Things to do/Not to do

Hi,

Ok so I have been pregnant before but seem to have forgotten all the rules.

I was about to eat something and DH said aren't you supposed to not have that and I just couldn't remember.

So what stuff should I be avoiding, what stuff is ok but don't go nuts

and exercise, I just started a zumba class, is this a good idea or is going back to swimming better.

Should I be taking folic acid, or is that pre pregnancy.

 

I don't see why zumba should be a problem, but swimming will probably be a lot kinder on your body, especially later in your pregnancy.

They recommend you take folic acid before you conceive and through your first trimester (someone correct me?) I took it until 13 weeks.

Re eating - deli food is generally a no-no. So all that pre made stuff at the supermarket is out, like coleslaw etc.

Soft cheeses Camembert, brie, etc.

Theres quite a list but your mw should be able to give you a pamphlet/mini book with what to avoid food wise.

Folic Acid is recommended to be taken for the first tri-mester

Foods to avoid - runny eggs, under cooked meats, most deli foods - ie: ham, chickens, coleslaws, soft cheese, anything with raw egg, humus, cold cooked rice - ie: sushi.

The main rule is everything needs to be well cooked and hot. This is where I struggle eating out at lunch - cause Indian, chinese, kebabs and sushi are all out due to sitting around and not being hot enough.  Leaves McD's which isn't particulalry healthy.

Exercise depends on how fit you are to start with, and if there are any risks with your pregnancy.  Remember your ligaments will be stretching even in the early stages, can be very easy to over do it and injure yourself.

I did boxing classes (at my boxing gym) for the first 30 weeks.. BUT i had been doing that for years.... I modified things as I went.. but it is still a hard workout... in summer when it was hot I would have to be careful not to over heat (thats the main concern) so I took my temp all the time with a thermometer I took with me.. I also did weights and cardio everyday- which I also had been doing for years.
Specialist said that was all fine.. as long as its not something NEW for you. Some women run throughout their pregnancies.. it was once thought your heartrate shouldnt go go above 140bpm.. but this has now been revised as it depends on the fitness of the person etc.... its more about over heating and not making your body work harder than its used to...
Eating:   no soft cheeses, deli meats etc, all meat should be HEATED really really well... even cooked stuff. Salads you didnt prepare yourself- even subway (I just heat the sub when i get home- and dont have ham etc...but only had 2 so far) not too much caffeine.. i have had pizza but re heat it even if its hot when it arrives. No raw veges..
basically heat everything really well and you cant go wrong!!
Congrats!!! xxx

I was reading in the books you can actually have soft chesse as long as they are pasturised & in the manufactors packaging & eaten straight away.

yum cnat have the wine but at least can have the chese & crackers.

I've found the eating restrictions really hard this time round. In my first pregnancy in the UK all I was told was not to eat shellfish, soft cheeses, under-cooked eggs and to avoid nuts because of asthma in the family. I seem to recall eating pretty much everything else.

This time there was a food booklet in with the Bounty booklet my GP gave me, and it is full of foods to be avoided. I daren't even order a salad if I go out anywhere in case it hasn't been washed. I can't eat hummus, I can't eat pre-prepared meats like Ham, I can't eat pate, I can't eat anything with mayonnaise in it as I don't know whether the mayonnaise is home made or shop bought....

When we go out as a family the only food that seems to meet the strict criteria of the booklet is McDonalds - hardly a healthy food choice.

Kazzam

Yeah Kazzam it sux eh?? Only takeaways I have found OK are pies or toasted sandwiches. When I got a Wholly Bagel I had to ask them to wash the lettuce just in case, how embarrassing! Am thinking I might ease up abit once I am past the 1st tri tho, not being able to have subway etc is a little nuts given it is healthier than McD's etc (and the greasiness of McDs just makes you feel worse). A friends midwife told her that thai and indian are both OK, so I am going to try butter chicken tonite.And yeah bambino no cold rice, rice has some real nasty germs in it, must be hot (and I have heard that even heating doesn't kill them all, but I love rice too much not to have it, and it's sooo good with the MS cuz it's bland)

Statistically the risk of listeriosis is very low but it's not a risk I'm willing to take, given that it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. It is a risk at any stage of pregnancy and not just the 1st trimester as many people think. I know that people say (particular our mothers and grandmothers!) that back in their day they ate whatever they liked and we turned out alright. That's all well and good but that's because they didn't catch listeriosis!

This website covers all you need to know about food safety in pregnancy. My apologies if this has come across as preachy but having dealt with the aftermath of listeria it's something I'm a little bit passionate about...