7 Mistakes You Need to Avoid to Save Your Child’s Health

When pregnant, women try their best to stick to the healthiest lifestyle and diet for their babies and themselves.

Some foods and drinks are not at all safe to consume during these 9 months. We at Bright Side want to tell you about them and also give you a very useful bonus at the end of the article, which is a must-know for every mom-to-be!

7. Certain types of fish

When pregnant, it’s best to stay away from 2 types of fish:

• Fish that is known to contain high levels of mercury. This includes large fish like swordfish, shark, tilefish, tuna (big eye), and king mackerel. Mercury has been linked to developmental issues and brain problems in babies. Carp contains moderate levels of mercury, so it should be consumed with caution — no more than 1 serving per week.
• Fish caught from local rivers, streams, and ponds near big factories or other sources of pollution. Examples include salmon, bluefish, striped bass, pike, walleye, and trout. They may contain high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls.

6. Soft cheeses

These delicacies can contain E. coli or listeria — bacteria that can cause very unpleasant health conditions for you and serious problems for your pregnancy. Examples of such cheeses include Roquefort, Camembert, Gorgonzola, feta, brie, queso fresco, queso blanco, and panela if they are made from unpasteurized milk.

Solution: Choose hard cheeses, such as Swiss or cheddar, or consume soft cheese only if you are 100% sure it was made from pasteurized milk.

5. Smoked seafood

These salty treats are not safe when refrigerated unless they have been cooked to 165°F. They can contain listeria monocytogenes — the bacteria that cause listeriosis, a dangerous condition for you and your little one.

Solution: To prevent listeriosis, choose canned or shelf-safe smoked seafood, or cook it to 165°F.

4. Too much caffeine

Excessive amounts of caffeine have been linked to low birth weight in babies, premature birth, and even miscarriage, so it’s important to keep the intake under control. One cup of coffee or tea per day is considered safe, but try to keep it under 200 mg. And remember that green tea and soda also contain caffeine, so don’t let them deceive you.

Tip: Choose decaffeinated drinks. Overall, water and fresh juices are your best choices.

3. Deli meats

u should avoid all ready-to-eat meats, also known as deli meats, as they can contain that trouble-making listeria bacteria we talk about so much. Examples include cold cuts, lunch meat, sandwich meats, sliced meats, and hotdogs.

Solution: If you still do want to indulge, you should cook them until they are steaming hot — about 165°F.

2. Herbal teas and other herbal supplements

We all consider herbs to be some of the healthiest foods on Planet Earth, and this is true for the most part. However, certain herbs have been used for centuries to terminate pregnancies, and, unfortunately, they still hold the same effect.

Your options: You can read about every herb you want to consume in a drink or any other form. However, it might be best to refrain from ready-made herbal blends in restaurants and stores (the staff may not have 100% accurate information about their contents) and opt for a safer cup of regular green or black tea.

1. Alcohol

Unfortunately, the alcohol you drink can pass through the placenta to your developing baby. And while the bodies of adults have special ferments that help break down alcohol and take it out of your body, a fetus might have very small quantities of it or lack it completely.

Alcohol impacts the development of cells and makes it difficult for nutrients and oxygen to reach their targets in your baby’s body. That is why there is no proof at the moment that even small amounts of alcohol are okay during pregnancy.

Please, remember that you can have individual intolerance to some products like bananas, lemons, tomatoes, etc. You need to consult your doctor to find out what foods should be avoided in this important period.

Bonus

You should try to place the lap portion of your seatbelt as low as possible, closer to your hips than your belly. This will prevent the belt from tightening around your baby in case of a sudden stop.

And always remember that during pregnancy your concentration gets lower due to multiple factors, so drive with extra care, and be sure to sit at least 4 inches away from the steering wheel.