1st Trimester of Pregnancy: The Do’s and Don’ts

The Dos

• Prenatal vitamin consumption is a must

In the early stages of pregnancy, you need a lot of folic acid, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin D for your baby’s healthy development. Folic acid reduces neural defects in infants. It promotes the growth of blood cells, thereby reducing your risk of anaemia.

Your doctor will prescribe essential prenatal vitamins during your early pregnancy to ensure you and your baby get the required nutrients. You should also include foods like spinach, egg yolk, mushrooms, sprouts, and herbs in your diet regularly to absorb these nutrients properly.

• Keep yourself physically fit

Simple exercises, like walking, is an absolute must, however, remember not to do any intensive physical routines during this phase. Walk for about 30 minutes every day. You can also start deep breathing routines in your first trimester. This will help you stay away from weight gain, gestational diabetes, and C-section childbirth.

• Healthy Diet

While eating healthy food is essential throughout your pregnancy journey, it becomes significant in the first trimester, as this is the stage when your baby’s vital organs are formed. Ensure you eat a balanced meal every day. Include foods rich in nutrients and antioxidants (like carrots, bell peppers, spinach, and beets) in your daily meal.

• Hydration is important

One of the important dos in the list of do’s and don’ts in early pregnancy is keeping yourself well-hydrated. The more fluids you intake, the better your blood volume will be. Keeping yourself well-hydrated enables your blood to pass oxygen and nutrients easily to the baby. Fluids can help you get rid of morning sickness symptoms while also treating constipation issues.

• Sleep properly

In the first trimester, you may feel more exhausted than during the other stages of your pregnancy. Hence, rest well during this phase. Sleep at the same time every day, and ensure you get around 7 to 8 hours of sound sleep daily to feel rejuvenated throughout the day.

The Don’ts

The don’ts are equally important in the 1st trimester of pregnancy do’s and don’ts checklist. Try to stay away from these as much as you can for the overall development of your baby.

• Avoid too much caffeine

Don’t drink more than one cup of coffee in a day. Your baby’s still-growing digestive system cannot handle caffeine easily. Increased caffeine intake can increase your blood pressure and also make you feel dehydrated.

• Avoid smoking

Women who smoke during pregnancy are more prone to experience issues like miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and more. The smoke inhaled during this process moves directly to the placenta, hampering the baby’s ability to receive nutrients and oxygen from your body. This applies to passive smoking as well.

• Quit drinking

You must strictly avoid alcohol if you are pregnant. Even getting slightly drunk can hamper your baby’s brain development. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can result in a condition known as Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. Abnormal facial features, poor memory, hearing and vision problems, learning disabilities, etc., are some symptoms of this syndrome.

• Live Stress-Free

Stressing over things is one of the most important but underrated don’ts in the list of do’s and don’ts in early pregnancy. When a mother is stressed or anxious, it can impact her blood pressure levels and reduce the oxygen supply to the baby in her womb.

• Avoid the sauna

Saunas and hot tub routines in the salon may be relaxing, but stay away from them, especially in your first trimester. These lead to a sudden increase in your body temperature, thereby affecting your baby’s development and causing miscarriage in some cases.

• Don’t eat too much

Usually, people wrongly assume that they have to eat for two when they are pregnant. What you need to remember is to eat a healthy meal comprising nutritious foods. Eating too much can lead to weight gain and unnecessary complications in your pregnancy.

• Avoid cleaning the litter box

Pregnant women should refrain from cleaning the litter or garbage bins. The parasites/germs/toxic elements present in the litter box can pose huge health risks to the foetus. These health risks include seizures, improper brain development, eyesight problems, and more.