While 4 months pregnant, avoid smoking, alcohol, drugs, excessive caffeine, and certain medications; steer clear of high-mercury fish, raw/undercooked foods, and unpasteurized dairy; and skip activities like heavy lifting, contact sports, overheating (saunas/hot tubs), and changing cat litter to prevent infections like toxoplasmosis, always consulting your doctor for personalized guidance.
You should also avoid exercises where you could fall, like ice skating or downhill skiing. Your doctor may recommend not exercising during pregnancy if you have certain risks or health problems. Doctors may suggest you avoid exercise, or some forms of exercise, if: You have a heart or lung condition.
DANGER SIGNS DURING PREGNANCY
Don't eat undercooked meat, poultry or eggs
By month four, it'll have eyelids, eyebrows, eyelashes, nails and hair. The fetus will also be able to stretch, make faces and even suck its thumb. Your pregnancy care provider will soon be able to determine the sex of the fetus on an ultrasound — often around 20 weeks.
There's no single "hardest" month, as challenges vary, but many find the first trimester tough due to nausea, fatigue, and hormonal shifts, while the third trimester (months 7-9) often brings the most physical discomfort from the baby's size, affecting sleep, mobility, and causing aches, heartburn, and frequent urination. The difficulty often shifts as pregnancy progresses, with the first months focused on adjustment and the later months on physical strain and preparation for birth.
Most women don't feel their baby move until month 5 (weeks 17-20) or month 6 (weeks 21-24). You may feel it as early as week 14 and as late as week 26. At first, your baby's movements may feel like nothing more than a very gentle flutter. Some women don't even realize that what they're feeling is their moving baby.
Oranges and citrus fruits are particularly high in vitamin C and folate. Folate is crucial early in pregnancy for preventing neural tube defects. They also have a high water content, which can help with hydration.
During pregnancy, avoid raw/undercooked meats, seafood (like sushi, smoked fish), and eggs to prevent bacteria; limit high-mercury fish (shark, marlin); skip soft cheeses, deli meats, pâté, and unpasteurized dairy due to Listeria risk; avoid unwashed produce and sprouts; and cut out alcohol, while moderating caffeine, to protect your baby from infections, bacteria, mercury, and other harmful effects.
The "3-2-1 Rule" in pregnancy is a guideline for first-time mothers to know when to call their midwife or doctor for active labor: consistent contractions that are 3 minutes apart, lasting 2 minutes each, for 1 hour (or sometimes cited as 3-1-1, meaning 3 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour). For subsequent pregnancies, the 5-1-1 Rule (5 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour) is often used, indicating labor is progressing more quickly.
Red flags to look out for in pregnant women include severe back pain, bleeding, headaches, and high fever.
In this blog, we have curated a list of the best movies for you to watch when you are on your journey to motherhood
There's no perfect time to share your pregnancy—do what feels right for you. Many wait until after the first trimester. Miscarriage risk drops after 13 weeks, but it's also OK to tell trusted loved ones earlier for support.
Here are ten tips to help you relax in pregnancy.
Over time, that position can become uncomfortable. But it's OK to sleep on your stomach if it is comfortable. Lying on your back is not advised because of pressure on the inferior vena cava. That is a major vein that returns blood from the lower body to the heart.
Routine walking for 30 minutes can make blood circulation, and the heart work more smoothly. To avoid getting dehydrated, you can bring a drink with you when you exercise and avoid roads that are uphill or too steep, especially if you do it as a sport for young pregnant women.
While most fruits are safe and healthy during pregnancy, pregnant individuals should avoid unripe papaya, which contains latex that can cause contractions, and consume pineapple, grapes, and dates in moderation, especially in the first trimester, due to enzymes or high sugar content that might trigger early labor or blood sugar spikes. Thoroughly washing all fresh fruit and avoiding pre-cut or bruised produce is crucial to prevent foodborne illness, and it's always best to consult your doctor for personalized advice.
Toxoplasmosis (tok-so-plaz-MOE-sis) is an infection with a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. People often get the infection from eating undercooked meat. You can also get it from contact with cat feces. The parasite can pass to a baby during pregnancy.
Certain nutrients, such as vitamins A, C, and E, folic acid tablets, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants, are particularly beneficial for promoting healthy skin development and fair complexion for the baby during pregnancy.
Focus on eating wholegrain foods (whole wheat flour chapati, whole wheat bread, brown rice and oats), foods that are rich in protein (eggs, fish, chicken, lentils and soya) and folate (green leafy vegetables). These can help improve your health.
Top 10 Foods Rich in Folic Acid and How to Add Them to Your Diet
Protein — supports growth
Protein is crucial for the growth of your unborn baby, also called a fetus. Good sources: Lean meat, poultry, seafood and eggs are great sources of protein. Other options include beans and peas, nuts, seeds, and soy products. Based on FoodData Central.
Common symptoms may include round ligament pain, sensitive gums, nasal congestion, and stretch marks. Food cravings and vivid dreams are also common. Your baby is growing fast, now about 5 inches long and beginning to make fists, swallow amniotic fluid, and even hear sounds.
Quickening is when a pregnant woman starts to feel fetal movement in her uterus. It feels like flutters, bubbles or tiny pulses. Quickening happens around 16 to 20 weeks in pregnancy, but some women may feel it sooner or later.
Your second-trimester checklist