Pregnancy...what are myths and what is fact?

[Aruba417]

My sister just found out that she is pregnant with her first child. She is the first of any of my siblings to get pregnant, and being her older sister, I always feel like I need to give her advice...but I don't have any on being pregnant! he he he! Anyways, we've heard different things about what you should and should not do when pregnant, and we just wanted some good input on what is an old wives tale, and what is truth. For example, is it true you shouldn't eat canned tuna? Should pregnant women fly? Is it unsafe to dye your hair? Things like that. I know you ladies have lots of facts, please let me know! :)

[Aruba417]

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice!!! I am definitely going to take a trip to the bookstore! Well, it looks like the whole fish debate won't be a problem anyways, since she just realized yesterday that even THINKING of seafood is making her sick. Which is funny, because she likes seafood! Poor thing! Thanks so much for the advice and well wishes! I'm so excited!

[ateague]

Shrimp is ok to eat, all bottom feeders should be ok, but all seafood should be limited since it all contains some levels of mercury.  What you really need to avoid are the predator fish such as shark and don't eat raw fish or any exotic fish.  Farm raised fish are best, but don't eat fish from your local rivers or lakes, there's no way to test what contaminates the fish might have in it's system.  As for the hair-dying thing, I'd avoid it for the first trimester while development is critical, and avoid breathing the fumes for long periods of time.  Also, the chemical make-up of your hair changes during pregnancy and your hair doesn't take the dye like it used to.  Avoid buying color in a box, my SIL did it when she was 7 months pregnant with the same dye she'd been using for years, and because her hair didn't take the color well, it ended up an orange color.  So, she had to get it professionally done and that's where the color techinician explained about the pregnancy affecting her hair.  Also, you can go to the dentist during a pregnancy, but make sure she tells them she's pregnant and they'll avoid x-rays, but they'll still clean her teeth, there's nothing harmful about that.

[AndiJ78]

I had a first trimester m/c that matched up with the day the baby stopped developing and dental x-rays. I did have dental care with both of my boys, but didn't go in until my second trimester.

No raw anything, fish, eggs, meat, etc. No unpasteurized cheese, no alcohol, no smoking, hair dye is fine just watch the ingredients and use in a well ventilated area, baths are fine as long as they aren't hot, tanning, hot tubs, and saunas are huge no-no's!! Tuna is okay in moderation (no more than 12 ounces chunk light canned in a week, 6 ounces of albacore a week), cooked shellfish in moderation, watch actual deli meats, no dieting you need to keep your calorie intake at 2300 for the first try and up it by 200 per trimester. Make healthy decisions, but never go fat free during pg.

I have a really great book from the Mayo Clinic, it was far more helpful than the What to Expect or the Girlfriends Guide. Check out some really great websites like:

www.pregnancy.org
www.babycenter.com
www.pregnancyweekly.com

Or google pregnancy, you can find a lot of info and a lot of great links for her.

Bravo to you for being so helpful! She can also sign up for some of the baby mags for free and get some pg tips via email.

Andi

[baby4Staci]

as a good big sister, you should treat your sister to a trip to the book store to answer all these questions!! You should get her the what to expect while expecting book.

canned tuna is fine in moderation as long as it is all white meat i believe, Lunchmeats arent supposed to be good for you, my doctor told me he would rather me have regular soda then diet or caffine free.  caffine is ok in pregnancy as long as it is moderation (no more than 16 oz a day)  Oh, and no blue veined cheeses or soft cheeses like brie or bluecheese etc.  cesar dressing may contain raw egg, so none of that.  make sure all egg is cooked completely.  Dying your hair isnt recommended if the dye touches your scalp, Flying is fine until your last trimester. good luck!

Congratulations Auntie to be!!

[MandaJo111]

GO!!  By all means, go to the appointment.  It is actually very common for pregnant women to develop dental problems (gingivitus, etc.)  When you get there just let them know you are pregnant.  They will avoid xray exposure due to that, but they will clean your teeth and all as usual.  

Congrats!!

Amanda

[mejoje]

As for fish, I heard that you can not any "bottom-feeders" (shrimp,etc.). It is O.K to fly with doctors approval just not if you are having problems or late in pregnancy. All milks and cheeses you want to be homogenized and no raw eggs (licking the spoon after making brownies!) You should not take bubble baths or hot tubs or steam bath becuase of over heating and passing out and I heard that you should not faked bake tan because it will"cook" the baby (it is just too hot!). As for hair coloring and nail polish and acrilic nails some say yes some say no, my feeling is that the smells my make her sick and may be harmful  and these substances are being put onto porous places and will be absorbed so I believe it may hurt the baby. Also, because of summer coming around the corner, My SIL was told not to swim under water becuase when you hold your breath the baby holds his/her breath and that is not good. I cann't think of any more at the moment. Congrats. Aunt Aruba!!!

[cugirl]

I was wondering about the dentist thing...I just found out I was pregnant (9weeks now) and I have a dental appt in June, just a regualar check up. Should I go or cancel?

[twinsmommy]

Tuna is not recommended (because of mercury) but canned light tuna seems to be OK, don't ask me why. On the list I got shrimp was under the "go for it" section. The bigger the fish, the worse it is for you (live longer, eat smaller fish, have more bad stuff in them). Farmed salmon is a no (antibiotics) wild pacific salmon is OK, but don't expect in a restaurant to find out what they are serving!
Soft cheese are indeed a no although I can't imagine that all pregnant French women quit eating their brie/camenbert!
I asked my OB last week (22 weeks pregnant) if I could color my hair. She said "I think that's an excellent idea". We are not sure whether the chemicals really pose a danger, but you're out of the first trimester, so. But she has a very European attitude against alcohol (1 small glass/week) as well although she will never admit this in public.
You know, you can be paranoid about everything, but remember the doctors also constantly change their minds about what is good and what is bad. Just use your common sense, like if you have a tootache and your dentist doesn't know how deep the decay is, just let him take an x-ray (with protection of course) but don't let him do your whole mouth. You don't want to run around with a tootache for nine months...

[baby_gift_from_God]

Well i also believe in a healthy and nutrient diet and eat in moderation but avoid raw stuff.  God Bless