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Nutrition is the key factor in determining a healthy full term pregnancy.  Healthy food and healthy habits eliminate the risk of miscarriage, hormonal imbalance, premature birth, low-birth weight, maternal mortality, etc.  Apart from these, you are creating a protective layer for your child from long-term irreversible health issues like obesity, raised levels of cholesterol, high blood sugar, etc. after birth. There are a lot of things to keep in mind other than just smoking or drinking habits commonly known

Don’t Rise the Mercury Levels

According to Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), females who are trying to conceive or pregnant women or breastfeeding mother should certainly not eat seafood that is high in mercury.  Mercury can prove to be lethal for the baby’s developing brain and nervous system.  FDA has issued extreme caution to would-be-mothers and new moms to avoid consumption of swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel and shark as they contain the highest mercury levels.   At the same time, experts recommend intake of 12 ounces a week of cold water fish like tuna, salmon, shrimp, cod, tilapia, and catfish which are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and low on mercury.   Be careful while you choose your fish.

Unpasteurized Pastures

Unpasteurized milk and juices have a high chance of being contaminated with listeria, an infection which resemble influenza or meningitis and may lead to miscarriage.  Completely avoid raw milk and raw juices. Such unpasteurized products put you at high risk during pregnancy because the immune system is suppressed during this tenure. 

Who moved your Cheese

The risk of unpasteurized soft cheese for pregnant ladies is equal to the risk of unpasteurized milk and juices for the same reason – listeria.   List of unpasteurized soft cheese include feta, Brie, Camembert, fresh mozzarella, blue cheese like gorgonzola, Limburger, queso blanco, and queso fresco.  It is best to move away from cheese.

Cut down on Caffeine

Caffeine aggravates blood pressure and heart rate which is not a good sign during pregnancy.  Caffeine present in coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, certain medications and energy drinks should be limited to just 200 milligrams a day to remain on the safer side.   It is however, yet to be proven the degree of impact on birth defect, premature labor, preterm delivery, reduced fertility, low-birth weight and miscarriage on humans.  Why take chances, when you can make changes?

Don’t campaign for Champaign

Alcohols are strictly ruled out before pregnancy, during pregnancy and post pregnancy.  You might as well, give up drinking for the next few years completely.  Any amount of alcohol puts the expecting mothers at high risk of fetal alcohol syndrome.  The alcohol enters the baby’s blood stream through the placenta leading to birth defect, physical abnormalities, mental retardation and cause severe complications to you and your baby.

Pop goes the Papaya

Green papaya is usually considered healthy but for pregnant women it is equally harmful.   The latex substance present in unripe papaya triggers uterine contraction.  Hormones like oxytocin and prostaglandin are needed for labor.  It is believed that these substances are present in unripe papayas which could prompt contraction and end up with unfortunate miscarriage.  Generally, Thai foods contain papaya.  Ask the chef before you order. 

As long as you are eating right and avoiding unhealthy practices, your baby is in safe hands.