By Jennifer Jordan
Pregnancy is an exciting time in one’s life and to ensure you and your unborn child are as safe as possible here is a list of tasks and chores to avoid while pregnant.
- Hot tubs – Sitting in hot tubs during pregnancy can cause hyperthermia which is an abnormally high body temperature. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that becoming overheated in a hot tub is not recommended during pregnancy.
- Lifting heavy objects – Listen carefully to your healthcare provider and follow their guidelines as to how much weight you can carry. During pregnancy your ligaments loosen and as your belly grows your center of gravity shifts forward. This puts more pressure on your lower back which makes it more vulnerable to strain. With the shift in your center of gravity it is easier to get off balance which puts you at greater risk for a fall.
- Changing the litter box - litter boxes can expose you to toxoplasmosis a parasitic infection transmitted through cat feces that can be very dangerous to the fetus.
- Vacuuming and sweeping – vacuuming, sweeping and frequent bending can lead to sciatica which is a swelling of the sciatic nerve that runs down the back of the legs. Sciatica can be extremely painful and symptoms include sharp lower back pain and numbness in the lower back. If you experience these symptoms take a break and get off your feet to relive the pressure on your back.
- Limit chemical cleaners – the fumes from chemical cleaners can make you nauseated and mixing chemicals can be very dangerous if inhaled. A safe alternative is to make your own safe cleaning supplies by mixing white vinegar and water for an all purpose cleaning solution, baking soda is excellent for removing hard-water stains and hydrogen peroxide is a safe bleach alternative.
Keep Baby Safe
Don’t feel bad about using the pregnancy card and avoid the above tasks and chores while pregnant. Your most important job right now is to keep you and your baby safe!
