Help me, I know nothing!

[AbsoluteBeginner]

Dear All
Have only just got positive test, I know it's too early to say anything to anyone, but when CAN/SHOULD you tell. Also, do I have to give up booze straight away? Am feeling fine/normal so will be a bit of a wrench... Anything else I should/shouldn't do at this stage? (Of course I realise it may all go pear-shaped so trying to not get over-excited.)

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I told people FAAAAR too early. I was only 5 weeks when I announced it, I was just so excited. Most people wait until the first scan at 12 wks-ish.

Booze is a definite no-no, I'm afraid! It was easier for me coz I had morning sickness from the week after the positive test. I couldn't stand the smell of alcohol, fags, tea, coffee.... all the things that you should stop.
And don;t eat any pate coz that can harm the developing embryo (something to do with Vit A).

How far on do you think you are ie.. when was your last period?
Were you trying for a baby?
You must be SO excited. Congratualtions again and try not to let the rules and regulations of pregnancy ruin it for you..... ENJOY!

CONGRATULATIONS AB

You must be really excited. With my first I held off telling anyone for the 12 weeks 'safety period' as I had miscarried before and was afraid I'd be tempting fate. With DS2 who came 18 months later we shared the news at about 9 weeks, and with DD who is now 9months old we told as soon as we found out at just over 4 weeks. I think you should go with your gut-feeling on the right time to tell.

Personally, I didn't drink at all during any of my pregnancies but I think that has to do with the previous miscarriage and being terrified of doing anything that may harm my baby. To be honest I wasn't much of a drinker in the first place. However, a friend of mine who had her first in November had a few glasses of wine a week after 12 weeks and her DD was fine.

Hi Absolute beginner

Congrats
You should take folic acid if you hadn't done so before you conceived.
I think Pat is a no no in Brittain becasue of food poisoning... not vit. A???? Unless it is liver pate.

I'd second the stay off booze... certainly off binge drinking

I thought that it was a vitamin A thing, as too much Vit A can damage eye development.

Pupuce - I meant liver pate. I didn't know you could get any other kind apart from the veggie stuff.

Once I got over the morning sickness I did indulge in the odd glass of red wine every couple of weeks.

I firmly believe it helped keep my BP down. I would have one large glass and dilute it with soda water to make it last a few hours. YUCK!! But it was a comfort to me at the time, especially around New Year. I can't touch the stuff now, only white for me.

Thanks girls - yes we've been trying for eight months, period is only two weeks late so am not at all far on, and no I won't touch pate, thanks for the tips. Am planning not to tell anyone until 3 months because i'm superstitious but if I start puking at work and not drinking at lunchtime I will definitely be rumbled.

There are loads of pate which are not veggie and not liver

Yes Vit A in excess is bad during pregnancy - so liver in any form is not recommended.

I would steer clear of all offal if I were you.

Are there Pupuce?? What are they? I love pate, but I'm sometimes put off by the thought that they have liver in them.... yuck!

AB - sounds like you must be about 6 weeks-ish??

Part of me is SO envious of you.

We've got to wait until after our wedding in October before we try for another. Can't wait!

Pupuce is right about pate, it carries a risk of listeria, like soft cheeses. o that makes liver pate a double whammy then!

I love Stilton and walnut pate, mmmmmmmmmmm. Try your local deli for alternative pates. Sadly, blue / veined & unpasteurised cheeses are also off the menu. As far as I know, all unpasteurised dairy products should be avoided.

I hate to be pedantic, but no, don't try to find alternative pates at your local deli. They all carry a risk of listeriosis with the possible exception of tinned stuff.

I was talking to M2T, perhaps I should have made that clearer.

Sorry folks - I kind of hijacked the thread and started talking about pate! Thanks Ejsmum, that sounds lovely.

Good luck for your wedding M2T .

Oops, I see now, and now it looks as though I'm issuing instructions to M2T ) sorry.

No, it was down to my 'unique ' typing style !!!

Sorry, should have been a wink . See what I mean !!!

Congratulations - brilliant news. Another couple of foods to watch out for now you are pregnant - real mayonnaise (raw eggs) and prepared salad foods from cafes, restaurants etc. - my mw told me stay clear because you just can?t tell if the leaves have been washed well enough and if they have, how clean the hands were of the staff preparing it. Also don?t be fooled by labels on certain cheeses saying they are made with pasteurised milk - if they have been mould ripened such as Brie or Camembert, they are still a no no (I made this mistake until my mw put me straight).
Oh, and watch out for vitamin A (one of the reasons for avoiding liver pates). If you have been taking multivitamins stop doing so as the vit A in them is not good for the baby. Wow - I am almost 16 weeks and still excited (2nd pregnancy) so can understand how happy you must be. Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of water, fruit and veg.

Also cat poo - toxoplasmosis, this can be a great excuse not to have to do the gardening! At some point you have to stop abdominal exercises - not quite sure when this is. You will be given a guide with your first hospital visit - come far too late as I know you want to know everything now,

Oh it's so exciting - it might seem like a 9 month illness at first - but if all goes well you'll have a beautiful baby at the end of it all

AbsoluteBeginner ... I remember feeling like you do ... I particularly remember happily tucking into a salami sandwich while looking at a leaflet on toxoplasmosis or Listeria or something like that and it said 'No Salami or other cured meats' ... I ran to the sink and spat out my mouthful ... terrified that I had damaged the baby (I was about 7 weeks at the time).
With many of these things that they tell you not to have it is because 'in case' you get toxoplasmosis or food poisoning or whatever it is ... as it is that that can harm the baby. That is why they tell you to steer clear of it.
I love your name btw ... in about three years you will have to change it to 'BeenThereDoneThat' or 'OldHand' or something.
congratulations btw!!

And don't stress out TOO much about all the conflicting instructions about what to eat/drink/not do. Get some folic acid down you, steer off the booze as far as you can, and get lots of SLEEP!

Don't stop taking vitamins yet!! You still need your folic acid. Personally, I'd suggest taking a multivitamin suitable for pregnancy. Cut right down on drinking (Sob!) and there are lots of books/leaflets which outline foods to avoid. The risks are small but precautions are usually worth taking. You can tell people whatever and whenever you want. Some people don't tell until 12 weeks or so because they think that they wouldn't want to tell if they had an early miscarriage. If you'd be OK about sharing that then there's no reason not to tell whenever you feel like it - you might want to tell your family, for example if you are close to them. I didn't tell anyone because I liked having a secret! Also it's v boring (IMO) when all people talk to you about is the baby - 'when's it due?" 'Do you want a boy or a girl' - for nine months - so if you don't tell early you do get a bit less of that. Not everyone minds that, though. I'm just a bit curmudgeonly.

Veggie pates, such as mushroom, are totally fine, of course.