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Foods to avoid during pregnancy

You're eating not only for yourself but also for the baby. When you're pregnant, you should always stay alert and avoid all items that could potentially make you sick or badly affect your baby's health condition.Why should you avoid certain foods during pregnancy?Some foods are a shelter of bacteria like E.coli.🦠 Meanwhile, pregnancy also diminishes your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to all ailments like flu or common cold.🥶 You are more likely to get sick or suffer from complications such as miscarriage or premature delivery if you have foodborne illness.😟 The disease which crosses the placenta will harmfully affect your baby, developing severe birth defects or serious infections.😔 Foods to avoid during pregnancy🐟High mercury fishFish is loaded with brain-boosting nutrients and omega-3.🐟 However, some fish contain a dangerous level of mercury that is detrimental to your baby's developing nervous system.🧠 The bigger and older the fish, the more mercury it carries. Avoid shark🦈, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, and bigeye tuna. Limit white albacore to 6 ounces a week. Fish such as salmone, anchovies, cod, catfish, shrimp, trout, or sardines can be eaten up to 8 to 12 ounces per week. 🥩Raw, undercooked foodRefrain from blood-red meat🥩 because they can harbor bacteria causing food poisoning such as E.coli or Salmonella. Uncooked fish in sashimi🍣, raw oysters should also be off-limits because the danger of ingesting bacteria or parasites is too high. Dishes having undercooked eggs🥚 are so prevalent such as soft scrambled eggs, homemade mousse, raw batter or cookie dough, mayonnaise. Pregnant moms🤰 who consume these rampant raw and undercooked eggs are prone to Salmonella infection.☕Too much caffeineCaffeine wakes you up when you're tired. However, too much caffeine can interfere with the ability to absorb iron, leading to anemia.☕ It is time to switch to decaf ones. You should consume no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day. Any caffeine sources such as chocolate🍫, black or green tea, energy bars and coffee-flavored desserts, ice cream🍨, yogurts should also be controllably devoured to ensure the 200 milligram limit. 🥛Unpasteurized dairy and juicesDairies such as skim milk🥛 and cheese🧀 can be a healthy part of your pregnancy diet. However, anything containing unpasteurized milk is a big no-no since they might have Listeria and other pathogens. Check your products' label before making a purchase.🐄 🍷AlcoholAlcohol is extremely harmful to your health during pregnancy so avoid it at all cost.🍷 The concentration of alcohol that goes into your bloodstream is also the same as that enters your baby, resulting in fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause facial deformities and intellectual disability.☠️ Toast happy events with healthy fruity juices! If you're concerned about alcohol that you drank before you knew you were pregnant, please consult your worries with doctors.👩‍⚕️ 

Best food to eat during pregnancy

Are you worried that you're not hitting the healthy pregnancy diet mark? Don't worry, you can always look up to this information and prepare all vitamins and minerals that both you and your baby need.Essential nutrients for you and your baby💊Folic acidGetting at least 600 micrograms per day during pregnancy is important. Folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects, serious abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord.🧠💊IronIron plays an important role in hemoglobin formation🩸, a protein in the red blood cells that carries oxygen to your tissues. Your body needs iron to make more blood to supply oxygen for the baby.👶💊CalciumCalcium makes bones and teeth strong.🦷 It also helps your circulatory, muscular and nervous systems function normally.🧠 You should aim for 1000 milligrams a day.💊Vitamin DVitamin D assists calcium to do its job and your immune system to stay healthy. You should take 600 IU a day.😃💊DHAAn omega-3- fatty acid called DHA is vital in your baby's brain and retinal👁️ development. It helps absorb fat soluble vitamins and reduce symptoms associated with prenatal depression. You need 200-300 milligrams per day.👁️💊IodineIodine, available in salt, promotes your baby's brain and nervous system development.👁️ You should get 290 micrograms per day.🧂Examples of recommended pregnancy diet🥩Lean meatHigh protein lean meat🥩 provides you energy throughout the day and stabilizes your blood sugar. In addition to being protein-packed, it's also rich in iron, developing red blood🩸 cell supply for both you and your baby.🥜LentilsLentils are a great alternative source of protein that deserves a good place on your plate.🥜 Not only are they rich in vitamin B folate, they are also high in fiber which protects your digestive system and prevents pregnancy-related constipation.🚽   🐟SalmonFatty fish are one of the best foods to eat during pregnancy.🐟 Since your body cannot produce omega-3, salmon are packed with DHA omega-3s and iodine, making it a safe seafood choice for pregnancy.🤰🥑AvocadoThis creamy green fruit has a high amount of folate, along with vitamin B6 which also alleviates morning sickness. It's a healthy source of monounsaturated fats so your body can absorb vitamins in veggies and fruits better.🥑 🥬KaleKale is a potent pregnancy, all in one package of food.🥬 It serves lots of nutrients that you need, including folate, iron, vitamin C, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K and fiber.😄   

Why your pregnant belly feels tight and heavy?

Your belly is getting tight and heavy to prepare for labor. You're almost there so buckle up and get ready for the rest of the journey.Why does your belly start feeling hard during pregnancy?🤰Growing uterusAs you're stepping into the third trimester, your uterus pushes against your abdominal wall and makes your belly feel hard.🤰 Your growing uterus also crowds your internal organs such as lung and bladder. Stretch marks on your belly become more visible and itchy.🙁🤰Gas and bloatingGas and bloating can also contribute to belly hardness. You get gassy because hormone changes slow the rate of digestion, leaving the food longer in the intestine🍲 and giving time to bacteria to produce gas.🦨 🤰Braxton Hicks contractionsIf you feel sensations of stomach tightening, it could be Braxton Hicks contractions. They appear more frequently in the third trimester as they prepare your body for labor.😃 🤰Preterm laborSharp pains on one or both sides of your belly might be caused by round ligament pain. However, if you feel excruciating pain accompanied with your belly feeling hard, this belly cramping can signal a more serious problem such as preterm labor.🙁  When to call doctorIf your contractions are so painful that you can't endure it, you should consider calling your doctor.👩‍⚕️ Any signs like vaginal bleeding, less fetal movement, amniotic fluid leaking can be dangerous so you should call your doctor immediately.🏥