Consider these small changes to your regimen to ensure the best health for you and your baby

GREEN LIGHT

Baths: “it’s an old wives’ tale that you can’t take baths while you’re pregnant,” says ob-gyn Laura Riley, M.D., author of You & Your Baby: Pregnancy (Meredith Books).

Hair color and relaxers: Riley relaxed her hair while pregnant, though ob-gyn Jalpa Kim, M.D., at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, suggests avoiding these chemical processes in the first trimester, a critical time for your developing fetus.

RED LIGHT

Teeth whitening: The American Dental Association cautions against it. “The key is to have regular dental checkups as gum disease is linked to preterm delivery, which is already a risk for us,” says Riley.

Saunas, steam rooms and Jacuzzis: At many spas and fitness centers, pregnant women are advised not to use these facilities. “An elevated body temperature increases the risk of birth defects,” Riley explains.