At our New Jersey IVF center, we understand just how much couples worry about the health of their child. We get many questions about what women ca do to ensure that their child remains healthy before the little bundle of joy is born. While it’s impossible to list all of the things you should avoid while pregnant, this list should give you a good idea of some basics to keep in mind.

Smoking and Tobacco Products

While you should avoid using tobacco products in general, you definitely need to avoid chewing tobacco and smoking cigars and cigarettes while you are pregnant. It can cause major complications to pregnancy and fetal health.

Alcoholic Beverages

While pregnant, drinking beer, spirits, or wine can impede the development of your child. Be sure to avoid drinking during your pregnancy.

Illegal and Legal Drugs

Obviously illegal drugs can have an adverse affect on the development of your child, but the same goes for prescription drugs and even over the counter medicines. Be sure to discuss this with you doctor or obstetrician in greater detail.

Caffeine

There have been some studies that have shown high levels of caffeine have led to increased chance of miscarriage. The research is still hazy about acceptable levels of caffeine consumption while pregnant, but the less the better.

Animal Foods That are Undercooked or Raw

Raw meat and meat that is not cooked all the way through could contain certain harmful food borne viruses, bacteria, or even parasites.

Hot Dogs

Hot dogs, deli meats, and other processed meats may contain bacteria that increases the chances of miscarriage and other fetal health problems.

Certain Kinds of Fish and Seafood

Many seafoods have high mercury counts. You should avoid seafood high in mercury (e.g., swordfish, king mackerel) and greatly limit intake of other generally safe seafoods (e.g., tuna, salmon, shrimp) just to be on the safe side.

Noxious Fumes

Any inhalant that is dangerous in general should not be present when you are pregnant. That goes for paint thinner, exhaust, gasoline, and so on.

To learn more about your health during pregnancy, New Jersey surrogate pregnancy, and other matters related to families and fertility, be sure to contact our New Jersey fertility centers.