Both alcohol and street drugs are dangerous to babies, and can even cause them to be stillborn or have devastating birth defects. Many babies born to women who use drugs or alcohol have painful withdrawal symptoms after they are born. If you have an addiction to alcohol or drugs, now is the time to get help from your doctor. Since caffeine may be linked to miscarriage and fetal growth restriction, most doctors suggest limiting caffeine intake to 2 cups of coffee or 3 soft drinks, or less, per day. Exercise is generally an excellent idea during pregnancy, but very heavy exercise, for instance running marathons, water skiing, and vigorously riding personal watercraft may be unhealthy for the baby.
Swimming is an excellent all-around exercise during pregnancy.
Hot tubs and very hot baths are probably not a good idea during pregnancy, particularly during the first few months. This is because excessive heat has been linked to birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly. If you have a family history of sickle cell, thallasemia, mental retardation, Tay Sachs, or any other inherited diseases, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss special testing. Although many medications are safe for use during pregnancy, some may be harmful to your baby. Contrary to popular belief the hormones from the birth control pill are out of your system within a few days, and, regardless, they have not been found to be harmful to an unborn baby.