We know you already do everything you can, to keep yourself and your child healthy and happy, when you’re pregnant. You eat right, do the correct exercises and sleep well too. Despite that, a little extra advice never hurt anybody. Especially as far as the health of your yet-to-be-born baby is concerned.

We want to share with all the mommies to be in this world 7 food mistakes they should avoid for the sake of their child’s health:

1. Eating All Kinds Of Fish

Freshwater fish that goes from the farm to the fridge is okay. But there are two kinds of fish you need to avoid. These include-

• a. Fish with high mercury content: Big fishes like sharks, tuna, and king mackerel, etc. are a part of this. These fishes have been known to cause brain as well as developmental problems in babies (1).

• b. Moreover, fishes that come from ponds, streams or local rivers that are near factories are also a big No-No. Fishes like salmon and trout among others may contain high levels of industrial pollutants, which can be poisonous for you and your baby (2).

2. Having Soft Cheeses

Soft cheeses contain either one of the two types of bacteria – listeria or E. coli. The bacteria can cause an infection known as listeriosis, which can either result in a miscarriage or stillbirth (3). Hence, make sure you don’t have Soft Cheeses (feta, queso, brie, etc.) on your plate and instead gorge on hard ones (Swiss or cheddar).

3. Gorging On Smoked Salmon

Eating any smoked seafood for that matter can be dangerous for your baby. Why? When you refrigerate these delicacies without cooking them first at a high temperature, you run the risk of contracting listeriosis, the same infection that is caused by soft cheeses (4).

4. Excess Caffeine Consumption

Coffee in moderation will do you and your baby no harm. But have more than 200mg a day, and you could put your baby’s health in danger. Excess Caffeine Consumption has been linked to severe problems such as birth-defects for your baby, preterm labor and even miscarriage (5). Besides, you also need to remember that caffeine is also a part of other drinks such as soda and tea. Hence, go for fresh fruit juice if you feel the urge to slurp.

5. A Deli Meat Lunch

Ready to eat meats or what isknown as deli meats should be off the menu when you’re pregnant. These too contain listeria, the bacteria that you already know by now causes listeriosis (6). Although the chance of getting listeriosis is very rare, it’s better to be safe than sorry when you have a life growing inside you.

6. Herbal Teas And Supplements

As natural as they might be, some herbs spell doom for the health of you and your child. The problem is that some of the herbs have been used to terminate pregnancies for centuries and can, unfortunately, give rise to the same for you if you’re not careful enough (7). So before you take any herb, be sure to consult with your doctor.

7. Drinking Alcohol

This one you already know. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is dangerous as it can pass to your baby through the placenta and lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (8). This syndrome can cause problems for your child such as poor coordination, learning disabilities, hyperactivity and more.

Bonus Mistake: Wearing The Seatbelt Wrong

When wearing a seatbelt, make sure you keep it as low as possible. Wrapping the belt closer to your hips than belly will prevent the application of excess pressure on your baby when the car comes to a sudden halt.
As long as you’re careful in whatever you do, you are bound to have a safe and healthy pregnancy as well as complication-free labor.

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