All the rules, do you follow them all?

Danielle0311 · July 2014

So I know there are soooo many pregnancy rules that some people follow and some don't. I'm just curious, are there any you are really strict about? Any that you disregard? Right now I follow ALL the rules casue I'm scared but some people are like oh please that's no big deal! For instance the don't eat hot dogs, cold cuts, soft cheeses, undercooked steak etc. Also, how bout the exercise rules (don't do anything you weren't doing before pregnancy, don't get hb over 120bpm etc) My doctor even told me not to be around cats! Lol, just thought I would see what other people's thoughts are on all of this! Anything else you were told to avoid??

megbmeg · July 2014

I'm also playing it as safe as I can, and honestly it's more for my peace of mind than because I really think all the "rules" are that important. I have a couple of pregnant friends who haven't suffered losses and I don't side eye them at all for not sticking to every restriction because I know it's mainly down to what they are comfortable with.

carlsonbaby2014 · July 2014

I didn't "follow the rules" to a T with my first pregnancy thinking that most of them are blown out of proportion. While I still think that's fairly true, it has led me to be much more cautious this time around. I'm not saying that not following all of the rules led to my loss, but it heightened my awareness of the 'dos' and 'donts'.

That being said there are a BAJILLION rules and I think I've broken a few just out of pure ignorance and simply not knowing! So, I focus on the ones that are totally within my means of control - no caffeine, no soft cheeses, or unpasteurized cheeses of any kind, no runny eggs, no undercooked meat (this was never a problem before, either, I'm a 'well done' kind of gal), no alcohol, no OTC medications of any kind, no sushi (sad day!!!!), etc. I am constantly googling "is it okay to eat/drink _________ while pregnant".

ETA and as for exercise - I did not slow down, in fact, I increased exercise during my first pregnancy, and this time around I have kept it much more moderate by getting the majority of my exercise in by walking the dogs and husband (I mean with the husband hah...), and weekend hikes. Again, not saying it has to do with anything, I think I just wanted to slow down a little bit this time around and give my body the chance to rest and relax (and maybe enjoy this process...easier said than done with PgAL brain, though).

Danielle0311 · July 2014

Looks like I'm pretty much on the same page as you ladies! I know people probably will think I'm being over the top but honestly, it's better safe than sorry!

[Deleted User] · July 2014

I follow the big ones like no smoking, drinking, etc. I still drink occasional caffeine and I eat lunch meat. So far in my pregnancy they've had listeria outbreaks in vegetables, peanut butter, and fruit so I don't worry a whole lot about the occasional turkey sandwich.

voplo · July 2014

I am with @LeaLupins This pregnancy so far I have been trying to avoid the big no-no's but overall I have been very relaxed with all the rules. I had a few turkey sandwiches, the occasional egg not too well done, a glass of coke here and there (and more). With my son ( first pregnancy) I was totally obsessed about what I ate and still I ended having pre-eclampsia. This time around being more permissive to myself have allowed me to enjoy more this pregnancy even though it has been hard for another reasons.

Eliz77 · July 2014

I'm not obsessively following many rules, but I do try to be smart. Like, I watch my caffeine intake and only drink if I am having headaches-sometimes it's to just prevent a headache (I get migraines). I also will heat up lunch meat or just eat cheese sandwiches. I don't drink alcohol or eat sushi. I also haven't given my cats away...and I do clean the litterboxes, but I wear gloves and shower afterwards. I tend to eat a lot of fish normally, and now limit that and stay away from one of my faves-swordfish.

I have avoided all OTC medications unless my o/b specifically ok's-so far that has been dramamine and tylenol, although I haven't needed the dramamine.

I follow the recommendations my Drs have made-I take baby aspirin, pre-natals, folate and calcium as I am told, and my lovenox of course! And have upped my iron consumption since I'm slightly anemic. I think that's all I really can do!

smcniff · July 2014

I'll admit that I pretty much follow all the rules. I know that most women who eat deli meat or soft cheeses are fine, however there is a reason someone made that rule. It's all good until something goes wrong. I will not be part of that small statistic.

I personally cut out all artificial sweeteners and MSG just to play it safe. A personal choice and not a huge sacrifice to make. Also, limiting, but not eliminating things like candy with a lot of food coloring.

jenkellen · July 2014

The only ones I really avoid are alcohol, sushi, and unpasteurized products.

SpartyKim · July 2014

When I was pg with my DD, I still ate lunch meat but there's not much else that is affected by the rules that I usually eat. I'm not really into soft cheeses or sushi, and only had caffeine in the form of chocolate but I had cut out pop prior to the pregnancy because it does weird things to my heart. I like Caesar dressing though so I avoided ordering a Caesar salad at restaurants where they might make their dressing from scratch (raw eggs) and just stayed with bottled caesar for any cravings.

I will have to say that I definitely recommend staying away from processed meats AFTER you give birth if you're nursing. After I ate a hot dog, DD was miserable later that day and that was the only new thing I had eaten. I had to pump & dump almost a whole day's worth of milk because I did NOT want to keep dealing with a miserable newborn!

Cheekers2010 · July 2014

I'm careful but not crazy. I stick to about one cup of caffeinated coffee per day. I avoid unpasteurized cheeses and lunch meat. I do still enjoy pasteurized mozzarella, etc. I don't smoke or drink alcohol. Although, tbh, I would have a glass of wine now and then if I wasn't diabetic. In short, I try and be reasonable. I don't avoid all fruit and vegetables, PB, hummus, etc., in order to avoid listeria. That just isn't reasonable.

peggels24 · July 2014

I quit smoking and I gave up alcohol (except for the half of glass of champagne at a wedding I went to). Sushi and soft cheeses aren't really my thing anyway so that was not a hardship. I limit my tuna intake but I enjoy a turkey sandwich once in a while. I drink caffeine in moderation and make sure all my veggies and fruits are washed well. I eat soft-serve ice cream from the same place that has been around for years and I trust implicitly.

As far as exercise - I've been slacking but I was going to the gym three times a week and doing my normal workout except my Dr. advised me to keep my heartrate under 140 so I tried to do that.

All in all - I try to abide by most of the rules but I don't go too crazy.

KMW08 · July 2014

In the first few weeks I was pretty careful. Now I'm just ashamed.

Of course no smoking or drinking (not an issue for me). I stopped soda and caffeine completely, but this week it's all I've been wanting, so I've lightened up some and had a few sodas.

I've been really bad with taking my prenatals & other vitamins for the past couple of months.

I never gave up deli meat & I haven't heated it up once.

I've pretty much come to the point of IDGAF. I actually do, but after everything I know it's really not in my control and there's nothing I can do most of the time anyways. It's so weird how I've done a 180*.

ToriGirl2014 · July 2014

After my BFP, I did eat sushi once because I wanted it so, so bad and I read up that there was such an infinitesimal chance of anything going wrong. But I felt so guilty eating it that it didn't even taste good. So, that's out of my system now.

Once in a blue moon I drink some caffeine but really nothing stronger than green tea.

My OB said turkey and ham lunchmeat were OK but I only eat it if it's fresh.

Otherwise, I am pretty much by the book.

mjcharpe · July 2014

After having 2 losses, I have learned that we do not have control of everything. Sometimes, no matter how by the book you are- things just happen. That being said, I do tend to play by the rules when it comes to lunchmeat, artificial sweeteners, soft cheeses, etc. I figure, if there is anything that I can do to help in any way, then I'll personally feel better about things no matter the outcome.

[Deleted User] · July 2014

I was pretty by-the-book in first trimester, but relaxed a little in second tri. For example, in first trimester I ate NO deli meats. Since I've been in second tri, I've had a turkey sub on several occasions. Still no alcohol, no soft cheeses, and no runny eggs, but I wouldn't necessarily be super opposed to having a little of any in moderation.

And I will still order my steaks medium-rare (or medium at the VERY most).

2redtulips · July 2014

The heart-rate rule is outdated. Look that up at American Pregnancy or the like. When it comes to exercise, the new rule of thumb is that you should be able to speak a sentence while working out. Talk to your doc about your specific situation, of course, but mine cleared me to do Zumba and my regular long walks up until I had a bleeding scare at 33 weeks.

Danielle0311 · July 2014

2redtulips said:
The heart-rate rule is outdated. Look that up at American Pregnancy or the like. When it comes to exercise, the new rule of thumb is that you should be able to speak a sentence while working out. Talk to your doc about your specific situation, of course, but mine cleared me to do Zumba and my regular long walks up until I had a bleeding scare at 33 weeks.

I kinda side eyed him when he said not over 120bpm, that eliminates everything but walking! Lol

ngolimento · July 2014

I'm not going outside of the rules as much as I thought I would. I was all set to drink coffee and scoff at the food rules, but here I am being conservative as heck.

I dunno, though, there's only so long this girl can go without sushi.

peregrinefalconx · July 2014

I'm pretty much not following "the rules." As an OBGYN said to me, you have no greater chance of getting sick from something if you are pregnant than if you are not. The only two things I am being strict about is only eating organic (which I already did) and not eating any high mercury fish (which stinks bc I am craving tuna and spicy tuna maki). Switched back to no aluminum deodorantI decided I will not be running this time around and only low impact. Not taking any meds that I don't have to (like claritin which i think might be safe anyway). OH, and I am still doing my raw dairy products, something I greatly believe in for health! I'm obviously more worried about chemicals than germs!

I quit drinking and smoking years ago, and I've gone down from 2 cups of coffee/day to .5/1 cup, but that is more bc I have no desire.

I'm also not doing any of the early ultrasound stuff and waiting until I am at least 8 weeks. Have had two losses and I can't be in there one more time hearing, "are you sure you aren't earlier than you think you are?" Still early now (maybe 6 weeks?), but have been sick since 4 days after conception, so seems like forever!! Praying for heartbeat.

longcat07 · July 2014

99.3% of the time i follow the rules, just because most of the restricted things are things i don't have a lot of (if any) anyway. lunch meat, alcohol, etc. we don't do unpasteurized dairy of any kind. i can't drink more caffeine than would be in a cup of black tea without having unpleasant GI consequences, so that's that. i did have sushi once from a reputable japanese bistro, and i have had a sip of SO's beer on one or two occasions. i've also eaten a couple eggs with runny yolks since being in the 2T and had one medium-rare steak. i probably won't have any of those things again till after baby arrives, except maybe the sip of beer or runny yolks, unless i get a major craving for sushi or steak. we just don't get that stuff very often anyway.

taberbtb · July 2014

Rules schmules. I followed every. single. rule. last time around and there are literally hundreds of them, but that pregnancy still ended in an mmc. So following them doesn't give me much peace of mind this time around.

That being said, I did eliminate alcohol, I switched to decaf almost 2 years ago, although I find the thought of any coffee unappetizing since about 5 wks, and I don't care for sushi. As far as the rest I am careful about the source anyways as I had food poisoning in the spring. It makes me a little wary of anything that looks like it might be hanging around a little too long. Otherwise I don't deny myself much as long as it looks fresh and properly prepared/stored.

Edit: run on sentence

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All the rules, do you follow them all?

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Began trying for a baby January 2012
BFP 4.25.2013 EDD 1.3.2014 MMC 6.3.2013 D&C 6.19.2013
BFP 11.3.2013 CP 11.6.2013
BFP 3.31.2014 EDD 12.10.2014 Baby boy Carlson born 12.19.2014

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All the rules, do you follow them all?

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Began trying for a baby January 2012BFP 4.25.2013 EDD 1.3.2014 MMC 6.3.2013 D&C 6.19.2013BFP 11.3.2013 CP 11.6.2013BFP 3.31.2014 EDD 12.10.2014 Baby boy Carlson born 12.19.2014

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Began trying for a baby January 2012
BFP 4.25.2013 EDD 1.3.2014 MMC 6.3.2013 D&C 6.19.2013
BFP 11.3.2013 CP 11.6.2013
BFP 3.31.2014 EDD 12.10.2014 Baby boy Carlson born 12.19.2014