Do's and Don'ts for Pregnants.

1. Do get enough sleep . Your metabolic rate increases by one-fifth in pregnancy, so it's no wonder you feel so tired! Nap during the day if you can, and get plenty of early nights. 2. Don't drink alcohol . Alcohol is the biggest taboo of all — if you fall pregnant, you mustn't drink.  "It's not the amount consumed over the duration of pregnancy, but the peaks, the short-term high level of alcohol in the blood crossing the placenta interferes with growth of the baby," says Robert Fraser, consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology. So, if you do drink, certainly have no more than two, twice a week. But given different women metabolise alcohol at different rates, there's really only one completely risk-free amount. And that is, like it or not — none at all. 3. Do eat well. Make sure you eat a balanced diet ; reduce the amount of fats and sugars you eat, and step up your protein and carbohydrate intake, which will provide slow-release energy. Eating small, frequent meals can help to combat pregnancy sickness. 4. Don't dye your hair . That will cover your entire head and the dyes usually saturate the scalp and could be absorbed into your system. 5. Do have regular prenatal care appointments with a health caregiver who can check on you and your baby. 6. Don't take too much caffeine. Caffeine reduces calcium and water in your body, raises stress hormones, and can change your baby's heart rate. Do limit caffeine consumption to 1-2 cups a day. 7. Do try to stay away from toxic chemicals, like pesticides and some cleaning agents, by washing fruits and vegetables , wearing protective gear such as gloves or a mask, or asking someone else to do the task. 8. Don't get secondhand smoke . You may have given up cigarettes, but if your mate's still puffing away, your baby's getting hefty doses of the 43 cancer-causing chemicals in cigarette smoke. In fact, exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy raises the risk of low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, and other health problems. So ask your partner to quit or to cut down—if not for his own health, then for yours and your baby's. And tell anyone who lights up around you to kindly take it outside. 9. Do create a birth plan describing your wishes, concerns, and how you'd like to be cared for during labor and birth. 10. Don't overheat yourself and the baby. Soaking in the hot tub or relaxing in a sauna may seem like the perfect way to pamper your pregnant body, but raising your core temperature—especially during the first trimester—may boost the odds of birth defects. It's safe to soak in a lukewarm bath, though. Just make sure that the temperature is not above 100 degrees and that you get out after about ten minutes. Sustained exercise in very hot, humid weather can also raise your core temperature. When you do exercise, be sure to drink liquids before, during, and after, and if you find that you're heating up, take a five- or ten-minute breather.

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