During pregnancy, there are many prohibitions for pregnant women that need to be obeyed. Because if not, not only pregnant woman alone which can be adversely affected, but also the fetus that is growing and developing in the womb.
Pregnancy is a happy moment for every mother and father. But behind that happiness, there is a big responsibility that needs to be borne. Pregnant women must be more careful in choosing their intake, because not all food and drinks are safe for pregnant women to consume.
In addition, pregnant women must also know what activities to avoid because they have the potential to interfere with the health conditions of the mother and fetus.
Prohibition for Pregnant Women Regarding Food and Drink
What is consumed by pregnant women will determine the nutrients that the fetus gets. Therefore, pregnant women need to be more careful in choosing food during pregnancy. For that, try to avoid the following foods and drinks:
1. Raw food
Be it meat, fish, or eggs, make sure pregnant women have cooked them until they are perfectly cooked before consuming them. For fruits and vegetables, don't forget to wash them well before eating, pregnant women.
Eating raw, unsanitary, or undercooked food can increase the risk of contracting germs and parasites that may be present in these foods.
Some examples are germs Salmonella, Listeria, and parasites Toxoplasma. If exposed to these germs, pregnant women are at risk of infection, one of which is toxoplasmosis. This disease can increase the risk of premature birth and miscarriage.
2. Spicy food
Spicy food for many people does look tempting to eat. It's just that pregnant women are advised to avoid any food that tastes spicy, because eating spicy food has the potential to cause obesity heartburn, which is a stinging and painful sensation in the stomach, chest, or throat.
Although it does not have a direct impact on the health of the fetus, the effects of spicy food will make pregnant women uncomfortable and may trigger nausea and vomiting.
3. Herbal tea
Consuming herbal teas during pregnancy is believed to prevent pregnancy complications, such as premature birth, bleeding during childbirth, and preeclampsia. However, these claims cannot be fully justified and still need further research.
To be on the safe side, don't consume herbal teas before you discuss it with your doctor.
4. Unpasteurized Milk
In order to meet the calcium needed by the fetus, milk is indeed the right drink for consumption. However, pregnant women also need to ensure that the milk to be consumed is pasteurized.
Pasteurization is a heating process that aims to kill harmful organisms that may be contained in milk. Consuming raw or unpasteurized milk will increase the risk of being infected with harmful germs.
One of the germs that can be contained in unpasteurized milk is Listeria. These germs can cause premature birth and even miscarriage.
5. Alcohol and caffeine
Consuming alcoholic beverages during pregnancy can cause the baby to be born with the condition fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Babies with FAS can have low birth weight and other health problems, such as brain disorders, growth retardation, and birth defects.
Caffeine also needs to be avoided or limited. Consuming excessive caffeine is feared to cause miscarriage and increased blood pressure and heart palpitations, both in pregnant women and their fetuses.
Although these effects have not been fully proven, it would be better if pregnant women limit caffeine consumption. Make sure pregnant women do not consume more than 1 cup of coffee a day, or more than 2 cups of tea per day. The less caffeine pregnant women consume, the better.
Activities that are Prohibited for Pregnant Women
Not only related to food and drink, the prohibition for pregnant women also applies to certain activities, such as:
1. Smoking
Babies born to smoking mothers are at high risk of being born with low body weight or having birth defects, one of which is cleft lip. In addition, babies are also at high risk of being born prematurely.
2. Take a hot shower
Hot baths can indeed relax the body. However, pregnant women are advised not to do it until after giving birth.
Soaking in hot water for too long or often has the potential to cause pregnant women to experience dizziness and weakness. This habit can even increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects in the baby.
3. Cleaning the pet cage
If pregnant women like to keep pets, such as cats, it is better to first delegate the task of cleaning the cage for pregnant women's cats to other people. The reason is, cleaning the cat cage can expose pregnant women to microbes from cat feces that can cause disease, such as infection Toxoplasma.
Infected pregnant women Toxoplasma Cats can experience pregnancy complications in the form of miscarriage or fetal death in the womb. Meanwhile, fetuses infected with this parasite can face serious health problems, such as seizures and birth defects.
4. Beautify nails
Pregnant women like to beautify their nails at the salon? During pregnancy, pregnant women should avoid these activities, especially putting on artificial nails or nail polish. The reason is that the smell of various kinds of nail beauty products is not good for the health of pregnant women and fetuses.
5. Undergo strenuous physical activity
Pregnant women need to exercise regularly. But remember, don't let the exercise be too heavy or make pregnant women tired. Therefore, avoid activities or sports that are too strenuous, such as running a marathon, lifting weights, tennis, working overtime, or certain household chores. Get enough sleep and avoid stress so that pregnant women and fetuses are healthy.
Some of the things that are prohibited above should be avoided since pregnant women are still pregnant. In addition to complying with the various prohibitions for pregnant women above, pregnant women also need to carry out routine obstetrical examinations to the obstetrician. The doctor will check the health condition of the pregnant woman, monitor the development of the fetus, and suggest what things need to be done and avoided during pregnancy.