Assessing risk is so personal. Last time I cycled (slowly, down a tow path) til about 28 weeks. Some were horrified. I tried to point out that I could also have fallen in the crowds going down the steps at Clapham junction (more easily, in my opinion).
Interestingly, there’s always the perception that in France they are very free and easy, whereas my experience of there (I’ve lived there and had a French boyfriend for years) is rather different. A nation of hypochondriacs, mostly. :-) Their medical advice for pregnancy is more restrictive than the UK. For caffeine, for example, they say you should be v aware that caffeine can not only lead to miscarriage but can also hinder the placement of iron in baby. I’ve NEVER read that in any UK or US book so I was surprised by the argument but I have heard before about tannins and calcium. I’ve had one cup of coffee and one cup of tea a day which isn’t too bad – definitely less than the UK 200mg rule.
I have abstained entirely from alcohol – alcohol free beer is totally drinkable and good for morale if everyone else is drinking, I find. Also stops people bugging you “oh just one beer won’t harm, my mother drank, etc etc”. It’s OUR decision and I have never made a remark to anyone else who’s drinking, but we have chosen for me not to drink. Personally, I don’t find alcohol necessary and whilst many people drink small amounts and their babies are absolutely FINE, I read some research showing that even small amounts cannot be guaranteed to be absolutely safe, therefore decided that, for me, I preferred to avoid it. Again, though, I have taken other risks (headstands in yoga, say, which some would regard as reckless).
Food wise, again, France says no crustaceans or molluscs (hepatitis a) and various other things not even mentioned in the UK (eg game). The French advice I read also says raw veges fine as long as washed or peeled. The UK says no liver but Hungary says eat liver, it’s got lots of iron. So, frankly, I think all the food stuff is worth thinking about. I have had a couple of runny eggs (from lion stamped) but wouldn’t eat pate. But all this talk is making me want it!
In Canada they advise against eating anything with artificial sweeteners (aspartame etc). In France they’re a bit anti soya products – I think it alledgedly can have an impact on the development of sexuality.
As for waking sleeping babies… I woke DD to feed her during the day, as I subscribed to the theory that you’re supposed to get all the calories in during the day so they sleep better at night. It didn’t bloody work, she was a CRAP sleeper. So not sure what I’ll do this time. I certainly would NOT wake a sleeping baby at night, unless it was dangerously low in weight.