You're Not Supposed To Do That

DeePaddy24

I've seen this on some other BMB's & thought we should have one, too. 

We all know there are so many things we're told we just can't do because we're pregnant. Some of these things make perfect sense, while others seem kind of silly. So, make me feel better about not being the only "rule breaker" here...what have you still been doing/eating/etc that you're "not supposed to" ?!

CourtJack

I think eating an entire bag of chips in lieu of supper is something I shouldn't be doing. But aside from that - I walk the stairs here at work to get some exercise through the day and every time I go my colleague tells me how dangerous it is and that I really should stop. I am allowed to walk up stairs - pregnant or not. There are railings for pete's sake!!!

DeePaddy24

I started thinking about this while having a hot shower this morning. It's so cold here now, & I was freezing after moving from my comfy bed, so I had a hot shower. It wasn't my first since being pregnant, & it will not be my last. I just can't give them up. 
I never stay in for too long & they're never scalding hot...but I just can't get by with a luke warm shower. No thanks! 

I've also enjoyed quite a few subs from Subway. I have them microwave the deli meat first, but I can't give those up either. Truth be told...they've been some of the best subs I've EVER had! Mmmmm 

CourtJack

It never even occurred to me to give up hot showers OR deli meat. So I'm with you there. And while I haven't had any type of booze yet - there will be a sip or two of beer on a patio when June is here and I am a giant sweaty mess.

DeePaddy24

@CourtJack One of my all-time favourite activities is drinking on a patio, hahaha! Thank God we're not going to be pregnant all summer...I don't think I could go a full hot summer without a cold beer. 

ecolton01

Yeah I was going to say cold cut sandwiches too not often but every once in a while they sound sooo good ! Also I have a hard time not lifting things . I have always been pretty strong for a female so it just comes natural to lift /move things and I get yelled at ALL the time for lifting things .

SMLmom

@DeePaddy24 I agree about beers on patios! My daughter was born Aug 22 and the first night she was home I had beer on my porch.

This is a great thread idea!

MsBeachNJ

I have completely deprived myself of deli meat which has been TORTURE to someone who usually eats 2-3 wawa shorties a week... that being said I have eaten burratta, brie, and feta cheeses out at high end restaurants where I haven't asked if it was pasteurized or not... I figure the odds were super low that it wasn't pasteurized and even lower that there was any contamination to it in the types of restaurants these were... and I've been fine! (I was definitely enjoying some burratta last week while out with another pregnant friend who was giving me side eye... but to each his own!) 

mkemommy

I work out intensely sometimes at spin.  My usual heart rate for the class varies between 135-160 for the entire hour.  My doc ok'd it because I was doing spin before I got pregnant and I took it down several notches (my heart rate used to vary between 140-180 for the entire hour).  Ironically I get no side-eye yet in that class but I did get it on the elliptical recently (where my heart rate is max 150 so considerably less effort).  I stay hydrated and listen to my body to stop when I need to.

I've traveled to India during a dengue fever outbreak.

I'll likely be traveling to St Lucia despite this zika virus crap.

I've lifted heavy things with respect to our home construction we have going on....the nurse at the doctor said to limit lifting to like 20lbs.  Ha!  Sorry, ain't going to happen in the middle of construction.

I've eaten deli meat.

I've taken hot baths and hot showers.  If I feel hot hot I stop.

ahernandez16

I'm with you, @DeePaddy24 on the hot showers. I've tried to tone down the heat a little bit, my skin is never red when I get out of the shower but I can't do the lukewarm or worse a cold shower. *shudders*

I'm not a huge cold cut fan to begin with but I LOVE tuna and I've had my fair share of tuna sandwiches this pregnancy. I try to only have one a week if I want one, but sometimes it's two but I only use half the can for a sandwich so I don't think it's that bad.

JonesBaby0624

Dying my hair.  My doc told me as long as she is using the foils and no application directly to my skin it will be fine.  So, it doesn't look as awesome as it usually does but at least I don't look a mess. 

cdnvb4

I've eaten deli meat that has not been steamed, hot dogs, and raw cookie dough. I also frequently pick up my 4 1/2 year old and haven't toned down the temperature of my shower one bit. The only things I really try to avoid are alcohol and hot baths/hot tubs. 

Emztron500

Still doing taekwondo, and frequently getting my heartrate up...the 140 limit isn't really evidence-based and I have taken down the frequency/intensity of my workouts so I feel pretty comfortable. Last sparred at 10 weeks (won't again, the slight chance of an abdominal blow that sneaks past my gear makes me too nervous now that my uterus isn't all hidden in my pelvis). Still eating pretty much whatever I want...deli meat, sushi, medium rare steak, soft cheese. I eat at restaurants I trust and am much more careful than usual about food safety practices at home (where most cases of food poisoning happen). 

lm45678

I had an amazing medium filet mignon the other night

Something about ordering it well done just seemed so wrong!

VikingGirl12

Heavy lifting, deli meat sandwiches, super hot showers, hot dogs.
I was so super cautious with DS. Not this time.

catherinekate

I'm going to put my flame-suit on for this, but I've done a ton of stuff you're not supposed to do.

I had a splash of baileys in my coffee over Christmas, I ate sushi last week, I've had warm-hot baths/showers my entire pregnancy, I've had cold cut sandwiches from Subway a couple of times, I have a very weak back, so I sleep on a heating pad most nights, I've had soft/molded cheeses, I was existing off a diet of chips and diet pop for a while when m/s was bad because it's all that would stay down--and I'm probably going to eat a medium rare steak tonight. I also have plans to help a friend move some furniture next week.

I tried to live my life in a bubble when I first got pregnant and I was worried sick about everything. I accidentally electrocuted myself on an old lamp and spent 5 days in complete hysteria. I needed to reclaim myself: I am a smart and capable adult who is perfectly capable of doing a risk analysis. I'm not doing dangerous things on a continual or chronic basis and, for me, I just can't live my life in fear of the 0.00001% chance that could bad can happen.

The most risky things I'm doing in this pregnancy are the things no one tells you to stop doing -- e.g. I commute, so I drive a lot, including in bad weather when necessary. And gasp, sometimes I buy conventional vs. organic vegetables and fruit--even though no matter how much you wash, there are some chemicals and pesticides that aren't just going to wash off. 

peaceinnature

I'm a vegetarian so I still have sushi that has no fish in it, but technically i hear it's still a no no because it could've come in contact with raw fish during prep. I've also had bean sprouts in a noodle bowl at my fav Vietnamese restaurant and eat veggie subs from subway all the time.

I'm avoiding caffeine, but still have plenty of decaf and the occasional iced tea. I had a sip of wine on Christmas just to taste it. I'm supposed to be having less sugar/carbs because DS was so huge when he was born and I don't want this one to be as big. But I can't help chugging fruit juice everyday. I water it down and put plenty of ice in, but it's still probably too much sugar. Also bagels and pasta. I love carbs.

DeePaddy24

I've had sushi twice. It's one of my all-time favourite foods & I've been having such strong cravings for it. I've avoided all of go-tos & stuck to cooked rolls (which is definitely not the same, but seems to be doing the trick for now). 

And I have coffee every morning. Sometimes 2 if I've had an especially sleepless night. I'd never make it through a day teaching without it. 

ashleyrobertson0113

Soft cheese (hubby did research and found out US law requires all cheese products to be pasteurized to a level which would kill off the bacteria so this rule more applies to pregnant women in other countries with less strict laws).

And deli meat (but ONLY boars head turkey from a reputable deli and only once in a while).

And tons of carbs and sugar cause that's almost all I can keep down these days. My diet is atrocious. If I wasn't pregnant I would be in so much trouble for eating this kind of crap.

Rosehip15

I eat cold cut sandwiches (oh, the glorious New York reuben)
I drink coffee
I took down the Christmas tree & put it out by myself (DH is away for work)
I cook with (liberal) wine, and will definitely have the occasional 1/2 glass when I'm in the home stretch
I ate raw oysters & got pretty tipsy the night before I got my positive
I eat loads of soft cheese
I eat my meat medium rare
I take hot baths (it's that or spend the rest of the pregnancy in the psych ward, which would be tough to explain to my kids)
I get highlights
I eat tuna salad once a week (and literally froth at the mouth in anticipation)

Rosehip15

CourtJack said:

But aside from that - I walk the stairs here at work to get some exercise through the day and every time I go my colleague tells me how dangerous it is and that I really should stop. I am allowed to walk up stairs - pregnant or not. There are railings for pete's sake!!!

Um...I guess all the women living in walk up apartments & two and three story homes here in New York are wildly reckless mothers???  This is the craziest thing I've heard...

gray51015

I've eaten raw oysters 3 times and I'm not sorry. I can't help it. I'm originally from the coast and when we went home for Christmas I took full advantage of being there in regards to seafood. I also fully plan to partake in any crawfish boil we get invited to this spring.

Scout27

I've had deli meat a few times without warming the meat. I ate an entire plate of desserts at our holiday party at work - how could I choose just one? I would drink coffee everyday except I had a very strong aversion to it in the 1st tri and haven't been able to stomach it yet. I order my meat medium-rare. I take hot showers too. That's my favorite part of the day!

I plan on having some beer and/or wine on my patio as June gets closer too.

I downhill ski and plan to continue until I physically can't or the season ends. I even bought new ski pants to fit my growing belly. 

crdo

Coffee
Hot showers
Lifting things--not flipping tractor tires or anything, but you get it
Heels
Stairs (oh lawd, @CourtJack!)
Cheese--reputable places only

I figure baby needs a sane mama, so this is self-preservation. Especially the hot showers and coffee. Try to take that away from me and sh*t's going to go down.

Went to visit some of DH's family out of town for Christmas. His grandma is a seriously old school lady used to being in charge. She tried to fuss at me for lifting a small box of dishes containing leftover food to transfer it 2 feet from the table to the counter. I wasn't having that. I did it anyway.

Look, I'm pregnant, not a delicate, fragile flower. Trust that I know my limits. Trust that no one wants to keep my baby safe more than I do.

chelseay416

I've been craving burgers a lot this pregnancy and you can bet I'm not getting those well done. That would be super gross. 
My showers are HOTTTT. I've given up my beloved baths, but I can't do lukewarm anything. 
I've had a Jimmy Johns california club a time or two - no worse for wear from that.
I cook with wine. A lot of wine. Most of the recipes I use, the wine cooks off for a long time like in stews and stuff, but others, I still get a hint of it when I'm eating and it is delish. 
Otherwise, I try to eat healthy, but I bought one of those gargantuan packs of brownie mix from costco and I've been making those WAY too often and/or picking up other single-serve desserts for myself at the grocery store. Sorry DH, I'm an only child and I'm still not good at sharing 

mrsb8244

I love this thread! DH told me once I was going to kill our baby...I told him when he gives up not fully cooked steak, lunch meat not warmed, eggs not fully cooked, and alcohol for 9 months he can come talk to me!

I haven't turned down my showers at all I have to have hot showers. I never feel hot and my skin isn't red when I get out.

I also have had uncooked deli meat, I had an eggnog milkshake made with eggnog (this is when DH made the comment), medium well steak, and the other day I made a cake and enjoyed the batter leftover in the bowl...raw eggs and all.

Also I have caved and had Chipotle twice because it was either I ate it or murdered someone....I figured jail isn't a good place to have a baby lol

lm45678

catherinekate said:

I'm going to put my flame-suit on for this, but I've done a ton of stuff you're not supposed to do.

I had a splash of baileys in my coffee over Christmas, I ate sushi last week, I've had warm-hot baths/showers my entire pregnancy, I've had cold cut sandwiches from Subway a couple of times, I have a very weak back, so I sleep on a heating pad most nights, I've had soft/molded cheeses, I was existing off a diet of chips and diet pop for a while when m/s was bad because it's all that would stay down--and I'm probably going to eat a medium rare steak tonight. I also have plans to help a friend move some furniture next week.

I tried to live my life in a bubble when I first got pregnant and I was worried sick about everything. I accidentally electrocuted myself on an old lamp and spent 5 days in complete hysteria. I needed to reclaim myself: I am a smart and capable adult who is perfectly capable of doing a risk analysis. I'm not doing dangerous things on a continual or chronic basis and, for me, I just can't live my life in fear of the 0.00001% chance that could bad can happen.

The most risky things I'm doing in this pregnancy are the things no one tells you to stop doing -- e.g. I commute, so I drive a lot, including in bad weather when necessary. And gasp, sometimes I buy conventional vs. organic vegetables and fruit--even though no matter how much you wash, there are some chemicals and pesticides that aren't just going to wash off. 

I'm 99% sure all of my fruits and veggies aren't organic... Oops!

TunieBee

coffee
hot tubs (btw, avoiding hot tubs is actually only recommended in the first trimester)
sips of wine/beer
raw sushi
deli meat
intense exercise--HIIT and weights
hair dye

the one thing i absolutely will not do is ski--skiing is basically my life, and i ski at an expert level (we go heli-skiing in alaska every year), but I just won't do it while pregnant (and i have to skip our trip this year *sad face*).  it's just not worth the risk for me. i'm more worried about falling and sustaining an injury that would require surgery/pain meds while pregnant that causing an issue with the fetus. 

CourtJack

Woohoo @TunieBee! I didn't know that re: hot tubs.

meggyme

I drink coffee everyday (although I reduced the quantity)
I eat deli meat
I eat soft cheeses
I eat sushi
I take hot showers
I haven't thought twice about heavyish lifting things
I eat the occasional hot dog on a stick
I might take a quick dip in the hot tub next month when I go to the mountains with my girlfriends.
I wouldn't be opposed to a glass of wine but haven't come across any that really strike my fancy lately.

The only think I won't do is hard alcohol, no matter how AMAZING whiskey smells right now.

SouthernVOL

I'm a sucker for Jimmy Johns! I don't heat the meat...I just enjoy. I also have dessert every night. I'm on the border of the normal vs heavy line and I feel like I should feel more guilty...but I don't. I did switch to decaf but still have a Coke Zero at lunch. I. Just. Can't. Stop. I pick up my kid and still sleep on my back when I just can't get comfortable any other way. And showers? Whoever thought of a luke-warm shower? That's inhumane! These are definitely first world problems! 

It looks like it's time for the Preggo Po-Po to come make a few arrests on this board!

MellBabyPeeps

Oh gosh! Some of these things "they" make you worry about are ridiculous.
Had a sub (which coincidentally I rarely eat subs)
Glass of wine on Christmas and champagne on NYE and half a glass of wine with dinner one night.
Ate Sushi
Ate red meat medium rare
Soft cheeses
Hot showers

candicek15

I feel like I don't have anything racy for this thread! A lot of the things to avoid were things that I wasn't really into to begin with:

Take hot showers but nothing too crazy
Don't like being in hot tubs too long
Don't really like hot dogs or deli meat or raw sushi
I'm not super physically fit so if I can actually lift it, it's probably a safe weight! lol
Rarely eat tuna
Don't drink much coffee (just the occasional white chocolate mocha with whipped cream, though DH has explained to me that this is apparently not "coffee," but rather a "starbucks beverage." hahaha). I think I'm more likely to get GD from this than anything else...
etc...

I eat a lot of soft cheese, but that's not really a big deal since they're all pasteurized...

Thanks guys, now I sound super boring! The only thing I really, really miss is a giant glass of wine. I looooooooooooove wine. I have had sips of H's here and there after MS passed and the wine has smelled really good, but I'm avoiding having a glass to myself because I feel like that's more of a tease than anything. One glass always makes you want more!

So in conclusion, this will be me the day I get home from the hospital:

MsBeachNJ

Everyone mentioned hot showers on here but I never knew that was even "a thing" I take HOT showers all the time, I could never give that up... I thought it was only hot tubs that you were supposed to avoid... I find it highly unlikely that I could raise my entire body temperature to a dangerous level in the shower (I do see how submerged in an actual hot tub could do that though). 

AmberLiz99

I still lift things. With two kids it's not like it's really an option. I often don't drink enough water this time around, I just a forget until I'm feeling tired, than I down a lot to feel better.
Sometimes I eat seafood more than twice a week

kayla2536

Doing Krav Maga and kickboxing, hair dye, some caffeine here and there (always under 200mh...I think), eating basically nothing but ramen noodles for 3 weeks, consuming too much sugar, and I'm going nuts over my hair, I've dyed it once at 13 weeks with natural hair color but I hate how it looks now, so I'm about to do that again.

Oh, and I love hot showers.

That said, my midterm ultrasound showed a perfectly normal baby, my blood work and blood pressure are great and my weight gain is normal.

MillerMama13

I always take hot showers. I did with DD too. She turned out totally normal.

I never ate deli meat with my DD or this one yet but y'all are bad influences and now I might have me some jimmy johns. Lol

I eat the white cheese sauce at Mexican restaurants. I'm not sure if it is ok or not and I refuse to find out because I'm not giving it up either way.

I eat healthy all day and then when I get home I stuff my face with candy, desserts, anything unhealthy that I can find. I'm scared of my glucose test but I can't stop eating sugar!

I also forget to take my prenatal at least 1-3 days a week.

I lift and carry my DD all the time. She's probably around 35 lbs. I also am going to start working out again and when I do my arm workout I'm going to use 10 lb weights. They recommend 1-3 while pregnant.... I might as well not use weight if that's the case...

goldie987

I tried to give up hot showers for all of 2 days and that wasn't happening. I took my temperature before the shower and right when I got out and it was elevated by less than a degree so I decided it was fine.

Unheated deli meats but only when I am the one who prepped the sandwich. Seems a little better than meat that's been sitting out at a shop all day.

Medium cooked meat. I used to eat steak medium rare and bumped it up to medium, that's good enough for me.

The unhealthy foods. I ate nothing but doritos for a weekend early on because it was all I could get down and chips of some form have made up more of my diet that I would like to admit. At the rate its going, this baby is going to come out covered in cool ranch seasoning.

Emztron500

Who is telling you guys not to have hot showers?? I've never even heard that. As if a 5 minute hot shower is really enough to dangerously raise your core temperature and affect your baby! I don't think I would be able to contain the eye roll if someone tried to tell me that nonsense.

CourtJack

Emztron500 said:

Who is telling you guys not to have hot showers?? I've never even heard that. As if a 5 minute hot shower is really enough to dangerously raise your core temperature and affect your baby! I don't think I would be able to contain the eye roll if someone tried to tell me that nonsense.

I have never ever EVER heard this before joining this board.

ScoutPout

Love this thread!

1. Small glass of champagne at thanksgiving
2. Small glass of red wine at new Years
3. Cookie dough two days ago
4. Two big cups of coffee every day.
5. Soft cheese (bring on the queso)
6. I did T25 up until month 4. And now I do other beachbody lifting programs just less intense.
7. Hot bath and showers but rarely our water heater sucks anyway
8. Sleep on back (sometimes I just wake up like that I kick my body pillow of the bed)
9. I'm itching to dye my hair! I went pastel this summer and got pregnant before I could fix my roots. I haven't made the appointment yet but I'm seriously debating it....

Thank you thank you thank you for making me feel better about this!

Side note I hate seafood and sushi and deli meat but I feel bad for those of you if that's your favorite food. I'd hate it if a study came out that pizza caused birth defects.