In pregnancy, every moment is special for an expecting mom. Her body keeps on changing, and her child is growing each day. But some pregnancy moments are a bit more important than others, and we need to pay more attention to them. One of these times is the 13th week — because it represents the shift from the first trimester to the second one.
A lot of beautiful things are happening during this period. Mom Junction says that the baby grows to the size of a pea pod and it has completely developed a nose and lips. Due to this, the fetus can make facial expressions. Its arms keep on growing, and the baby can already make a fist. Isn’t it hard to imagine how many things such a tiny human being can do at this stage? And it’s only the 13th week!
Anyway, to help the baby develop better and in a healthier way, an expectant mom needs to know what she should and shouldn’t do. There are quite a few habits she needs to quit for the sake of her child, such as eating certain foods, applying nail polish to her nails, and dyeing her hair very often, or wearing high heels.
But is there anything we wouldn’t sacrifice for the sake of our kids?
So let’s take a look at the exhaustive list of things a woman needs to stop doing by the 13th week of pregnancy to keep herself and her baby healthy.
20 Stop Eating Lots Of Your Favorite Foods
There are quite a few foods that we should avoid during pregnancy for the sake of our own health and for the wellness of our future babies. It includes such products as processed or raw meats and raw fish (bye-bye corn dogs and sushi!), unpasteurized dairy, and soft cheeses. According to Mom Junction, these foods “possibly carry harmful bacteria listeria that make you and your baby vulnerable to many diseases.”
Besides, it’s also a good idea to avoid eating too much fried or fatty food, especially by the second trimester of pregnancy, to make sure that both you and your baby remain healthy and in good shape.
19 No More Indulging In Caffeine
Another delicious thing we better give up while having a bun in the oven is caffeine. So whether you are a fan of tea or coffee, it’s a good idea to become more conscious about this habit and opt for safer herbal drinks, such as chamomile, dandelion, ginger, and peppermint tea.
You might be wondering why caffeine is not as beneficial as you think (after all, it might have helped you overcome morning sickness during the first trimester). The answer is simple: “It can increase [BP], heart rate, and you have to frequent to the loo,” Mom Junction says. “Also, caffeine passes through the placenta and increases the possibility of the baby developing [problems]”
18 Stop Putting Off A Dental Visit
Who isn't worried about a visit to a dentist? Even if one has the best dentist in the world, they may still be anxious about going to their office. But for a pregnant woman, a dental visit is the must. Health Line reminds us that the "College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that expectant mothers have a routine oral health assessment while pregnant, along with regular dental cleanings." It's very important for your own health and the wellness of your baby.
So if you've been postponing a dental visit, now is the high time to take courage and finally do it. It's not going to be that bad — believe me!
17 Stop Trying Too Many New Things
Everyone says that doing yoga and working out during pregnancy is good. It actually is, but only if your body is ready for it.
If you have done yoga and other physical activities before pregnancy, then it'll certainly be beneficial for you to continue doing them (just be more careful than usual, please). But if you've never done it, you shouldn't just go for it, because your friend said so or because an article on the internet said so. Health Line advises you to meet your doctor first and go over all the risks and concerns, and only when you're sure it's safe for you and your baby, you can do it.
16 Bye-Bye Stilettos!
Many women copy their favorite celebrities in many ways, from the things they do in free time to the way they dress. It’s a good and completely understandable thing to do, but only when it’s beneficial to us. For example, if Jennifer Aniston says that she does yoga and drinks a lot of water every day, it’s good to follow suit. Or, when Gal Gadot shares that she teaches her daughters to be Wonder Women in real life, it’s an amazing idea. But if you’re a fan of Blake Lively and see her wearing super-high heels during pregnancy, it’s time to stop.
During pregnancy, a woman’s body center of gravity changes and it becomes difficult to wear high heels, Mom Junction says. Besides, it can be dangerous due to the risk of falling down. So if you think you absolutely have to wear heels, prefer those that aren’t higher than three inches. Otherwise, wear flip flops or snickers.
15 Household Chores Are Not For Preggers
Have you ever wanted to withdraw from doing household chores, at least for a little while? Pregnancy, especially its second trimester, is the best time to finally do it! After all, you have a good reason – you can’t bend over and overexert yourself. It’s not good for you to engage in activities that involve balancing and climbing, because maintaining balance isn’t an easy task during pregnancy. Besides, you absolutely shouldn’t breathe in chemicals contained in household products.
Baby Center warns that when it comes to chores, expecting moms need to either be very careful, or ask their partner, any other family member, or a maid, to do these things for them. Whatever option works for you, be sure to do it.
14 Most Importantly – No More Changing Cat Litter
Speaking about household chores, it’s especially important to mention that pregnant ladies should never handle cat litter. According to Baby Center, “cat poo can carry a parasite that causes the infection toxoplasmosis.” While this infection isn’t really serious for an adult (normally, we can clean after our feline pets and stay safe), it can be harmful to a developing baby. So you definitely don’t want to catch toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.
It means that if you still haven’t delegated this chore to someone else in your family, the second trimester is high time to do it!
Another thing you can do to avoid toxoplasmosis, even if you don’t have a cat, is thoroughly washing fruits and veggies before eating them.
13 No More Heavy Lifting
During pregnancy, we have a lot of extra back strain, because we are carrying our baby in the womb. According to Baby Center, “The whole way you hold yourself changes because your center of gravity moves forward.” And the further pregnancy goes, the bigger this strain becomes. For this reason, it’s highly recommended to stop lifting heavy loads when a woman comes into the second trimester.
“If you then exert yourself to lift your older child, a bucket of water, a bagful of groceries, a gas cylinder or if you try moving heavy furniture it increases the strain on your back, even more, putting you at risk for a back injury,” Baby Center warns us. So think twice before carrying around your toddler after the 13th week.
12 Amusement Park? Wait Till The Little One Is Born
For a pregnant woman, it's not the best idea to go to an amusement park. Even if she goes, she shouldn't even think about going on a waterslide or any other ride. The thing is, as Baby Center warns us, “a forceful landing or sudden start or stop could harm your baby.”
So visit an amusement park when your baby is born. It's going to be much more fun!
Other activities you should stop doing are downhill skiing, diving, contact sports, gymnastics, and horseback riding. Even if you’re experienced in either of them, it’s better to avoid the risks they potentially entail.
11 Stop Sitting Or Standing For Hours On End
But of course, avoiding certain activities doesn’t mean that you have to be absolutely passive. In fact, it’s not good for you or your baby if you stand or sit in the same position for hours. It can be a challenge for you if you’re a freelance writer (like me) or have any other job that requires you to sit for a long time. So, to avoid putting extra strain on your back, follow recommendations given by The Bump:
“If your job requires a lot of vertical time and you experience discomfort or swelling, try taking frequent breaks (sit or lie with your feet elevated), consuming plenty of fluids (10 cups a day), staying active, wearing compression stockings (even though they’re not so cute) and avoiding crossing your legs when you do sit.”
Doesn’t sound hard, does it?
10 Put Away All This Researching
We know you've been doing tons of research on everything related to pregnancy during the first weeks. So by week 13, you must have become an expert in this question. On the one hand, you know pretty much everything, but on the other hand, you might be confused about what you have read. After all, the internet is full of all kinds of information, and it’s hard to distinguish the advice you should follow from some sort of rubbish.
To avoid being bogged down by the huge amounts of contradictory information written online, in books or in magazines, Mom Junction gives this simple piece of advice. “Trust your instincts and when in doubt, talk to your practitioner.”
9 Some News For Turtle Lovers...
If you happen to have a pet turtle (or any other reptile whatsoever), you might have been glad that you don't have a cat and don't need to remove its litter. But, in fact, a turtle is not a completely safe animal, as well. At least, for a pregnant woman.
You should know that many specialists advise staying away from turtles, lizards, snakes, and other reptiles during pregnancy due to the potential risks. As Mom Junction puts it, “Their feces pass salmonella virus into your system and can be dangerous.”
So it’s a good idea to find a friend who will take care of your pet in the second and third trimester of your pregnancy.
8 Stop Using The Microwave
Are you used to heating your meals in a microwave oven? Then the second trimester of pregnancy is the high time to stop doing it. If you think that you totally can’t live without it and heating up meals on the cooker seems to be a catastrophe for you, then at least you should stay away from the microwave oven while it’s working.
The thing is, according to Mom Junction, microwave ovens “emit harmful electromagnetic radiation that could harm the fetus.” Even though not all practitioners agree with the degree of risk, it might be better to stay away from microwaves, just in case.
7 … And Some Other Electronic Appliances
Same goes to some other electronic appliances many of us are used to utilizing at home. Let’s take electronic blankets, for example. If you have one, you might know how well it keeps you warm at night. However, it’s better to switch to a good old ordinary blanket, when you come into the second trimester, because the low-level electromagnetic fields electronic blankets emit can be potentially harmful to the fetus.
According to Mom Junction, same goes to waterbed as well. Why? The same electromagnetic fields are to blame. So the idea is to try to avoid all electronic appliances that emit them. Again, better safe than sorry, right?
6 Mani-Pedi? Let Me Think About It!
Many of us are used to having our mani-pedi done once a week, once every two weeks, or so. But when you come into the second trimester, it’s advised not to do it so often.
As Baby Center puts it, “It's fine to use nail polish and nail polish remover during pregnancy, as long as you're careful. If you just want to paint your nails every now and then, you've got nothing to worry about. However, it's worth knowing that chemicals in nail polish can be harmful if you’re regularly exposed to them.”
So if you still haven’t changed your nail habits, it’s time to do it by the 13th week. Again, it doesn’t mean that you can't pamper yourself during pregnancy. Just be more careful.
5 Hair Dyeing? It Can Wait
Another beauty habit you might want to give up by the 13th week of pregnancy is dyeing your hair. The thing is, hair dye contains certain chemicals that can penetrate into your body through your scalp and cause a potential risk.
It means that to be on the safe side and avoid even a potential risk, it’s better to either dye your hair only a couple of times during pregnancy (not every month, as it’s usually done) or opt for natural dye, such as henna. Besides, as WebMD puts it, you can be grossed out by the smell of dye, so think again before going for it.
4 Say No To Sleepless Nights
During the first trimester, you might have been getting less sleep than usual due to the stress, morning sickness, and the need to go to work. But by the second trimester, you should think more about the benefits of good night sleep.
As Mom Loves Best mentions, there’re quite a few of them. For example, by getting enough sleep you will reduce your anxiety, help your fetus develop better, boost your immune system, and increase your energy level.
Besides, think about all the sleepless nights you’re going to have after your baby is born. Won’t you be missing the time, when you could get all the sleep you wanted, but missed it because of some silly work, household chores, shopping, or whatever?
3 Sleeping On The Back Is No Longer A Good Idea
Speaking of good night sleep, you should also know the position that will help you catch your z’s better. By the second trimester, you should start giving up the habit of sleeping on your back. According to the specialists, by the fourth month, you should certainly change your sleeping position. From now on, you should be lying on your left side.
“Lying on your left side after the fourth month minimizes pressure on your uterus and intestines and speeds up nutrients to the baby,” WebMD explains. “If you wake up in a different position, such as your back, flop over and start again. Lying on your back puts too much pressure on the vena cava, a major deep abdominal vein.”
2 Don't Ignore The Body's Signals
Many of us are used to ignoring the signals our body is sending to us. We think that they are just some minor things that don’t mean anything. But at times it turns out that they actually mean something serious and we could’ve avoided the trouble if we just had paid attention to them.
As Parenting puts it, “Sooner or later, every mom realizes an important truth: You don't have time to get sick. So it becomes second nature to overlook the messages your body is sending you - symptoms that would send you straight to the doctor if your kids complained of them.”
Addressing unpleasant symptoms during pregnancy is especially important because during this period you’re responsible not only for yourself but also for your child. So please stop ignoring your body by week 13. Or sooner.
1 Stop Postponing Boring But Important Stuff
Most pregnant women only want to enjoy this special period. They like to meet their friends, who might also be pregnant or already have kids. They like to buy something for their future baby and they love indulging in whichever pleasures they can afford. Few pregnant ladies think about more boring stuff, like preparing a budget for delivery and the time the baby is born, getting pregnancy insurance, or checking out maternity benefits. But, in fact, all this boring stuff is really important.
According to Mom Junction, some of the must-do things during the second trimester are finding maternity centers in your area, preparing your older kids (and pets) for the baby, planning your maternity leave, and investing in baby-proofing your house. Doing all these things will make your transition to the third trimester, and then to motherhood, much smoother!
Sources: Mom Junction, First Cry, Baby Center, The Bump, WebMD, Mom Loves Best, Parenting, Health Line