Top 4 Unhealthy Things to Avoid during Pregnancy

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding harmful habits is definitely one of the most crucial things we all know should take seriously. For a mom-to-be, however, it is much more important to stay away from unhealthy habits, even if she finds it very hard. A pregnant woman’s health and habits play an important role in determining the entire well-being of the baby. Many of the bad habits during pregnancy may cause harm to the unborn baby, resulting in growth and development issues, brain damage and diseases. In this blog, we discuss some of the things to avoid during pregnancy and explain why they can be problematic. 

Things To Avoid During Pregnancy

A healthy lifestyle along with good habits produces a healthy baby. So, when it comes to bad habits that you should kick after learning you are pregnant, listed below are some of the common ones that are the hardest to break

1. Smoking

It is widely known that smoking is harmful to your general health, but sucking on a cigarette when you are pregnant can cause a lot of complications to you and your unborn child. Research says female smokers do not conceive effectively as non-smokers. A cigarette contains carbon monoxide, tar and nicotine. These noxious chemical substances can adversely affect the growth and lungs of your embryo. Also, smoking during or post-pregnancy has been shown to increase the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). That’s why when it comes to pregnancy and smoking, the wisest option is to kick off the habit. To quit this unhealthy habit, enrol in local smoking cessation programs or try nicotine gums.

2. Excessive Caffeine Intake

It’s okay to be a coffee lover but you have to forget about your favorite drink during pregnancy or when you are planning a pregnancy. Consumption of too much caffeine during pregnancy is unwise for you and your baby. According to studies, drinking more than two cups of coffee or consuming other sources of caffeine during the day may contribute be to fertility issues and increase the risk of miscarriage. Instead switch to regular or herbal tea and forget about coffee.

3. Eating Junk Food

Yes, junk food is one the unhealthiest things to avoid during pregnancy. Eating a well-balanced diet with several essential nutrients is vital for the healthy growth and development of your baby. Many people love junk food but it is important to keep this food aside when you are pregnant. The simple reason is junk foods especially fast food contain a lot of unhealthy fat and sodium which are not good for your baby as they can add extra weight to you and your developing baby leading to a complicated delivery. Furthermore, high sugar and a high-fat diet may affect the food preferences of the unborn baby. To avoid such issues, forget about unhealthy junk food and stick to a healthy, well-balanced diet.

4. Irregular Bedtime Schedule

Getting a good amount of sleep is essential for individual health and wellbeing, but it becomes even more significant during pregnancy. When you are pregnant you will have a difficult time finding a comfortable sleeping position that helps you get enough rest. Irregular sleeping patterns during pregnancy has been shown to negatively affect an expectant women’s health. Pregnant women should get 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. Experts recommend that an expectant woman should sleep on the left side to improve blood flow.

Concluding Remark

So, these were a few things that should be avoided during pregnancy. The sooner you quit these habits, the better it will be for you and your little one. Adopting healthy habits can help keep a pregnant mother and her unborn baby healthy and safe, leading to easier labour and child-birth.