Pregnancy Dont's

Being pregnant in the 70s was awesome. No real restrictions. When my contractions would start (like in my 5th month) my doc would tell me to have a glass of wine. With my last child, I lived off of a C2 combo wedge.
It was Italian cold its on a long roll with all the toppings of Lettuce, tomatoes, onions. You name it. For dessert a Milky Way.

P.S. my daughter was born with shredded lettuce as hair and a giant Milky Way in her hand lol.

I gave up caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. That's it. I ate what I wanted, including rare beef, raw sushi, deli meats, soft cheeses, etc. I played volleyball. I had cats and worked in an animal hospital and cleaned litter boxes both at work and at home. At work, I did not shoot x-rays but I did develop them. I worked with big dogs, including lifting them onto exam tables and into the bathtub until I got so big I couldn't get a proper grip on them.

Unless your OB has specific concerns about your pregnancy, relax. There's no reason to avoid hayrides or long trips unless they make you uncomfortable.

There probably was a stage in each of my pregnancies when a hay ride would have made me nauseous. But it's not going to hurt the baby. Baby is extremely well protected. A hayride is generally bouncy, but it's not going to hurt baby one bit.

When i was pregnant, if I wasn't throwing up I was probably nauseous. I lost about 30 pounds each time a kid was born. (Don't worry, I gained it all back rather easily. Just as overweight as ever :-) Long trips were not something I would have enjoyed. But, again, it wouldn't have hurt my baby.

Definitely listen to your doctor. But for the most part, have fun and do the things you love. Baby will be just fine.

If you are pregnant and drinking coffee or Coke or Pepsi/Mountain Dew, etc. DO NOT stop drinking them immediately - slowly wean yourself off of them. Talk to your OB/GYN about your habits of drinking, etc.

No, I did not avoid hayrides. I lived my life. I didn't go skiing....but I did ride a bike until I was about 5 months along - then my balance wasn't what it was prior to pregnancy. I didn't sky dive....I didn't go all protective and scared.

Many women panic when they are pregnant. They forget that that baby is living in a really good shelter....fluid and muscle....

If you exercise now - DO NOT stop - tell the doctor your exercise routine and what he/she knows about you - your lifestyle and how you do things - will help you have a successful pregnancy with very little issues.

Talk with your OB/GYN who knows YOU and has examined you.

Good luck and congrats!

No alcohol, drugs or smoking. Decrease caffeine. Avoid dangerous chemicals and fumes. Be smart about what you're exposed to. Other than that, I did everything I wanted to do.

I exercised right up until I delivered. I ran until it was just too uncomfortable to do, and then I walked. A lot. I truly think that it helped my body to bounce back easily. I have two kids and wear the very same size military uniform that I did before I had kids. I was 128lbs before I had kids, and am 135 now.

You're pregnant, not broken. Women have been having babies for millennia, many working right up until they delivered. Don't worry. Just use your head.

I pretty much only stopped drinking. I am not a smoker so that was not an issue. I ate lunch meat, canned tuna, sushi, ect..... My little man turned out perfect. People make such a huge deal about things and it has turned CRAZY!!! I was told by my OB that I could still drink my couple cups of coffee in the morning and I DID!! I still drank Dt. Coke on a regular basis and had an occasional sip of beer. I too colored my hair. You don't have to live in a bubble while your are pregnant! Congrats enjoy your pregnancy!

I still drank coffee. I would rather have 1-2 cups a day than deal with a miserable caffeine withdrawal headache, ya know?

My son was born last November, and I took my girls on a hayride about 4 weeks before he was born, actually :)

I also drank one glass of wine for Thanksgiving, that was a few days before he was born.

Plane rides are a non-issue for me, I don't travel much. Long car rides, if you feel up to it, depends on you and your body. Some people get swelling, leg cramps, blood clots, that kind of thing.

I did stop with the coffee - SO SAAAAD!

I did have a sip or two of beer when I had a craving, but I also would have an O'douls for fight night ... beer and wings just taste good together.

Never ate fish much before I was pregnant so I did not have to worry about that.

After 7 months I was on bed rest so I had no choice but to follow my doctor's rules.

I think common sense is a good rule.

I used my common since. I temporarily stopped drinking coffee when it began making me sick. But as I got a little further along I was able to drink it without getting sick. I was only drinking a cup in the morning which is considered a safe amount.
At one point the only thing I craved horribly and could eat and not get nauseous from when I was pregnant with my first was turkey and avocado sandwiches, and they had to come from one specific deli. I never had them heat the lunch meat and my OB knew that was what I was eating. I never heard about lunch meat until I was pregnant with my third so maybe it's a new thing.
I didn't eat raw sashimi. I ate cooked sushi though.
When I was pregnant with my third we were constantly going to Disneyland. It's an hour and a half without traffic to get to Disneyland from. My midwife knew. I avoided the attractions that warned you not to go on if you were pregnant and a couple others that didn't look like something I would be comfortable on.
It is easier to say a blanket "don't" but if you look at the actual recommendations you will find they are not as strict as they sound.
I have 3 healthy and happy kids. I must not have messed up too bad ;)

I could not give up coffee, so I cut down to one tiny cup each morning. It was well within the recommended range.

I gave up all of the other things; alcohol (obviously) lunch meat, hot dogs, blue cheese. I'm sure there are more things, I just can't remember.

I can't stay I traveled much when pregnant, but would not have in the 3rd trimester. With my 3rd, I was in and out of the hospital with preterm labor so I couldn't have gone anywhere if I'd wanted to.

All I ever drank was one cup of coffee in the morning - so that didn't change when I was pregnant.
When 5 months pregnant we drove to visit my Mom (12 hrs away).
That was kind of hard - I had to stop to use the bathroom almost every hour - and a public restroom wasn't always available.
A nice 7-11 employee let me use their employee restroom at one point.
My husband did all the driving but I was still exhausted from just sitting so long in more or less the same position.
I would have gone on a hayride if one came up.
Up until the pool at the park closed at the end of summer I LOVED being in the water - it took so much pressure off my back.
I was ridiculously buoyant - there was no way I could swim under water because my belly kept bobbing to the surface.
All I wanted to do was float on my back and that was perfect.
I stayed away from all alcohol - I even used an alcohol free mouth wash.
I ate peanuts when ever I felt like it - they really helped keep the hunger attacks under control.
I did give up oysters and clams on the half shell, sushi and rare steak till I was finished breastfeeding.

I don't drink coffee, and only occasionally drink a soda, but did not cut chocolate even though that has caffeine.

I did not avoid long trips, and you shouldn't either as long as you can get up and walk around for a while (either stop the car or walk up and down the aisle of the plane). You should be in good health though and get permission from your doctor, you don't want to go into labor in an unexpected place and be too far from your own doc if you need specialty care. And don't forget to plan for pit stops!

I am not sure why you would need to avoid hay rides. I haven't heard about any health hazards. Maybe because of the bumping? I have not been on too many hayrides, but they have all been pretty slow and uneventful.

I avoided alcohol 100% I stayed as far away from any smokers as I could (but I did that anyway). I did not eat raw sushi and I only ate hot lunch meat. I also ate my steak well done (which ,means I did not really eat too much steak because I like it MR). I did not eat eggs with a runny yolk because that is technically undercooked. hat is why you cannot get eggs like that t any hospitals.

I still colored my hair and pretty much kept my normal life. I actually ate better and took better care of my body while pregnant.

No coffee or caffeine for my pregnancy. I don't drink caffeine anyway, as a general rule. (Just never became a habit.) Honestly, it just doesn't make sense to me. Caffeine is a stimulant, a drug. I really don't understand giving that to a baby through me, but it's a personal thing. To each their own. If you want caffeine follow your doctor's advice.

I wouldn't have gone on a long trip, simply because my pregnancy was so hard. If someone is having a normal and easier pregnancy, I don't see why a trip can't happen. I think towards the end, most doctors want you to be reasonably close to home, in case.

Pregnancy does not mean you can't have fun. A fall hayride is safer then getting into your car and driving down the road. Just use common sense. Most things are not very dangerous and your baby is very protected. Listen to your doctor, not your fears. When in doubt, they are there to answer your questions.

I drank caffeine with both. (Mostly tea with first pregnancy and a daily cup of coffee with second.) Occasionally had small amounts of wine after first or second trimester. Went on trips (and camping), but didn't do anything really bouncy like horseback riding. Didn't travel long distances during third trimester (high risk pregnancy). I didn't lift really heavy loads, though I still think that was a stupid rule. Used my head about food, though there are things I didn't eat that I now think are perfectly okay during pregnancy.

I don't do drugs or smoke, so that wasn't an issue for me.

I'm 35 weeks pregnant. I still have coffee or espresso every day, but no more than a 6 oz latte or 2 cups of coffee. I've had a sip of my husband's beer or wine here and there. I don't drink much soda, but I've had ginger ale or root beer when I want a treat. I've avoided medium steaks/burgers (that's been the hardest part I think), but I've had lunch meat occasionally after the 1st trimester. I gave up raw sushi, but I still eat the cooked stuff, and I watch my fish intake. I also cut back on some cheeses (certain blue cheese, brie, anything that has aged less than 6 mo) and double checked products to make sure they were pasturized. I stopped riding my bike, but I go on walks..I would definitely go on a hayride. And, at 28/29 weeks pregnant we took a 7 hour flight and had a week long Babymoon and all was great. Also haven't taken anything other than prenatals the whole time.

Women have been having babies for a long time. Just be smart about what you expose yourself to. Sounds like I've made a lot of adjustments, but I haven't really. I've lost a baby before, but it wasn't because I ate lunchmeat once or had some undercooked meat. Whatever will be, will be, you know?

Good luck :)

This 3rd time around, I'm really only avoiding the alcohol. I'm not much of a coffee person but I do enjoy a Dr. Pepper or coke every now and then. Couple times a week probably. I mostly vegetarian so I don't worry about the other stuff (deli meat, sushi). I'm not importing any cheeses from european villages or anything so I think I'm good.

Hmm, I gave up caffeine and lunchmeat sandwiches and alcohol. And was careful about medicines - I consulted with my OB for any medication.

I did go on long trips (with more bathroom breaks, lol). And I'm not sure why you'd avoid hayrides. The bouncing? I don't think the baby is going to bounce out and he's cushioned in a water jacket so won't get hurt, so I wouldn't worry about that.

I can't think of anything else I avoided. I don't have a cat so no worries about the cat box.

I avoided caffeine, deli meats, alcohol, unpasteurized foods, and fish. But every once in a while I had a few sips of diet coke and some sushi. When I thought I could be pregnant, I also avoided body scanners at airports and opted for the pat downs. I also try not to travel by plane after reading that of all the occupations, flight attendants have the highest rate of miscarriage due to the radiation exposure.

I had to stop painting the dining room when I found out with the first one. My doc said I didn't have to, but it wasn't voc free paint, so I wasn't comfy finishing, but my hubby and sis did for me.

I avoided anything unpasteurized like cheese and juice, I still drank Diet Coke, but then it made me sick, so I had to quit.

I only avoided what was uncomfortable to do. But, at 8 months I went on a 5 hour car ride to visit the inlaws, and at 9 months I went on a hayride, but hubby helped me up and down.

The basics I had to avoid when I was pregnant with both was foods but that was my kiddos being allergic to stuff even while inside me. Basically, if it doesn't hurt, and it is ok with your doc, then you should be fine.

Oh, I just read that one of the precursor's for Autism maybe not enough prenatal vitamins, so make sure to find some you can take please! Oh, the one thing my doc kept telling me to cut down on was salt for swelling, and I have a feeling that is pretty normal, especially at the end.

Congrats and good luck!

Cut down on caffine. Had to go on gestational diabetes diet, but was still able to eat most things. I drove back and forth from San Fran to Los Angeles every couple weeks up until 6 months due to hubby working there. Worked till 2 weeks before giving birth.

I stayed away from all caffeine and alcohol for my first two pregnancies. With my third, I still drank a glass of tea each day (I'm addicted!), and I would occasionally have a few sips of wine. All 3 of my children are healthy, happy, and smart.

I went on a trip to a beach 5 hours away from home when I was 8 months pregnant with my first, and again when 7 months pregnant with my 3rd. I also traveled on business early in my first pregnancy. Everything was fine. I think a hayride should be okay. :-)

Best wishes for a healthy baby!