Dos and donts when pregnant

[MinesALatte]

Currently 4w with my first and curious about lesser-known dos and donts of pregnancy. Apart from the obvious, drink, drugs, smoking... what others are there? Like no saunas, hot baths?

You've covered them already. Don't drink lots of booze, smoke, or do illegal drugs. You can have hot baths if you want to. Saunas etc are very unlikely to damage the pregnancy, but may make you dizzy and faint. You can read the NHS's guidelines on food (don't read anybody else's, there's a lot of mental stuff out there), but it's all fairly common sense (probably don't have swordfish for every meal) and the risks are very marginal.

Mostly common sense. The one that caught me out was no soft cheese unless cooked!

Or pate! Love pate!

Use the nhs website for reliable info. Googling things may lead you to American websites.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/foods-to-avoid-pregnant/

The one that annoys me the most is not lying on your back in second and third trimesters - I always slept like this before pregnancy so it's hard not to!

@October2020

Mostly common sense. The one that caught me out was no soft cheese unless cooked!

Not sure which country you're in, but in the UK most soft cheese is fine. It's only unpasteurised that's an issue. e.g. NHS website states all these are fine: soft pasteurised cheeses such as cottage cheese, mozzarella, feta, cream cheese, paneer, ricotta, halloumi, goats' cheese without a white coating on the outside (rind) and processed cheese spreads

Limit your caffeine to 200mg a day, that’s the thing I always have to remember when ordering tea or coffee somewhere!

I bought a thermometer for the bath so it doesn't get too hot (you can buy a cute baby one in the shape of a duck in preparation for baby's bath time when they arrive) as if the water is too hot it can cause complications with the baby early on (personally I didn't want to take the risk).

Like the others have said, the NHS guide is pretty comprehensive: www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/health-things-you-should-know-pregnant/

This is the NHS advice for water temperature:
www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/is-it-safe-to-use-a-sauna-or-jacuzzi-if-i-am-pregnant/

Good point from PP there - I have been a back sleeper my entire life and I knew I would find it difficult to get used to side sleeping. It's not a problem as early on as you are but I wanted to train myself early so right from the beginning I made myself stay on my side to go to sleep, and every time I woke up on my back I made myself roll over again. My husband was under strict instructions to poke me and make me roll over if he caught me on my back! It took until about 20 weeks to sink in and I'm pretty good at staying on my side now. Definitely worth getting used to if you're not a natural side sleeper!

Yes I meant rind soft cheeses like brie which need to be well cooked.

Thanks everyone! I’ve read the foods one but just didn’t want to miss anything! Hadn’t read about not sleeping on back, obviously I’ve got ages to go but good to know!

Some people don't like colouring their hair and use henna or herbal colourants instead. Seems the vast majority have used their regular colouring with no issues though, but you might hear people mention it.

Try to remember to check with the pharmacist before you use any medications at all- even over the counter. Eye drops, nasal sprays, medicated creams etc, not just tablets.

One that I didn't know until after I had my third: salami is not cooked, so shouldn't really be eaten by pregnant women. I ate it nearly every day and they're all mostly normal though. Also don't ear vast quantities of oily fish - a few portions a week. This is because the fat accumulates any toxins from the water. Like I say you'd have to be having mackerel for breakfast and salmon for lunch for it to be a problem....

Don't take ibuprofen or any painkillers with codeine in. Paracetamol is fine though.

If you exercise no ab crunches after first trimester, no exercises on your back also after first trimester, shouldn't really do any sit up type crunches at all as it can lead to your muscles parting more severely. X

Oh and if you have cats don't empty their litter tray xx

This is all brilliant! Thank you ☺️

Only certain fish. I think it's about once a week because of the Mercury I believe.

You shouldn't have really hot baths and certain bubble baths.

Take folic acid daily if you aren't already. Cut back on caffeine. Make sure eggs are red lions approved etc

Tuna

As PP have said, only use the NHS site advice for food because different countries like the US have different advice based on their food regulations.

Hot baths should be fine so long as they aren’t scalding - the water doesn’t hold temperature long enough to be harmful. Saunas/hot tubs/anywhere else that holds a high temperature for long periods shouldn’t be used though, especially early on.

Towards the end, try to keep a forward and open posture with your legs uncrossed - leaning back loads isn’t kind on your spine and doesn’t get baby into the right position for coming out.

Morning sickness can keep going all the way through your pregnancy. Make dry toast first thing your friend and carry bland snacks everywhere to graze on, it helps. I constantly had my hand in a bag of pretzels for the first five months.

And is UHT milk ok? I’m assuming so because it’s ultra pasteurised or something like that, but worth asking ☺️

Hot tubs, whirlpool baths, jacuzzis are a no no.

Apparently they can cause ligaments to soften that are holding baby in place.

A lot of the guidance you'll find is to protect you rather than baby, ie not taking up new exercise, not lifting heavy objects, the whole hot bath/jacuzzi thing. Most foods are fine as long as they're cooked thoroughly so just cook everything, it's easier than restricting! Cut out alcohol, stop smoking if you do and avoid medications that aren't doctor approved. I was so paranoid and anxious about everything and really here's no need to be, every country has different advice for example there are no restrictions on meat and cheese in Spain or France, in Canada you're allowed 300mg of caffeine, etc. Use common sense and you'll be fine

there are no restrictions on meat and cheese in Spain or France

This isn’t true - the main difference is that women in these countries are routinely screened for toxoplasmosis antibodies and therefore know if they are immune and can eat rare steak, cured meats etc. Guidance is otherwise almost identical to the UK and in some cases is stricter - eg French pregnant women are advised to avoid ready-grated cheese.

UHT milk

UHT milk is fine, although I don't know how you can drink that filth haha