1. Don’t smoke

Babies born to women who smoke during pregnancy are more likelyTrusted Source to have a lower birth weight and are at a greater risk for learning disabilities than children born to nonsmoking mothers. 2. Don’t drink alcohol Alcohol may greatly impact your baby’s development. People who drink alcohol while pregnant couldTrusted Source deliver a baby with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Symptoms of FAS include: • low birth weight • learning disabilities • behavior problems • lagging patterns in terms of growth and development milestones 3. Don’t eat raw meat Raw and undercooked meat and eggs carry the risk of foodborne illness, such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis. Food poisoning is also a possibility. 4. Don’t eat deli meat Deli meats — including hot dogs, sausages, smoked salmon, and other cured meats — can cause foodborne illness, such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis. Meats that are sliced have far more surface area for bacterial growth. Thoroughly cooking these processed proteins well reduces your risk. 5. Don’t eat unpasteurized milk products Calcium is very important for growing babies, but moms have to be careful how they get their calcium from dairy. Raw milk isn’t recommendedTrusted Source for expecting mothers since it’s unpasteurized. This means it hasn’t been heated to kill bacteria that could make you ill. Specifically, raw milk may contain the bacteria Listeria. It can lead to illness, miscarriage, or even life-threatening consequences.