What should i avoid during my pregnancy?

Question

i have just found out that i am pregnant. about 5 weeks. i know that i shoudnt drink alcohol or smoke which i dont anyways. what else is advised to be avoided. i know that the midwife will prob tell me all this info but i dont see her until 8-10 weeks. which is ages off!!! any advise is welcome. thanks in advance!1

Answer 1

Shell fish

nuts

and my minds gone blank i ll have a think and come back to u!!!

Answer 2

certain fish

Answer 3

To make a long story (otherwise know as "What to Expect when You're Expecting) short: don't eat sushi-the raw fish kind, veggie kind is okay, unless you are wary that the chefs don't wash their hands between handling types, which is certainly possible. Don't eat unpasteurized cheese, which you can find out by reading the labels. Most common are the soft types such as Brie and Bleu. Don't eat cold lunch meat, heat these until steaming or avoid altogether because they contain nitrates. Don't sit in a hot tub or excessively hot bath. Avoid caffeine, small amounts okay. Check with doctor before consuming any herbal remedies or OTC meds. Chamomile tea is okay, helps some with nausea/morning sickness. DO-get good nights sleep,eat lots of natural veggies, low fat proteins. Other than that, don't stress about the little stuff, you'll know if it is something major! Good luck!

Answer 4

no food water or douche

Answer 5

Avoid cheeses such as Camembert, Brie or chevre (a type of goats' cheese), or others that have a similar rind. You should also avoid soft blue cheeses.

These cheeses are made with mould and they can contain listeria, a type of bacteria that could harm your unborn baby.

Pâté

Avoid all types of pâté, including vegetable. This is because pate can contain listeria.

Raw or partially cooked eggs (inc mayonnaise as it's made from raw egg)

Raw or undercooked meat

This is especially important with poultry and products made from minced meat, such as sausages and burgers.

Liver products and supplements containing vitamin A

You need some vitamin A, but having too much means that levels could build up and may harm your unborn baby. Ask your GP or midwife if you want more information.

Some types of fish

You can eat most types of fish when you're pregnant. But there are a few types you should avoid and some others where you should limit the amount you eat.

But remember that eating fish is good for your health and the development of your baby, so you should still aim to eat at least two portions of fish a week, including one portion of oily fish.

Undercooked ready meals

Raw shellfish

This is because raw shellfish can sometimes contain harmful bacteria and viruses that could cause food poisoning.  

Answer 6

There seem to be a million things you cant eat/drink while pregnant, but the things that have affected me most have been refraining from sushi, lunch meat, tuna fish, big game fish, amount of peanuts, sweet n low, caffeine (tea, soda, chocolate) and soft cheeses (feta, etc). Good Luck

Answer 7

If you have a cat, STAY CLEAR of the litterbox!!! The germs you could pick up can cause birth-defects....

Answer 8

Avoid:

raw fish, unpasteurized milk and cheese, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, and shark

Limit caffeine and sugar

Answer 9

there are TONS of things you hve to avoid.

things i can think of right off the top of my head include....

all medications except for tylenol and tums

drugs (duh)

cat litter or cat f***s (their p**p has a certain bacteria that causes birth defects)

hot showers, spas, hotubs, heating pads ect ( you bascially have to take luke warm showers, anything hot can harm the baby)

caffiene

raw fish (some other types of cooked fish as well because of containing lead..cant think of the kind though)

chinese food ( because it contains MSG)

do not lift above 15-20 pounds

avoid exsessive exercise..light is fine but dont over do it

artifical sweetiner or anything containing it ( sports drinks, flavored water)

make sure to take your prenantal vitamins you can buy them at any pharmacy or walmart

also eat or drink loads of stuff with folic acid (orange juice, broccoli) or take a folic acid supplement (also available at walmart) folic acid is extremely important for your babies brain development..it you dont get enough it can risk damages.

thats all i can think of right now...basically just take it easy, eat well take care of yourself..the first 4 months are most important for babies development and growth..its also easy to miscarriage if you dont.

good luck and congrats!

Answer 10

don't eat anything raw (meat, fish or eggs-veggies are ok if they are washed first), don't consume more than 6-8 oz. of tuna in a week, don't eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tile-fish, don't take any medicine except for acetaminophen (Tylenol), limit your caffeine intake to 100 mg of caffeine or less per day, don't eat/drink unpasteurized dairy products or juices, and don't eat soft cheeses. I think that is about it. If you have more questions, call someone that you trust that has been pregnant recently. I would say your mom or grandma, but things have changed a lot when it comes to diet and pregnancy--even in the past 5-10 years. Be sure to keep crackers and a glass of water by your bed so that you can try to prevent morning sickness. It may still happen anyway, but I'd rather throw up crackers than bile. Good luck with everything and early congrats!!!! =)

Answer 11

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

Deli Meat: Deli meats have 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.

Liver: There is some concern about the amounts of vitamin A in liver. Large amounts of vitamin A have the potential to pose a risk to an unborn baby. The safest approach is to avoid eating liver.

Fish with Mercury: Fish that contain high levels of mercury should be avoided. These types of fish include: shark, swordfish, kink mackerel, fresh tuna, sea bass, and tilefish. Canned tuna is safe, but you should not eat more than 12 oz. in a week. Mercury consumed during pregnancy has been linked to developmental delays and brain damage.

Fish exposed to Industrial Pollutants: Avoid fish from contaminated lakes and rivers that may be exposed to high levels of polychlorinated biphyenyls. This is primarily for those who fish in local lakes and streams. These fish include: blue fish, 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.

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 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 Caesar dressings, mayonnaise, homemade ice cream or custards, and Hollandaise sauces may be made with raw eggs. Unpasteurized eggnog should also be avoided.

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. The soft cheeses to avoid include: brie, camembert, Roquefort, feta, gorgonzola and Mexican style cheeses that include queso blanco and queso fresco. 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 that you drink is pasteurized.

Pate: Pate should be avoided because it may contain the bacteria Listeria.

Caffeine: Although most studies show that caffeine intake in moderation is okay, 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 in later stages of your pregnancy, caffeine should be limited to fewer than 300 mg per day. 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 not to consume 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. Alcohol should continue to be avoided during breast feeding. Exposure to alcohol as 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 which the vegetables were grown in.

Herbal Remedies: Don't take anything without checking with your health care provider. Goldenseal, mugwort, and penny royal are all associated with uterine contractions and should be avoided.