You will find when you are pregnant well meaning people will try to offer you tips and advice concerning your pregnancy and what you can and cannot do. Some of this information will be outdated and could potentially cause harm to your baby, so if you are given any advice you are unsure about, always check with your midwife first.
Grandmothers and mothers are very keen on saying things like ‘we were never told to avoid certain foods and drinks when i was pregnant and no harm came to you!’ This is because when they were pregnant doctors simply did not know what they now know due to medical intervention and research. Miscarriages occurred in their day due to what we now know to be preventable incidents such as avoiding foods that cause salmonella in the expectant mother.
There are obvious things to avoid if pregnant and common sense will tell you this (and your midwife!) Despite the vast array of beautiful tattoo designs for women it is not advisable to get tattooed when pregnant and you may find a reputable tattooist would not tattoo you when pregnant anyway. Tattooists have listed reasons such as the risk of fainting or the pain causing a big shock and sending women into labour prematurely as some of the reasons why they will not tattoo pregnant women.
An early pregnancy guide will often advise against caffeine intake, there is also conflicting advice regarding this. Some studies have shown that drinking a few cups of coffee per day in early pregnancy can increase the miscarriage risk. Other studies dispute this; it is recommended that if you still want to drink coffee in the first trimester that you have less than three a day. Some women choose not to drink it altogether in the first three months, mainly due to ‘going off’ the taste and smell.
Acne very commonly occurs during pregnancy due to hormones raging around your body. Be careful about what you use and always read the labels to ensure it is safe to use in pregnancy.
A glycolic acid skin care treatment is a safe and effective way to manage pregnancy acne. If this is not treating the problem effectively, a prescription for creams from the doctor is the best bet.
Remembering to check what is safe to eat in pregnancy is vital. Certain foods can cause food poisoning in expectant mothers and cause harm to the baby. Avoid prawns and other shellfish, blue veined and soft cheeses, unpasteurised milk, and food like sushi containing raw fish and undercooked meats such as blue steak.