoid for example: type of foods... of watever you can help me with this is my first baby and i dont know what to do in the mean while until i go check with the doctor and she wont tell me because im guessing she feels akward cuz im her oldest daughter & the first one to come up with this situation... i dont know help please.. any advice will help :) thanks
Six answers:
Lucky Lady
2008-05-27 16:42:42 UTC
Well, the obvious 1st. No drinking, smoking, or drugs. No raw meats, raw fish, or fish high in mercury. Do not take any medication except for Tylenol. Avoid being around chemicals. Don't go to the tanning bed or sit out in the sun for long periods of time. I don't think it's good to dye your hair in the first trimester. Start taking over the counter prenatal vitamins now. Avoid alot of caffeine. (soda, coffee) Only drink two 8 ounce glasses of caffeinated beverages a day, if you fell the need to. No energy drinks. There's more you can look up. Good luck to you and have a healthy pregnancy!
~b
2008-05-27 23:41:58 UTC
obviously, you want to quit smoking and drinking alcohol or any other drugs. Caffiene is okay in small amounts ( one soda a day for example). Have tuna fish once a week, but avoid sea food like shrimp.



If you have pain, tylenol is safe to take. NO ASPRIN OR IBUPROFIN.



Drink LOTS of water because you will need the extra fluids. If you can go to the library and check out "What to expect when you're expecting." Or wal-mart sells it for about $15. This book will tell you everything, on a week by week basis about your pregnancy.



Get to the doctor, with our without your mom. I'm sorry she's so "busy." This will be an exciting time for you, and be sure to have the father involved. I am around lots of children both professionaly and personally, and the best, happiest kids, are those who have mom and dad married and in the home as a family. Might be time to consider that



God Bless, and happy motherhood to you!
♥My3kids
2008-05-27 23:36:39 UTC
You can buy a home pregnancy test at any drug/grocery store. They are very accurate once you've missed your period.



Avoid



Drugs (even over the counter drugs, your doctor can give you a list of safe medicines. Tylenol is ok.)

Alcohol

Caffeine (a little is okay later in pregnancy)

Fish/Seafood that contains mercury

Lunchmeat (unless microwaved)

Unpasturized milk/cheese

Cigaretts and Cigarette smoke



Don't change the cat litter box, if you have cats



Good Luck!
Ashley
2008-05-27 23:35:40 UTC
there are tons of stuff to avoid it's actually a huge pain in the rear. No raw foods, soft serve ice cream, cold cut lunch meats, sushi, fish with high mercury levels, if you eat fast food say like chicken make sure it's PIPING hot if not you need to throw it in the microwave to make sure the bacteria is dead.



There are a ton of things babygaga.com and babycenter.com are good sites to start researching they have tons of articles you can read from.
Doll
2008-05-27 23:36:11 UTC
Eat healthy food, drink alots of water....

Dont lift heavy things..

Did you missed your periods? if you did, wait two weeks after you missed your periods then take a pregnancy test....
2008-05-28 00:14:12 UTC
Here is a list of foods to avoid from the Americanpregnancy.org (link below).



Eating well balanced meals is important at all times, but it is even more essential when you are pregnant. There are essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that your developing baby needs. Most foods are safe; however, there are some foods that you should avoid during pregnancy.

What are the foods I should avoid during pregnancy?



Raw Meat: Uncooked seafood and rare or undercooked beef or poultry should be avoided because of the risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella.



Deli Meat: Deli meats have been known to be contaminated with listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which may be life-threatening. If you are pregnant and you are considering eating deli meats, make certain that you reheat the meat until it is steaming.



Fish with Mercury: Fish that contain high levels of mercury should be avoided. Mercury consumed during pregnancy has been linked to developmental delays and brain damage. A sample of these types of fish include: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. Canned, chunk light tuna generally has a lower amount of mercury than other tuna, but still should only be eaten in moderation. Certain types of fish used in sushi should also be avoided due to high levels of mercury. Please see Mercury in Fish for specific types of fish and further information on how to calculate mercury levels.



Smoked Seafood -Refrigerated, smoked seafood often labeled as lox, nova style, kippered, or jerky should be avoided because it could be contaminated with Listeria. (These are safe to eat when they are in an ingredient in a meal that has been cooked, like a casserole.) This type of fish is often found in the deli section of your grocery store. Canned or shelf-safe smoked seafood is usually OK to eat.



Fish Exposed to Industrial Pollutants: Avoid fish from contaminated lakes and rivers that may be exposed to high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls. This is primarily for those who fish in local lakes and streams. These fish include: bluefish, striped bass, salmon, pike, trout, and walleye. Contact the local health department or Environmental Protection Agency to determine which fish are safe to eat in your area. Remember, this is regarding fish caught in local waters and not fish from your local grocery store.



Your purchase supports the APA



Raw Shellfish: The majority of seafood-borne illness is caused by undercooked shellfish, which include oysters, clams, and mussels. Cooking helps prevent some types of infection, but it does not prevent the algae-related infections that are associated with red tides. Raw shellfish pose a concern for everybody, and they should be avoided altogether during pregnancy.



Raw Eggs: Raw eggs or any foods that contain raw eggs should be avoided because of the potential exposure to salmonella. Some homemade Caesar dressings, mayonnaise, homemade ice cream or custards, and Hollandaise sauces may be made with raw eggs.



If the recipe is cooked at some point, this will reduce the exposure to salmonella. Commercially manufactured ice cream, dressings, and eggnog are made with pasteurized eggs and do not increase the risk of salmonella. Restaurants should be using pasteurized eggs in any recipe that is made with raw eggs, such as Hollandaise sauce or dressings.



Soft Cheeses: Imported soft cheeses may contain bacteria called Listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which can be life-threatening. You would need to avoid soft cheeses such as: Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, Feta, Gorgonzola and Mexican style cheeses that include queso blanco and queso fresco, unless they clearly state that they are made from pasteurized milk. All soft non-imported cheeses made with pasteurized milk are safe to eat.



Unpasteurized Milk: Unpasteurized milk may contain bacteria called listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which can be life-threatening. Make sure that any milk you drink is pasteurized.



Pate: Refrigerated pate or meat spreads should be avoided because they may contain the bacteria listeria. Canned pate, or shelf-safe meat spreads can be eaten.



Caffeine: Although most studies show that caffeine intake in moderation is OK, there are others that show that caffeine intake may be related to miscarriages. Avoid caffeine during the first trimester to reduce the likelihood of a miscarriage. As a general rule, caffeine should be limited to fewer than 300 mg per day during pregnancy. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it helps eliminate fluids from the body. This can result in water and calcium loss. It is important that you are drinking plenty of water, juice, and milk rather than caffeinated beverages. Some research shows that large amounts of caffeine are associated with miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and withdrawal symptoms in infants. The safest thing is to refrain from consuming caffeine.



Alcohol: There is NO amount of alcohol that is known to be safe during pregnancy, and therefore alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can interfere with the healthy development of the baby. Depending on the amount, timing, and pattern of use, alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or other developmental disorders. If you consumed alcohol before you knew you were pregnant, stop drinking now. You should continue to avoid alcohol during breastfeeding. Exposure of alcohol to an infant poses harmful risks, and alcohol does reach the baby during breastfeeding.



Unwashed Vegetables: Yes, vegetables are safe to eat, so you still need to eat them. However, it is essential to make sure they are washed to avoid potential exposure to toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis may contaminate the soil where the vegetables were grown.





Below is a list of exercises to avoid (link below)



Exercises Which You Should Avoid During Your Pregnancy



Exercises to avoidDuring the course of your pregnancy, for safety reasons for both you and your baby, there are a number of different exercises and activities you should avoid. Some of these include the following:



Water skiing

Horseback riding

Snow boarding, downhill skiing and surfing



As your pregnancy develops and progresses avoid any activity which may have a high risk for falling. That will include activities such as:



Tennis

Bicycling

Scuba and other "pressurized" sports

Cross waterslides

Most amusement park rides



I guess as a general rule of thumb, it is probably best that you try and avoid any competitive sports or activities which you are not conditioned for. It is really common sense, if you weren't a runner before you got pregnant, then I would have to say that now is not the time to start jogging 5 miles a day.



A good idea is simply to take it slowly and pay it safe. Also stick to low-impact activities, such as walking or swimming for overall fitness during pregnancy. And then even if you were very active before falling pregnant, or if you are at risk for preterm labor or intrauterine growth restriction, you should definitely cut down on your level of physical activity in your second and third trimesters.



Remember that your pregnancy will change your center of gravity and this tends to make you less coordinated, less stable and more likely to fall, even if you are doing activities you're usually accustomed to doing. Even if there's only a small risk of falling, the consequences of falling off a bike in your third trimester, can be disastrous.



That said, most experts acknowledge that the risk for these activities depends on how fit you are, how far along in your pregnancy you are and how hard you're playing. Always follow your own practitioner's advice on these matters





Herbs to completely avoid during pregnancy:



Herb Reason to avoid

Aloe Vera The leaves are strongly purgative and should not be taken internally.

Arbor vitae (Thuja occidentalis) A uterine and menstrual stimulant that could damage the fetus.

Autumn crocus (Colichicum autumnale) Can affect cell division and lead to birth defects.

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) Contains high levels of berberine, known to stimulate uterine contractions.

Basil oil A uterine stimulant; use only during labour.

Beth root (Trillium erectum) A uterine stimulant; use only during labour.

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosus) May lead to premature contractions; avoid unless under professional guidance. Safe to use during childbirth.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) A uterine stimulant that in quite small doses also causes vomiting.

Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) A uterine stimulant to avoid unless under professional guidance. Safe to use during childbirth.

Broom (Cytisus scoparius) Causes uterine contractions so should be avoided during pregnancy; in parts of Europe it is given after the birth to prevent blood loss.

Bugleweed (Lycopus virginicus) Interferes with hormone production in the pituitary gland, so best avoided.

Clove oil A uterine stimulant used only during labour.

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) Contains toxic chemicals that will cross the placenta; do not take internally.

Cotton root (Gossypium herbaceum) Uterine stimulant traditionally given to encourage contractions during a difficult labour, but rarely used medicinally today.

Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) Uterine stimulant, oxytocic.

Dong quai (Angelica polymorpha var. sinensis) Uterine and menstrual stimulant, best avoided during pregnancy; ideal after childbirth.

False unicorn root (Chamaeliri


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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