Congratulations on your pregnancy mama! So exciting! First I want to give you a list of things you should not do during your first trimester of pregnancy. To ensure a healthy and safe pregnancy journey.
The baby grows fastest during the first trimester. By the end of the first trimester, the fetus can weigh about 0.5 to 1 ounce and measure an average of 3 to 4 inches in length.
The first trimester is also when pregnancy loss (miscarriage) can happen. This occurs in about 10% of pregnancies.
Because of the rapidly developing baby as well as the risk of miscarriage, during the first trimester women are advised to avoid a number of activities and foods.
- Avoid smoking and e-cigarettes
- A woman shouldn’t smoke at any time during her pregnancy so once a woman finds out she is pregnant she should talk to her doctor about ways to quit the habit
- Babies born to mothers who smoke are at increased risk for birth defects
- E-cigarettes are also not safe during pregnancy because the nicotine can damage a developing baby’s brain and lungs
- Avoid alcohol
- There is no amount of alcohol that is considered safe to drink during pregnancy
- Drinking during the first trimester can cause birth defects, lead to miscarriage and stillbirth, and cause behavioral and intellectual disabilities known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)
- Avoid raw or undercooked meat and eggs
- Raw or undercooked meat and eggs carry the risk of contracting listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, which can lead to serious and life-threatening illnesses, severe birth defects, and miscarriage
- Avoid raw sprouts
- These can contain E. coli and Salmonella
- Avoid certain seafood
- Mackerel and tilefish have a high mercury content
- Avoid unpasteurized dairy products and unpasteurized juices
- This includes soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, and goat cheese
- These may contain bacteria such as listeria
- Avoid processed meats such as hot dogs and deli meats
- These can also contain listeria
- They also contain nitrates and nitrites
- Avoid too much caffeine
- Some caffeine is ok: about 200 mg (2 cups of coffee)
- Caffeine can cross the placenta and affect a baby’s heart rate
- Avoid gaining too much weight
- Pregnant women do not have to “eat for two” during the first trimester (women usually need more calories during the second and third trimesters, but not necessarily during the first)
- Women who gain too much weight during pregnancy put their child at greater risk for obesity later in life
- Avoid saunas, hot tubs, whirlpools, and steam rooms
- These places put a pregnant woman at risk of overheating, dehydration, and fainting
- A significant rise in the mother’s core temperature could affect her baby’s development, especially during the first trimester
- Some research has found that the risk of miscarriage may double if a pregnant woman uses one of these during the first trimester
- Avoid massage and acupuncture
- These therapies are generally safe during pregnancy but a pregnant woman’s abdomen should not be massaged during the first trimester
- Acupuncture as well is generally safe during pregnancy, but certain acupuncture points should be avoided
- Women seeking acupuncture should make sure the acupuncturist is trained in treating pregnant women
- Avoid cleaning the cat’s litter box
- A parasite found in feline waste called Toxoplasma gondii can cause miscarriage or stillbirth, or serious problems in babies born with the parasite
- Avoid certain cleaning products
- Check the labels of cleaning products to make sure there are no warnings for pregnant women
- Some mothballs and toilet fresheners have a chemical called naphthalene that can damage blood cells
- Avoid fake tans
- These are generally safe for use during pregnancy, but they can cause an allergic reaction
- Hormone levels during pregnancy make the skin more sensitive and can make a woman more prone to allergic reactions
- Do not use tanning pills or tanning injections
