Which advice did you follow regarding what to do/what not to do during your pregnancy?

[RiskIt4Biscuit]

Hi, I'm around 5 weeks pregnant, and am looking at all of the advice for pregnant women - about eating certain things, avoiding eating certain other things, exercising and so on.

Personally, I'm eating as recommended, and I'm exercising a bit (long walks with the dog, pilates).
I'm fine with not wearing perfume, and I'm not using my usual aerosol products like deodorant and hairspray.
I'm cleaning a bit more - without harsh chemicals, and the windows at home are open most of the day.
I've binned some of my skincare products because they contained some of the (potentially?) dodgy parabens.
I am struggling a little bit with not using makeup/skincare products and I really would like to continue to wear a bit of moisturiser, SPF, lipstick and foundation on a daily basis.

I was wondering which habits you changed after getting pregnant;
did you follow the advice regarding what to eat and what not to eat, did you stop using makeup,
not using sprays/aerosols,
not using perfume/scented products
change detergent, soap and other products to unscented versions,
did you make sure to clean more often and open windows twice a day to get fresh air in the home,
avoid parabens/other specific ingredients in food or personal care products
or anything else?

I feel like there is a lot of advice around, and it is quite overwhelming.

I've avoided alcohol (though I was never much of a drinker anyway!) and don't smoke. I've avoided foods like pate, certain cheeses, cured meats, egg (more due to an aversion than anything) and switched to decaffe tea/coffee.

I did look into whether I should change/restrict the make-up and fragrances I use as I'd read something about it but, in all honesty, I found it confusing so I've just stuck to my usual products.

I haven't been out digging in the garden without gloves and avoided changing the cat litter (huge bonus!). I wash fruit and veg (though I don't always remember to do this!) and take a prenatal vitamin. I could do with exercising a bit more though I do walk a little bit each day to work.

I really think all pregnant women should be given a copy of expecting better by Emily oster when they get a positive test. There is so much nonsense out there. Actual science and recommendations that are backed up by research.

Hmmm. It’s an ok book but she’s not got a deep grasp of the science. I’ve read it and I know there were a couple of bits I disagreed with. I think she’s an economist?

I know also that a few of the things I’ve avoided I’ve done so on the basis of my own past work/work of others. So I can’t rule out a risk even though there’s no specific guideline out there.

At the end of the day the NHS guidelines are pretty sensible and reasonable. If you follow those you won’t go far wrong.

I follow the NHS food/drink guidelines and make an effort to sleep on my left side in the third trimester (doesn’t always work).
Exactly the same as my previous 2 healthy pregnancies.

Re/Perfume - I though that was post pregnancy not during? I remember being told at the NCT course not to wear perfume once the baby arrives because it distracts from your natural scent. I thought that made sense particularly when they can’t see all that well at the start and they are sniffing you out! Bonding etc.

What?! I shouldn’t be wearing perfume!?
38 weeks and wasn’t aware this is a thing.

I've stopped eating the food that we're not meant to, and obviously not drinking. Other than that I can't say I've changed much. I'm still cleaning, wearing deodorant and all of my usual skincare items, I hadn't been aware we weren't meant to and this is my second pregnancy!

I certainly haven’t been cleaning more than usual, I can’t fit it in between looking after 2 pre schoolers and vomiting 10 times a day.

I look at the nhs website in the first instance then make a decision based on the level of risk I'm prepared to accept. E.g. I've had the odd half of (as weak as I can find) lager and polished off a bit of brie at Christmas but I've avoided fresh oysters and liver altogether (I would usually eat both fairly regularly) and have taken the recommended vitamins throughout. If I've heard about something that's supposedly bad for me or little driver and it's not mentioned in the nhs guidance then I have dismissed it and haven't given it another thought

I didn't stop with any cosmetics etc. Took loads of baths esp in the third trimester as I was all aches and pains. Paracetamol is fine during pregnancy, surprisingly, up to a fairly hefty amount. 8 tablets or something mad. I stayed away from litter boxes and DH had to administer all animal drugs.

Have three DC and am pregnant with my fourth, never heard advice not to wear perfume or use aerosols and I always have done both. No known ill effects to my little blighters . My DGM tried warning me off harsh cleaning products when I was pregnant the first time but I like a clean house so I still used them and I do now. I also always carried on eating runny eggs which it transpires are now absolutely fine (genius I am ). Don’t massive restrict caffeine and drank a lot of lucozade during my first pregnancy due to sickness- he’s fine.

Basically I don’t listen to most of it aside from smoking, drinking and drugs- most of which I’ve never done or rarely do anyway.

Oh and I’ve always continued to bath.

I followed NHS advice I think - looked at the FSA for food and spent half my second pregnancy telling people that no, there was no reason to avoid shop-bought sushi... (It was one thing I could keep down and I craved fish, egg and tofu). I avoided pate and buffets. But did have the odd glass of wine - I had a holiday in France round 16 weeks and was ordered by GP and MW to have a small glass of wine with dinner each night! The French waiters were very understanding and brought out small glasses of extra nice wine...

I never wear perfume and liked scents even less when pregnant so that wasn't an issue, and did very little cleaning! Did avoid hair dye, but partly because my skin was very sensitive and I felt even a strand test might hurt.

Most supermarket soft cheese like brie is pasteurised so I checked labels and ate it anyway.
My mum and others thought I shouldn't go to a loud heavy metal gig. It was fab.

I actually found out I was pregnant when I went to a spa and felt really uncomfortable and faint in the sauna, so got out. Same thing happened a few times that day so I got out and spent the afternoon in the jacuzzi instead (in fresh air). I got faint pretty easily so for some time did avoid baths unless DP was on hand to assist.

I am currentl 19+1 and have been following the NHS guidlines re food and alcohol (I dont smoke anyway).

I have continued having hot baths and although I fall asleep on my side I almost always wake up on my back.

I have recently come back from a holiday in Eygpt and I did make an effort to make sure I was in the shade and using a high spf.

The one thing I have gone agaisnt advice is that I own a horse and have carried on riding. I have ridden all my life and It has kept me active. I have stopped competing and jumping though as I felt it wasnt worth taking the extra risk. I will probably stop in the next couple of months as and when I get too uncomfortable to do it.

I'm 12 weeks with #2and wear make up, perfume, deodorant etc. I've never heard anything to the contrary! Food and drinks are the ones to watch imo. If you followed every thing everyone said you'd never leave the house!

Note to self: never be pregnant in Denmark

There is a book called Expecting Better which is supposed to examine all of the evidence for you so you can make your own choice :)

I have cut down on caffeine and have max 2 coffees or 4 teas a day and don't drink energy drinks - have relaxed the hot drink counting occasionally in 2nd trimester.

I do not drink alcohol but have had half a glass of wine on occasion since 2nd trimester - however it just makes me sleepy, so I don't bother any more.

I do not smoke or vape, but I don't really worry about spending time around smokers or vapers.

I am avoiding cured meat and smoked (uncooked) fish - but I do occasionally have a little bit I don't eat cheese or sushi anyway so I don't need to avoid those. Runny eggs I'm eating (not in UK so sadly this is still not really allowed).

Don't take ibuprofen, cough and cold medicine.

Someone has told me I shouldn't have quinine (in bitter lemon) or licorice! I think both of these are bonkers and slightly sketchy advice so I ignore those.

I don't really look at things like parabens etc. I don't wear make up but if I did I would continue to wear it.

Cleaning more?? No, I can barely stay awake, I probably clean less.

One German one which I hadn't heard in the UK - I am to wash my hands often any time I spend time around under-3s and under no circumstances share food with them or do anything else which could cause me to have close contact with their bodily fluids, such as changing nappies.

If it was my own child obviously then I would be exempt from that But if I worked in a nursery I'd be signed off on full pay from really early on!

I'm 17 weeks into my second pregnancy and it has never occurred to me to stop wearing make up, using deodorant (although I use roll on anyway) or colouring my hair. I have stopped having alcohol, but have had the occasional bit of brie, cured meats etc as the risks are so minimal. I don't smoke anyway. My midwife has advised that runny eggs are fine now as long as they have the red lion mark. I have cut down on caffeine but never had a lot to begin with so that's not a hardship.

Bollocks am I cleaning more though! I'm too tired for anything other than the bare minimum at the moment by the time I've finished work and put DD to bed.

My under three year old has kept me sick since December to April this year, so I kind of get that one

The perfume thing is because ‘frangrance’ doesn’t have to be labelled like other ingredients so you don’t know what it contains, and most contain musks - artificial musks are often chemicals with known adverse activity. But: it’s a theoretical risk, so again not one that's proven or to be panicked about.

There’s also some new evidence coming out that paracetamol isn’t entirely benign either. Some new work in mice shows an impact on the reproductive systems of Male foetuses. But again, the translation into humans isn’t clear.

Liquorice is actually quite toxic (as well as being vile..) so don’t overdo it. The odd allsoet isn’t going to harm you but don’t eat bags of the stuff. It has a negative effect on sperm too.

Quinine in small amounts is Ok and good for restless legs - small amounts = a tonic water, not a quinine tablet.

Warm baths are ok - don’t get so hot you feel dizzy.

All sushi from supermarkets in the uk has been more frozen. It’s fine, just stick to the fish limits (heavy metals)

Sod cleaning more... :)

Yeah... it's probably lucky they only have crap Haribo licorice here or I would be eating bags of it

TBH the only info I could find was that it prevents cortisol from being blocked through the placenta. I'm not a very stressy person and if anything have quite a high likelihood of having less cortisol than I'm supposed to so I'm not too bothered by that risk.

I’ve given up pre-workout and my occasional can of pre-race/training session sugar free Monster. I haven’t switched to decaf tea or coffee as I have at most one or two per day, often none.

I’m not a drinker anyway so alcohol is a non-issue for me. I would easily go a few months without a drink before pregnancy so it’s not exactly a massive change. I do plan to have a glass of prosecco on my wedding day though!

Meats and cheese etc. I’m taking on a case by case basis. I was desperate for a bacon, Brie and cranberry panini in early pregnancy and did treat myself. I’ve had the odd slice of ‘banned’ cheese or meat and I’m not going to panic about it. I’ve had some meats a bit rare.

We have our own (not vaccinated) chickens and I’ve been eating their eggs with runny yolks.

I don’t really do beauty products at all so that’s an easy one! I have switched to an all-natural aluminium-free deodorant but that wasn’t necessarily due to pregnancy.

Exercise-wise I’m doing a lot less than I would like to be as I was so unwell in the first 16 weeks or so that my fitness fell off a cliff and it’s much harder trying to build it back up now! I’m doing a couple of PT sessions and a bit of swimming, light weights, circuits and some turbo training. Nothing compared to where I was unfortunately. I’m finding running really unpleasant for my pelvic floor unfortunately as I would have loved to keep running! I’m keeping everything at a 7-8/10 maximum effort level now, whereas I used to push myself to the absolute limit every day before!

None - I didn't even know I was pregnant until 10 weeks. I did cut down on alcohol but had the occasional glass of wine, certainly didn't cut out coffee. Ate whatever food I wanted, didn't do any more or less exercise.

The Danish recommendation is 50g liquorice a day.
I love really salty liquorice and I could easily eat my own body weight in it, so this is a difficult one for me.