Smoking while pregnant puts both you and your unborn baby at risk. Babies born to women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have a lower birth weight and are at a greater risk for learning disabilities than children born to nonsmoking mothers.
Alcohol may greatly impact your baby’s development. People who drink alcohol while pregnant deliver a baby with FAS. Symptoms of FAS include:-low birth weight, learning disabilities, behavior problems, lagging patterns in terms of growth and development milestones.
Raw & undercooked meat and eggs carry the risk of foodborne illness, such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis. These conditions can cause serious, life-threatening illnesses that could lead to severe birth defects and even miscarriage. Make sure all eggs and meat that you eat while pregnant are well-cooked.
Calcium is very important for growing babies but moms have to be careful how they get their calcium from dairy. Raw milk isn’t recommended for expecting mothers since it’s unpasteurized. Specifically, raw milk may contain the bacteria Listeria. It can lead to illness, miscarriage.
Caffeine can travel through the placenta and increase your baby’s heart rate.
Current research suggests that women can safely consume a cup or two of coffee each day, but forego downing a triple-shot latte while you’re carrying.