Whilst you want to enjoy your pregnancy, you may be worrying about the sometimes conflicting advice that can be given by well meaning people around you. Older woman in particular are prone to giving information that may be medically outdated and could potentially cause problems to your unborn baby.
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.
The most reliable form of information will come from your midwife or doctor. Tattoo designs for women are best avoided when pregnant and you will be hard pressed to find a tattooist that is wiling to tattoo you when you are pregnant. There is a high risk of you fainting which obviously is dangerous in case you hurt yourself if you fell when fainting. Some tattooists are reticent also because there is the possibility of going into labour if the pain gets too much for you once the tattooist has started.
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.
You may find that the pregnancy hormones cause you to break out in acne. Should this happen do not use products that contain salicylic acid or retinoid as these are unsafe to use in pregnancy.
A glycolic acid skin care treatment is a safe option whilst pregnant and is usually very effective. If this does not work for you then a prescription of a topical skin care cream can be obtained from your doctor.
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.