6 Common Mistakes Women Make During Pregnancy

Pregnant women sometimes unintentionally make decisions that comes with heavy repercussions. As soon as you become pregnant, especially if it this is a new terrain for you, consult with your doctor before making certain decisions in order to avoid a health risk. Find common pregnancy mistakes below….

1. Taking antenatal classes late: As soon as you know you are expecting, see your doctor. Many women wait until they are far gone into their second or third trimesters before attending antenatal classes. This is so wrong. Not only does early prenatal care reduce the risk of pregnancy complications, it helps in keeping track of the baby’s development and the mother’s health in general and helps to detect problems early.

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2. Self medicating: It is not unusual to find pregnant women purchasing vitamins and herbal mixtures said to be good for the baby. While these may not be bad in itself, too much vitamins intake have been proven to lead to vitamin overdose which in turn poses health risk to the mother and her baby. If you have been given some vitamins by your doctor, then you really shouldn’t be taking more. And if you must, first seek your doctor’s approval. 

3. Eating for Two: Whoever invented this phrase probably didn’t think it would be applied erroneously. Being pregnant is not a license to eat everything you want. As a matter of fact, doubling your food intake does not increase your chances of having a healthy baby, rather, you are at risk of excessive weight gain which can lead to complications during birth and afterwards, becomes very difficult to lose.

Your focus should be on eating foods with more nutrients and less calories. Nutrient is what your baby needs to grow and develop properly. Nutritious foods recommended for you include fish, meat, egg, beans, peanut butter, bread, rice, potatoes, fruits, tomatoes, cereals, and banana.

4. Little or no exercise: Exercising during pregnancy does not have to involve strenuous workouts. Simple exercises like taking long walks, dancing, swimming, taking the stairs instead of the elevator would help you sleep better, put you in a better shape for labor and delivery,  boost your energy and lower your risk of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and obesity.

5. Avoid sexual activity: No, having sex will not endanger your baby no matter how well endowed your partner is. The baby is safely tucked in the uterus. The cervix separates the vagina from the uterus so nothing harms your baby. You have nothing to worry about except if the doctors ordered a no-sex. 

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6. Skipping medication: The importance of prenatal vitamins cannot be overemphasized.  Every pregnant woman needs plenty of nutrients. Taking your vitamins helps cover any nutritional gap that may be lacking in the diet. Not taking your prenatal vitamins can be fatal to your baby’s development.