There's a common saying that pregnancy is supposed to be the best time in a woman's life. But many women who have been pregnant might not agree with that, although the end result is almost always sweet, with a tiny bundle of joy taking up space that overcomes all the troubles of the previous 9 months.

More often, there are a host of precautions that pregnant women have to take, and a lot of lifestyle decisions to make, anew!

So here we identify the dos and don'ts for a safer and healthier pregnancy. 

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

The List

• Tobacco, smoking, vaping, and e-cigarettes must all be avoided, as well as passive smoking. 
•  Avoid drinking alcohol, while trying to conceive or after pregnancy, for the entirety of conception and gestational period, for the baby's health. This cannot be stressed enough.  
•  Consume a well-balanced diet with all the greens and yellows.
•  Boil your food before eating. Fresh salad needs to be washed and cleaned before consumption.
•  Be active, actually make an effort to move around every day.
•  Blood pressure and diabetes must be checked and maintained.
•  Lose weight before conceiving, so that overall weight after pregnancy does not affect your health.
•  If you are underweight on the other hand, try to gain weight to reach an optimum level.
•  Reduce stress, listen to soothing music, watch feel-good movies and practice free hand gentle exercises.
•  Lead a life free of violence, make friends, and smile often.