November 4th, 2009 by admin

You are told so many different things when you?re pregnant and have a huge set of guidelines. There are however some things that are absolutely off limits during pregnancy. It?s important to do your part to avoid these for the safety of your unborn child and your pregnancy overall.

1. Smoking: Think of it this way, the umbilical cord that binds you and the baby is a one way filter from you to the little one. Everything you ingest goes straight to them through this cord and therefore you are offering up the smoke and the nicotine to the baby with each puff you take. Smoking can result in a low birth weight baby or increase the likelihood of other conditions such as asthma. If you smoke, quit during pregnancy?it?s just that simple!

2. Drinking Alcohol: Though many will argue that a sip of alcohol here and there won?t hurt the baby, it can have detrimental effects. Why take the chance? If you?re pregnant, avoid alcoholic drinks until after the baby is born. Drinking alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome or may contribute to certain health conditions or problems with the baby. It?s just not worth taking the chance, so refrain from drinking once you find out you?re pregnant.

3. Lifting Heavy Items: This can put strain on your body and this can in turn hurt the baby. In extreme cases, lifting items that are far too heavy for you can even cause the placenta to disconnect or other similar types of problems during pregnancy. Ask for help whenever possible, and do your part to avoid lifting heavy items at all costs.

4. Getting X-Rays: The radiation that x-rays give off can hurt the baby during pregnancy and even years later in their life. There are new studies all the time about the potential for miscarriage early on or the potential for cancer later on in the baby?s life. If you are pregnant, be sure that all medical professionals are aware of it and avoid getting x-rays.

5. Clean the Cat?s Litter Box: You?ve heard it before, but perhaps you never knew just why you need to avoid cleaning out the cat?s litter box. Kitty litter contains high levels of toxoplasmosis, and this causes birth defects. It?s a simple thing to avoid, so give the job to somebody else.

6. Taking Unauthorized Medications: There are many medications that can pose a potential threat to your unborn child, so make it simple and stick only with those that your current doctor has prescribed. Avoid any over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen that are off limits, and by all means don?t take any illegal drugs. Though the temporary relief may seem worth it, the harm to your unborn child won?t be in the long run.

7. Jumping in a Hot Tub: Though these may help to relax you, hot tubs or even saunas can increase your body temperature to an unhealthy level. Therefore do your part to avoid them as they may hurt your unborn child if your temperature rises to a certain level.

You want to do your part to take the best possible care of your baby and yourself during pregnancy. If you avoid the items on this list and focus on the things that are good for you, you can ensure that you will enjoy a healthy pregnancy and deliver a healthy and happy baby.

M. Frederick blogs about how to choose among online ultrasound technician schools.