Diet

[Angel2008]

Hi all

I am TTC #1 and although I know it may be months before anything happens, I am trying to be semi-healthy. My diet is generally good and I have given up smoking (with the odd re-lapse, prob had 4 cigs in stressful moments since last period, am on CD 25), drinking to excess (have 1 glass of red wine each evening), all painkillers except paracetemol very occasionally, tea, coffee, diet coke, blue/soft cheese, prawns, and only eat a bit of canned tuna (once or twice a week).

Firstly does this sound sensible? Or am I drinking too much? It is difficult giving up so much at once (I used to smoke 15 cigs a day, drink a couple of cups of coffee and a couple of diet cokes) - a glass of wine kind of takes the edge of the day but I know I won't be able to carry on like this if/when I get pregnant. I only have red wine.

Secondly, I have replaced coffee with green tea. I thought I was being quite healthy but apparently green tea has caffeine in it! Should I cut this out now/when I get pregnant? I probably have 2 cups a day. I know you can get caffeine-free teas and coffees and my friend drunk these throughout her pregnancy and one normal cup of tea a day.

Lastly, the smoking. I know a lot of people continue to smoke, drink to excess etc until they find out they are pregnant, but I am worried about the couple of cigarettes I smoked.

Bump

It's not just down to diet and lifestyle and it also takes two.

We had trouble conceiving and it turned out DH's bout of mumps in his twenties (!) may have been to blame. We were told at the time that it's quality and not quantity and that both of our diets and lifestyles made a difference.

Did you know that general household cleaners and room freshners etc are believed to change hormones? We switched to organic food and cut out processed as much as possible. We also try to use as little chemicals as possible. We now have three LO's.

I was told by the Consultant that paracetamol can stop the egg from breaking out of the ovary and was advised to steer clear.

It can take AGES to get pregnant. Everything in moderation. HTH

Hi Detta

Thanks for your message ... not been trying for that long (only on 2nd cycle now), so not worried about not being able to conceive (yet!). It's more a concern as to whether my diet now is reasonable, bearing in mind I am trying to get pregnant or may already be pregnant. We eat quite a lot of fruit and veg, smoothies, whole grains, hummous, nuts and seeds etc. Mostly I try to buy organic but can't afford for our entire shop to be organic.

Will steer clear of the paracetamol - thanks!

Did you cut out alcohol and caffeine altogether when TTC?

Are you taking folic acid? Pretty important.

I personally didn't over-worry about blue cheese/seafood even in pregnancy, and certainly didn't give anything up until I knew I was up the duff - but I ate pretty healthily, drank little booze, and have never smoked anyway.

Re caffeine - there is caffeine in green tea, but it is a fraction of the amount in coffee. And iirc you are ok with a cup or two of normal tea and coffee in pregnancy. If you can stomach it that is....

Hi Mazzy

Yep I take my folic acid in pregnancy tablets in the morning and have cut out other vitamin supplements

Thanks for your help.

I didn't cut out caffeine and alcohol altogether. After the first trimester I had one or two glasses of wine a week. I had an irregular heart beat and palpitations which I found were made worse by decaffeinated tea and coffee!!! I just drank plenty of hot water.

My mother said that when she was expecting us all she could keep down was tea and doesn't know how we all ended up being such big babies (smallest 8lb7oz largest 11lb4oz me)!

I think you're doing fine. The fact that you are aware of your diet and what you are putting into your body will ensure that you don't do anything hugely harmful to yourself or possible foetus. Good luck with the trying