7 Things You Should Do When You're Pregnant And 7 You Shouldn't

Pay attention to what you eat when pregnant. Dr. Sherry Ross, OB/GYN, told The List that it's especially important to avoid raw or undercooked foods. "Food poisoning can occur when eating raw vegetables, unpasteurized juices, and undercooked meat, poultry, or eggs that can be linked with salmonella and Escherichia coli bacteria," she said. "Cooking properly and thoroughly kills bacteria in the majority of foods."

Also be careful about eating fish, whether raw or cooked. Dr. Ross shared, "Eating raw fish, such as sushi, has not been recommended in pregnancy since it can carry certain bacteria and parasites. Mercury is very toxic and can cause problems to the fetus and to the newborn nursing infant." She noted that fish like halibut and tuna "have increased mercury levels and cause the most concern for consumption by pregnant women."

But you don't have to stop eating fish. Dr. Ross noted, "A pregnant woman can safely eat 12 ounces per week of varieties of fish thought to be low in mercury. The safest fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, scallops, oysters, squid, and salmon."

While it's never fun to get sick, it's especially important to take care of your health when you're pregnant. Board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Lakeisha Richardson told The List, "Women who are pregnant should always isolate themselves from sick family members, even their kids, if they have infectious diseases such as influenza, fifth disease, chicken pox, or pneumonia."

One of the best ways to keep yourself healthy is to get a flu shot. Dr. Richardson added, "Women who are pregnant during flu season should always receive a flu vaccine unless they are allergic to the vaccine. The risk of death and complications during pregnancy due to influenza is almost double when compared to non-pregnant women."

You can also take care of yourself by dressing safely. Caitlin Hoff, a health investigator at ConsumerSafety.org told The List, "Ditch the heels, and stick to sneakers. As a pregnant woman grows bigger and rounder in her stomach, her center of gravity will be off balance. To avoid a sprained ankle or unfortunate fall that could harm both mother and child, stick to smaller heels, flats, or your most comfortable sneakers to keep both you and your baby safe."

Even though it's easy to want to stop exercising when you're pregnant — especially if you're experiencing nausea and vomiting in your first trimester — it's very important to keep working out. Dr. Richardson told The List, "Pregnant women should continue their previous exercise routine during pregnancy and strive to maintain a healthy weight throughout the pregnancy."

Dr. Sherry Ross, an OB/GYN, agreed, adding, "Exercising in pregnancy should be a part of every pregnant woman's daily routine. It is not only incredibly beneficial for a pregnant woman but also for her growing baby. Pregnancy affects joint stability, balance, coordination, and heart rate fluctuations so choosing a safe exercise is very important."

Ross has some ideas for you. She shared, "The best exercises in pregnancy include brisk walking, light jogging, swimming, recumbent cycling, yoga, elliptical, and other stationary work-out machines. Exercises to be avoided include contact sports such as boxing, soccer and basketball, snow skiing, racquet sports, and scuba diving." Need another reason to keep exercising? Ross pointed out, "Exercise will also make it easier for you to get back in shape after the baby is born."

You might want to just focus on the excitement of having a baby and forget about the impact your newborn will have on your work. But it's essential you make plans when pregnant so you'll be prepared.

Lori Mihalich-Levin, JD, founder and author of Mindful Return, suggested, "Check in with HR. Find out from them what their leave policies are and what Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) forms you'll need to fill out. Don't forget to ask about benefits, too. Will any retirement match you receive continue when you're on FMLA? How do you add your baby to your insurance?"

Mihalich-Levin suggested, "Develop your maternity leave transition plan. You'll need to start thinking about what your job entails, who will take over your responsibilities, how much time you'll take off, and how you'll transition back. Think about putting your whole plan in one document you can share with your supervisor and HR." She added, "If you'll be returning to work after maternity leave, start thinking through who you'd like to care for your little one." The more prepared you are now, the less stressed you will feel later on.

If you're pregnant with your first baby, you would be wise to prepare as much as you can. Elly Taylor, parenthood expert, told The List, "We call it expecting, but we really should call it preparing. There's lots of things pregnant couples can do to prepare for when their baby to joins them and research show that birth classes which include preparing for life after baby can actually lead to a better birth!"

She recommended, "Start by talking with friends and family who have a new baby to get an idea of both the challenges and the joys, or seek out a childbirth educator who also covers after you get the baby home stuff, so you have some idea what to prepare for."

Mindful Return author Lori Mihalich-Levin suggested you also think about ways to make your life easier once your baby arrives. She said, "Think about ways that you can delegate and automate processes. Buy a slow cooker. Explore food delivery options. Research baby nurses and postpartum doulas in your area. See if there's a local teenager you can recruit to be a parents' helper a few hours a week."

Having a baby will increase your stress levels, no matter how well prepared you are. One way to minimize that stress is to take care of yourself. Parenting expert Elly Taylor told The List, "Start to build self-care into your days and weeks. Parenthood is a marathon and good habits now can help you cope with the early chaos and exhaustion of life with a newborn."

She added, "Look at your nutrition — how much energy does it provide you with? Cook and freeze healthy meals, so you have them to hand for at least your first month. What do you do for stress relief? What about your partner's stress relief activities? Think about some family friendly activities that ideally you can do together and then continue after the baby comes."

ConsumerSafety.org health investigator Caitlin Hoff also stressed the importance of self-care when pregnant. She said, "If there was one time in a woman's life that self-care was the highest priority on her list, it would be and should be during her pregnancy. Keeping stress at bay, leading a healthy, active lifestyle, and being proactive with regular doctor's check-ups are of utmost importance for both mother and child."

When you're pregnant, you should take prenatal screenings. They can prepare you for pregnancy complications like premature delivery and the risk of having a baby with a genetic condition.

Dr. Jill Hechtman, OB/GYN, told The List, "There are some tests that are routine for all pregnant patients, and then there are special ones. For example, the PreTRM test, is a blood test done during the 19th or 20th week of pregnancy that predicts your individualized risk of delivering prematurely."

She added, "There are different options available to determine your baby's risk of being born with a genetic condition. An example is the NIPT, or non-invasive prenatal test, which is a simple blood test done after ten weeks of pregnancy to see if you are at risk of having a baby with a genetic condition like Down Syndrome. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor may recommend an amniocentesis or CVS (chorionic villus sampling) to confirm if your baby is affected."

You'll want to do some of the more common tests, too, like an ultrasound "to identify your gestational age," "give you an estimated due date,"and "look at your baby's anatomy and growth."

Pregnancy is a time of change, and, while you may want to get it over with as quickly as possible, try to enjoy it instead. OB/GYN Dr. Jill Hechtman told The List, "Pregnancy is a magical time and I ask you to embrace it!" And, according to the doctor, that includes any and all "stretch marks, hemorrhoids, weight gain, discharge, constipation, melasma, and morning sickness" that can be a part of "the miserable parts of pregnancy." Discussing the period of pregnancy, Hechtman added to The List in an interview, "Embrace it, you are creating a human being!"

If you approach your time being pregnant with an attitude of acceptance, you will get through the sometimes-stressful period before welcoming a new life to the work much more happily. And who wouldn't want that? After all, before you know it, you'll be welcoming a brand new member into your family!