These nine months may be the most challenging months of your life. With your body undergoing a number of changes, you need to be extra careful about yourself as well as your surroundings. And watching your diet should on top of your list. Here are a list of things you must avoid to ensure a smooth pregnancy.

Skip aerated or caffeine-based beverages like coffee, tea and colas. Too much caffeine may affect the growth of baby. A recent study said that pregnant women who consume even about a cup of coffee everyday are at a higher risk of giving birth to an underweight baby. Cut down your consumption drastically if you can't go without your daily fix.

Avoid eating foods that have been prepared with maida. Likewise try and cut down on eating foods that are high in sugar content. Although not scientifically proven, including large quantities of nutmeg in your meals can be detrimental.

Seafood that is high in mercury should be strictly avoided. Swordfish, shark and king mackerel are among these. Raw fish may contain listeria, a bacteria that can cause food poisoning. While canned seafood is considered safe, skip smoked or frozen seafood like oysters, sushi, sashimi, and smoked salmon.

Unpasteurised milk may contain listeria, which can cross the placenta and lead to infection or blood poisoning in the baby. Ensure that the milk you drink is pasteurised.

Stay away from mould-ripened cheese (cheese that has a blue vein in it) like brie or camembert. Make sure you cook raw eggs. When the eggs are cooked, see that the yolk and white are firm.