Precautions during 1st Trimester of Pregnancy

The first trimester of pregnancy is usually the trickiest period. Your body is still adjusting to this massive change. Therefore, there are certain precautions during the first trimester that you must take.

Stay Hydrated

According to American Pregnancy Association, dehydration in early stage of pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage. This is true because during the first trimester of pregnancy, the body has just about begun to adjust to the massive changes. Moreover, its requirements have increased because now it is sustaining a life inside it. Therefore, remember to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water, fresh fruit juices, smoothies and also vegetables such as cucumber that are high on the water content.  

Quite Harmful Habits

As a precaution harmful habits such as cigarette smoking and drug usage must be stopped at the very beginning of 1st trimester. Alcohol in the first trimester often leads to foetal alcohol syndrome wherein, the child can develop unusual facial features and can be mentally retarded as well. Besides this, intake of drugs such as marijuana, methamphetamines and cocaine increase the risk of miscarriage during the first trimester. Cigarettes can lead to the following problems in your baby:

• Sudden infant death syndrome.
• Stillbirth.
• Premature delivery.
• Low birth weight.
• Asthma in later stages of life.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a strict no-no during pregnancy. Caffeine is known to increase the risk of miscarriages. According to experts anything above 150mg a day will put you at high risk. Therefore, limit your coffee intake and also stay away from green and black tea, colas and sodas. However, chocolate which also contains caffeine is still permissible as it caffeine content is very low. However, we suggest you don’t do overboard!  

Stay away from certain foods

• Healthy eating is a primary prerequisite of pregnancy; however, there are certain items that are best avoided.
• Certain fish such as tuna, king mackerel, tilefish and fresh tuna do contain high amounts of mercury that may harm the developing brain of your unborn child.
• Again food items that should be avoided as a precautionary measure during the first trimester are soft unpasteurised cheeses, raw eggs and foods containing raw eggs such as mousse, salad dressings, raw fish, processed meats such as sausages and also meat spreads.  
• These foods need to be avoided because they can contain bacteria that may lead to disorders such as salmonella, toxoplasmosis and listeriosis. These illnesses can cause birth defects in the child or in extreme cases may also lead to miscarriage.  

 
Limit contact with Animals

• Toxoplasma gondii, a harmful parasite can cause long term damage to baby by attacking brain of the foetus.
• Apart from brain damage, it can also cause severe eye defects, poor growth and prematurity. Therefore, stay away from the litter box of your favourite kitty and have someone else clean and wash it thoroughly.
• For minimising the risk of toxoplasmosis, pregnant women must also stay away from uncooked meat and thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before using them.

 
Stay away from Strong Smells

Increased sense of smell during the first trimester of pregnancy can worsen symptoms such as morning sickness and nausea. So it is wise to stay away from offensive and strong odours. By staying away from strong smells during the 1st trimester you can also keep a check on the feeling of nausea and vomiting.
 
Take Prenatal Vitamins

Another precaution during 1st trimester of pregnancy is to take prenatal vitamins as and when prescribed by doctor. A pregnant woman must have at least 400 mcg of folic acid every day. Folic acid is important because it prevent birth defects such as neural tube defects in the unborn baby.

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