What Not to Do During Your Pregnancy

During your pregnancy your doctor will discuss all of the right things to do like get prenatal exams, take prenatal vitamins, engage in moderate exercise, and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, but don't forget that it's just as important to avoid certain behaviors during pregnancy as well. After all, what you do now affects your baby's future. Avoiding the list of no-no's listed below, will greatly increase your chances of having a healthy baby.

Smoke

According to WebMD, smoking during pregnancy can increase the likelihood of a baby being born with an abnormal amount of fingers and toes. Missing fingers, extra toes, and webbed feet have all been linked to pregnant women who smoked throughout their pregnancy.

Women who smoke while pregnant also carry an increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth. There is also a risk of having a baby who is born with a low birth weight and undeveloped lungs. So do yourself and your baby a favor, and avoid the cigarettes.

Drink Alcohol

Dr. Keith Eddleman, Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, suggests expectant mothers not drink alcohol but also admits that one drink - whether it be a glass of wine or a bottle of beer - will not cause significant birth defects.

However, a large consumption of alcohol can cause a condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome that can result in mental, physical and behavioral problems. So the bottom line is this: if you have a strawberry daiquiri while on vacation, don't fret; but if you're consuming whisky every day, your baby will have a strong chance of being born with a birth defect.

Eat Unpasteurized Foods

You might love feta cheese but you should avoid unpasteurized soft cheeses at all costs during your pregnancy. The Mayo Clinic warns pregnant women that consuming anything with unpasteurized milk in it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth due to a dangerous bacterium called Listeria monocytogenes. During the pasteurization process, the listeria is killed off so be safe and only eat pasteurized food.

Some other foods that contain listeria are raw eggs, Caesar salad dressing, and raw or undercooked fish (e.g. sushi), meat and shellfish.

Eat Heavy Metals

No, I'm not talking about the heavy metal group, Iron Maiden, I'm referring to mercury found in fish like tuna, swordfish, and mackerel. The FDA and Environmental Protection Agency warn expectant women to avoid fish containing mercury because mercury can harm the nervous system of developing babies. Stick to fish like salmon and avoid the tuna sandwich at lunch.

Change the Litter Box

Just because you're pregnant, doesn't mean you have to get rid of your cat but you will have to find someone else to change the kitty litter. Cat feces can carry an infection known as toxoplasmosis which can cause premature births, low birth weight, eye and brain damage. The scary thing about toxoplasmosis is that expectant mothers might not have any symptoms yet can pass it through their bloodstream to their unborn baby.

Some other tips including cooking meat thoroughly and avoiding caffeine. Sure, it might seem like a nuisance but just think about the health of your child - there's nothing more important - so if that means you have to avoid your favorite food for nine months, it's worth it. Think of it as the first of many steps of becoming a good mother.