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Things Not To Do During Each Trimester Of Pregnancy

You can find plenty of advice on what to do and not do during your pregnancy. However, the risks you and your child face actually vary based on how far along you are. Let’s look at the things not to do during each trimester of pregnancy. We’ll also discuss why these things are so risking at that particular stage of your pregnancy.

First Trimester

Each trimester is roughly three months long. During the first trimester or first approximately twelve weeks, your baby’s organs are forming. Morning sickness is thought to be a protective mechanism, making you avoid food that could pose a risk to the development of these organs. An aversion to meat protects you from meat-borne parasites.

You should avoid smoking and alcohol during this phase. Ironically, many women don’t know they’re pregnant until they’re partially through the first trimester. However, you want to eat healthy despite the nausea or fatigue you’re feeling. Staying hydrated is essential, but you should avoid coffee and energy drinks.

Though your body hasn’t changed proportions yet, you don’t want to diet, compress your body to maintain its current shape or work yourself to exhaustion. You can go horseback riding, bike riding or jogging, but high-intensity workouts should be scaled down.

Second Trimester

The first trimester ends with a fetus that is starting to resemble a small human being. There’s still plenty of development of the brain, limbs and so forth going on, but the baby is growing in size, as well. This is the point where you start to look pregnant as your stomach starts to bulge. Fluid retention can cause swollen ankles and worsen carpal tunnel syndrome. Don’t try to limit fluid intake. Instead, drink more water and cut back on salt. However, any sudden swelling is a major red flag and should be reported to your doctor.

The nausea and fatigue from the first trimester tend to fade by the second trimester, and your appetite will return. Do not use this as an excuse to eat anything you want.  Moderate your consumption of sugar and sweets, since this is the point where you’re at risk of developing gestational diabetes. If you become diabetic during your pregnancy, it will probably go away after you have the baby. However, gestational diabetes raises the risk you’ll develop diabetes later in life. Furthermore, it raises the risk your baby will grow too quickly. 

Third Trimester

The third trimester marks the final stage of your pregnancy, and it can be the most exciting phase. The 25 weeks pregnant symptoms include cramps, heartburn and back pain as the baby starts to grow. And that’s about all the baby will do as finishing touches like eyelashes and fingernails form.

This far along, you need to avoid lifting with your back unless you want to be bedridden for a week. If you start feeling muscle pains or spasms, it could be early labor or Braxton-Hicks contractions. If concerned, talk to your doctor since early labor can often be halted but prematurity raises all sorts of risks for your baby. Don’t ignore symptoms like bleeding, especially if you have back pain or suddenly worse fatigue.

You don’t have to stay in bed all the time, but you can’t do any heavy workouts at this point. Long walks and cleaning the house are fine. Jogging, lifting weights and even advanced yoga moves are out.

Pregnancy brings with it many changes to mother and child alike. Understand what is going on at each pregnancy stage so that you know what is and isn’t safe. Listen to your body so that you know when you’re pushing your limits.