What should not be eaten during early pregnancy?

Generally, during early pregnancy, foods to avoid include raw, cold, and cooling foods; fried and spicy foods; foods containing caffeine; foods with excessive additives; and cold-natured fruits. Medications to avoid include tetracycline antibiotics, blood-activating and stasis-resolving drugs, antifungal medications, anti-tuberculosis drugs, and sedative-hypnotic medications. If a pregnant woman experiences any discomfort during early pregnancy, she should seek medical attention promptly to prevent delays in treatment. The details are as follows:

I. Foods to Avoid

1. Raw, Cold, and Cooling Foods

Foods such as watermelon, pears, crab, and soft-shelled turtle are considered cold in nature. Consumption by pregnant women may irritate the gastrointestinal tract, leading to abdominal pain and diarrhea, which can negatively affect fetal development.

2. Fried and Spicy Foods

Examples include barbecued foods, hot pot, spicy hot pot, and fried chicken. These foods are high in calories and may increase the burden on the digestive system, causing indigestion or heatiness, which is detrimental to both maternal and fetal health.

3. Foods Containing Caffeine

Coffee, strong tea, chocolate, and similar items contain significant amounts of caffeine. Consuming these may interfere with the absorption of calcium and iron. Long-term consumption could lead to poor fetal development.

4. Foods with Excessive Additives

Such as instant noodles, sausages, milk tea, and jelly. Excessive intake may impair fetal nutrient absorption and adversely affect growth and development.

5. Cold-Natured Fruits

Fruits like grapefruit, dragon fruit, and watermelon are considered cooling in nature. Consumption may cause abdominal pain and diarrhea in pregnant women, which is not conducive to healthy fetal development.

II. Medications to Avoid

1. Tetracycline-Class Medications

Tetracycline-class drugs include oxytetracycline tablets, doxycycline hydrochloride capsules, and chlortetracycline hydrochloride eye ointment. These are well-known teratogenic agents. When used during early pregnancy, they can cross the placental barrier and enter the fetal body, adversely affecting the development of the fetus's teeth and bones. Therefore, they must be avoided.

2. Blood-Activating and Stasis-Resolving Medications

Examples include Guizhi Fuling Capsules, Yimucao Granules, and Xuefu Zhuyu Capsules. These medications may cause endometrial shedding and vaginal bleeding, and in severe cases, may lead to miscarriage.

3. Antifungal Medications

Antifungal drugs such as fluconazole capsules, salicylic acid ointment, and itraconazole capsules may cause fetal malformations or miscarriage if taken during early pregnancy.

4. Anti-Tuberculosis Medications

Anti-tuberculosis drugs are medications with anti-tubercular activity. Common examples include isoniazid tablets, rifampicin capsules, and kanamycin sulfate capsules. Taking these during pregnancy may result in fetal nervous system abnormalities or even trigger miscarriage.

5. Sedative-Hypnotic Medications

Sedative-hypnotic drugs, such as estazolam tablets, alprazolam tablets, and diazepam tablets, may cause fetal malformations and increase the risk of threatened miscarriage if used during early pregnancy.

Pregnant women are advised to maintain a cheerful mood in daily life, which benefits both fetal development and their own health.