no-nos during the 2ww

gabbagal

Just wondering how strict people are about abstaining from things during the 2ww that they wouldn't normally do/consume when/if they get pg? I know a lot of people have a "drink til it's pink" mentality, but what about things like deli meat, soft cheeses, or medications like Advil or Aleve? I'm usually a better safe than sorry gal, but wonder if I'm being too cautious. TIA!

lgsdesigner

Eat and enjoy whatever you want because:

a) You won't get to enjoy that stuff for a while if you do get pg

b) The fetus doesn't absorb any 'bad' things until you are about 6 weeks pg

HTH!

Lesliem0901

I cut most everything out 7 dpo, especially meds and alcohol.  I still eat my cheese b/c I love it.

gabbagal

My RE wasn't too keen on me taking Aleve at all while TTC, but it's really the only thing that helps with AF cramps, and I know I'm not pg when that hits. I have a bit of a stiff neck now and I know Tylenol won't really help, but I'm about midway between O and AF, so I figured I'd just use a heating pad to be safe, but still wanted to know what others do.

tlc35

The only thing I wouldn't/don't do is take advil because I believe it is thought that it may interfere with implantation.
I drink till it's pink and eat all the meats and cheeses.

danieleandwayne

In the beginning of TTC, I didn't worry about much of that other than alcohol. Then, as I kept not getting pregnant, and then I had the loss, yeah-- I cut out everything that I wouldn't be eating/drinking when pregnant. 

I would definitely say, however, that you avoid any totally unnecessary Xrays, nitrates (those affect you so you should avoid them anyhow-- or at least drink OJ before you consume them), and also NSAIDs like Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Naprosyn as those have been indicated in possibly contributing to failure to implant. And then just don't drive yourself crazy. Stress is horrible for the 2 ww. As we all know!

Good luck!

bumpuser10258960

The only thing I cut or monitor is meds. Because meds enter the blood stream, so I figured that could have a harmful effect. I don't regularly take meds, so I don't have to worry about it too much. 

Austrogermokee

I cut back on things, but don't abstain completely. So I have wine here and there, but not the whole bottle. I didn't know about ibuprofen and implantation, but I rarely take it anyway because it doesn't work for me.

Basically, my philosophy is, "if it's iffy, just have a little." Trying to police every morsel of food and sip of beverage is the express route to Crazytown.

PGwithNo3

tlc35 said:

The only thing I wouldn't/don't do is take advil because I believe it is thought that it may interfere with implantation.
I drink till it's pink and eat all the meats and cheeses.

me too!  Def. stay away from Advil!

Sharon&Paul

You should only take Tylenol or Acetaminophen while TTC. Avoid all forms of Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) etc...

gabbagal

Thanks everyone! There was a little bit of feta on my salad today that I'm not going to sweat, but I will definitely stay away from Advil and Aleve

TAT2MAMI

I'm so glad that @gabbagal posted this, as I had been wondering recently too about why some women cut out caffeine and other things while TTC. Does it really affect fertility?

I've also read other ladies write about taking aspirin and cough syrup. Is that said to help?

Sorry if the questions seem naive/lame. Just trying to gather more knowledge.

URMySunshine77

I know that drinking too much caffeine can lead to miscarriages, but I've never seen a study that links caffeine with infertility. I think some doctors suggest not using caffeine just to be on the safe side. Purify the system, so to speak.

@TAT2MAMI: Are you referring to using Robitussin to help with CM? If so, Taking Charge of Your Fertility has a helpful page of advice on how to do this. I've never used it, but you have to use a specific type of Robitussin or else it has the opposite effect on CM.

Sharon&Paul

Some people take low dose Aspirin if they have a clotting disorder. Robitussin (guaifenesin) is a mucolytic and taken to thin out your cervical mucous making it a more desirable enviroment for sperm. You want to make sure it is just guaifenesin, not a mixed Robitussin. Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) a decongestant can actually dry you up.

meredithcarole

I don't personally worry too much about it. With the caffeine specifically they recommend staying under 200mg. A shot of espresso (what you would find in a tall latte) has about 75mg. A cup of coffee has about 95mg. I don't often drink more than that anyway. Wine I think is fairly innocuous (unless you are getting sloshed). As for the rest, there is always a risk, but it is slim. During the 2WW I don't think there is a lot of reason to stress yourself out. However, you have to do what is right for you.

gabbagal

At my RE's office, they have a Keurig coffee maker but only have decaf K-cups out. I thought it was interesting b/c most people aren't pg yet who go there, but there's still no caffeine out (you can apparently ask the front desk for regular, which my DH did). I never asked what the risks/harm was while TTC b/c I don't usually have a lot of caffeine normally so it wasn't an issue for me.

MelissaMiso

I am normally conservative when it comes to taking any medications normally, but when I need them I need them. I cut back on alcohol (maybe a few sips) during 2ww and I don't color my hair unless I know I'm not pregnant. Soft cheeses I never stop but deli meats aren't an issue for this vegetarian. I think the bottom line is, do everything in moderation and if something makes you nervous, follow your instinct.

hooligans4

I just cut everything out all dang month long. Shoot I've been ttc for 8 years so anything that could possibly effect a possible pregnancy I eliminate. But I know I'm coo coo for cocoa puffs.
Although I occasionally have a reg coffee or glass of wine the first day of AF just to sulk.

CML11

I stay away from all forms of Advil/Ibuprofen because I've also heard it interrupts the implantation process and could cause a MC to those that are PG.
I stay away from alcohol and anything with diet or aspartame.
I still (occasionally) have deli meat, cheese, eggs and an occasional cup of coffee for now.
I've heard some people even stay away from peanut butter and herbal tea. I have to draw the line somewhere!

Lesliem0901

Peanut butter?!?! Wth? Certain herbal teas for sure.

mattandlora

@lesliem0901 - The peanut butter thing is a myth! I just read a summary of the research earlier this week. There was one study which showed that moms who ate peanuts and tree nuts during pregnancy had a higher number of kids who ended up with a peanut / tree nut allergy. However, this was a retrospective study, meaning it required moms to remember what they had to eat during pregnancy. Often time people "remember" things more often if they think it affected them negatively than if it had no affect on them. Of course more moms whose kids had allergies said "I DID eat that" than moms whose kids had no allergies. That is just how retrospective studies go.

To see if the study was true or not, multiple other research centers asked newly pregnant moms to log their foods and then followed the pregnancy and babies for several years to see if they had food allergies. Believe it or not, pregnant and breastfeeding moms who ate peanuts and treenuts ended up with kids who had LOWER rates of those food allergies.

Sorry to go Bill Nye on everyone. I just read that earlier this week and was nerdily excited about it. 

mommyre

I had to cut out caffeine, mostly, not long ago anyway. I have Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia, which essentially means I have a rapid heart rate for no real reason. My heart function is fine, just fast. Caffeine makes it worse. I also have migraines, and my meds made soda taste horrible. I have gone off of these meds to TTC. When I have a really bad headache now, and tylenol doesn't touch it I will have a soda here or there. It doesn't taste bad now that I am off the meds. I still only have tea with caffeine, just regular brewed tea, not herbals.

I only have a glass of wine while wto, but everything else I have during the tww. I didn't know about deli meats with my DS. He's fine.

CML11

@mattandlora‌ thank you for that! I have peanut butter every morning and now I won't feel like I'm doing something wrong!

C_Girlie

I try not to obsess about what I'm eating/drinking in the tww. For the most part everything I consume is totally healthy for a pg/ng mom. Every once in a blue moon I have to take a Motrin due to my back pains. I don't smoke, maybe if that month I attend a lot of weddings or celebrations I will drink wine. But for the most part I don't drink. Hot tubs I still get in them, I'm not going to deprive myself of things just because I'm hoping for pregnancy. If you live your life that way, your gonna miss out on a lot