One of the most exciting times in your life is finally arriving! You’re pregnant with a little one, your family is growing, but so are your questions. This is a common occurrence for pregnant mamas, myself included when I was pregnant. There’s a lot to think about. One of the most popular questions is what things to avoid during early pregnancy. It’s important to find out what is safe for you and your baby, so as an Akron OH newborn photographer, I made a list of the top five things not to do during early pregnancy
Things to Avoid During Early Pregnancy
- Skipping Meals
Although it may seem bazar, there are actually a lot of women who skip meals in early pregnancy due to the morning sickness. This can be dangerous for both mother and child. Reasong being it can lead to low blood sugar levels (which can lead to anemia), gestational diabetes, and other problems. Additionally, skipping meals increases the risk of having an underweight baby (especially if you are having twins). Eating nutritious foods throughout the day will help keep your blood sugar levels stable. You just have to find the best foods for you and this will vary!
- Massage and acupuncture
Another not-often-thought-of things to avoid during early pregnancy is massage/acupuncture. Massage and acupuncture are great ways to feel like you’re taking care of yourself. During early pregnancy though, your body is already fighting an uphill battle. Whereas prenatal massage is wonderful for later in pregnancy, in the beginning it should be avoided. Right now your body is going through a lot all on its own. It needs time to focus on the beginning stages of this development. The first few months are often the most intense as your body is learning how to regulate itself in a new way. Many doctors, for this reason, recommend skipping massage until later in the pregnancy and avoiding acupuncture altogether.
- Sauna:
Saunas are a fun way to sweat out toxins, but they’re also an energy-sapping experience when you’re pregnant. They can also increase blood pressure levels in some women (which can lead to heart problems later on). Neither of which are good for your baby. Cleveland pediatricians recommend skipping saunas (and avoiding overly-hot, hot tubs or showers) until after your little one is born. Everything you do now effects your little one so keep that in mind!
- Avoid too much caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant, which can make you feel more awake and alert. However, it also increases your heart rate and can make it difficult for your to sleep. This is why caffeine has made it to number three on my list of things to avoid during early pregnancy. During early pregnancy, the body needs to produce a lot of hormones to get the body ready for birth and breastfeeding. If you are consuming a lot of caffeine, it can interfere with this process by raising cortisol levels. This can lead to cravings for junk food and low energy levels. Caffeine also makes it tough to sleep in some people. Right now, sleep is vital to the health of not only your baby, but your own body.
- Raw or undercooked meat and eggs
Raw meat can contain pathogens that are harmful to babies (like salmonella). This also applies to raw fish like sushi. Eggs can also contain pathogenic bacteria, but they’re much more common in our diet than raw meat is. However, it’s still important to remember that if you’re eating eggs frequently during this time, they should be overcooked to ensure to harmful contamination.
Final Thoughts on Things to Avoid During Early Pregnancy
I hope that this list of things to avoid during early pregnancy has been helpful. I know that there are a lot of things that can go wrong and it can be hard to know what’s safe or not. However, with the right knowledge, you’ll be able to make the best decisions for your body and baby! Stay healthy, be safe, and don’t forget to book your newborn photoshoot with me as your Akron OH newborn photographer!
