You’re pregnant and want only the best for your baby, who is developing in your belly. Many things that felt completely normal in your daily life just a few weeks ago may now seem potentially risky, and you might be asking yourself: May I do that? Don’t worry—you don’t have to wrap yourself in cotton wool for the next few months. Still, there are a few things you should pay special attention to right now. We’ve put together an overview of the most important do’s and don’ts for pregnancy.

Yes, definitely

• Take folic acid in time: Folic acid is involved in all cell division and growth processes in the body and is therefore especially essential during pregnancy. Your increased need for this vitamin cannot be met through diet alone. That’s why it’s important to start taking additional folic acid at the beginning of pregnancy—or ideally, during the planning phase before conception. In the article “ Why folic acid is so important for pregnant women “ you can learn in detail why this vitamin is especially essential right now and how to reach the recommended amount of folic acid.

• Pay attention to a balanced diet: Once you’re pregnant, you nourish your baby through the umbilical cord and supply them with all the vitamins and nutrients they need for healthy development. “Not twice as much, but twice as good” is the motto for your diet during pregnancy. What you should pay attention to—and which foods you should avoid—is explained in the article "" Proper Nutrition During Pregnancy "in detail."

• Check your vaccination status: As soon as you find out you’re expecting, it’s worth visiting your general practitioner and taking a look at your vaccination record. While you should avoid immunizations with live vaccines, a flu shot is especially recommended during pregnancy. This way, you can help prevent an infection that could potentially be dangerous for you and your baby.

• Engage in sports: During pregnancy, you can not only continue many sports without concern, but they can actually be very good for you and your baby. Regular exercise strengthens your cardiovascular system, which is now under particular strain, and can prevent many pregnancy-related complaints. In the article "which sports are particularly suitable and what modifications may be necessary as your baby bump grows", we’ll tell you. Sports during pregnancy ".

• Have sex: If you feel like it, contrary to many concerns, Sex during pregnancy is absolutely fine. ;) Only if bleeding or pain occurs should you contact your midwife or your gynecologist. Otherwise, the rule is: if being together brings you happiness hormones, then your baby is doing well, too. Because the cuddling hormone oxytocin is released—and it can also stimulate contractions—some moms even swear that sex triggered labor. But don’t worry: this effect can only occur when your body and your baby are ready for birth.

• Give yourself peace and relaxation: Your body is currently performing at its best, so you’ve certainly earned a little extra rest. Nothing relaxes you more than a massage? That’s still possible—with a few adjustments: toward the end of pregnancy, you should no longer be massaged while lying on your back, to avoid jeopardizing your baby’s supply. Your belly should, if at all, only be massaged very gently to help prevent premature contractions. Many midwives and professional massage studios offer special pregnancy massages tailored specifically to your needs.

• Heben Sie Ihre Beine an: Indeed, in the truest sense of the word. By elevating your legs from time to time and drinking plenty of fluids, you can prevent heavy legs, thrombosis, and discomfort. Varicose veins can also be prevented this way. Compression stockings can further counteract these unpleasant pregnancy-related symptoms.

• Pay attention to your dental care: Hormonal changes during pregnancy cause your body to be more richly supplied with blood. Your gums are affected too, and inflammation can occur more quickly. To help prevent this, you should pay attention to especially thorough oral hygiene with a soft toothbrush. If you suffer from Morning sickness in the first months and need to vomit, wait about half an hour before brushing your teeth. During this time, the stomach acid can neutralize in your mouth, and sensitive enamel will be less affected when you brush.

• Preparing your postpartum period: The postpartum period gives you and your partner the opportunity to get to know your little explorer at your own pace and find your new rhythm as a family. Cooking, laundry, and other household chores take a back seat for now. That’s a great reason to indulge your nesting instinct even before the birth, prepare everything for the new family member’s arrival, and, for example, ensure healthy, quick-to-prepare meals through batch cooking. In the article “ All about the postpartum period and its significance “ LILLYDOO Midwife Sissi explains why the postpartum period is so important and how you can prepare for it.

No, better not

• Consume alcohol and nicotine: Even small amounts can negatively affect your baby’s growth and harm their development. During pregnancy, you should completely avoid cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.

• Enjoy too much sun: Due to hormonal changes, your skin is more prone to pigmentation spots and more susceptible to redness during pregnancy. It is also believed that sunlight breaks down folic acid, which is so important for your baby’s development. Therefore, pay attention to proper sun protection and choose shade over direct sunlight whenever possible.

• Drinking too much coffee: Don’t worry—you don’t have to give up coffee entirely. Just make sure you don’t consume more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day. A higher amount could harm your child’s development.
  Sitting for a long time: Especially as your belly gets bigger, sitting too long can lead to uncomfortable back pain. You can help prevent this by moving around from time to time. Your midwife can show you simple everyday exercises that are good for your body and help get your circulation going again.

• Allow hustle and stress: In some situations, you may not be as resilient as you were before pregnancy and may react more sensitively, both physically and emotionally. A hectic day now and then isn’t a problem, but ongoing stress can negatively affect your baby’s development. So, try to avoid hectic and stressful situations in everyday life as much as possible (scroll back up to "Rest and Relaxation" under "Yes, definitely";).

• Get X-rayed: The radiation your body is exposed to during an examination can harm your child’s development. You should postpone exams, unless absolutely necessary, until after the birth.

• Clean the litter box: Yes, you read that correctly. In Dealing with cats and especially their feces poses a risk of toxoplasmosis infection, which can be extremely dangerous for your child. Your doctor can determine through a blood test whether you have already contracted toxoplasmosis and are therefore immune. If not, you can have your furry roommate vaccinated against the virus. Until then, your partner should take over cleaning the litter box.

• Take certain medications: Certain medications can harm your baby’s development. This can include, for example, chemically decongestant nasal sprays, whose vasoconstrictive effect can also influence the uterus and, in the worst case, even trigger labor. Usually, you can safely use nasal sprays that contain salt or seawater, Dexpanthenol, or selected pregnancy-compatible ingredients. Consult your doctor to find out which medication you can take and which ones you should avoid.

• Follow a diet: Even if many women first have to get used to the fact that their body changes during pregnancy and the scale shows one or two extra kilos, you should avoid dieting during this time. Your body is now providing your baby with all the essential nutrients for development, and these may not be sufficiently available during a diet. A gesunde Gewichtszunahme is completely normal, and at least part of the additional weight your body gains during pregnancy to nourish your baby will automatically be lost after birth and the associated hormonal changes.

• Painting walls: Want the Baby Room to shine in new glory before your little explorer moves in? You should probably leave the painting to someone else. Besides avoiding overexertion during renovation work, inhaling the solvents and chemicals in conventional paint over a longer period can harm your baby. If you still want to paint the nursery (with plenty of breaks) before the birth, opt for chemical-free lime or clay paint instead.

• Attend loud concerts: Music can have a calming effect on your little explorer, even before birth. However, you should postpone very loud concerts until after pregnancy: extreme or regular noise above 90 decibels can harm your baby and may even lead to congenital hearing loss.

Maybe, under certain circumstances

• Flying: You need to travel for work or want an undisturbed
  Babymoon before the birth to spend time together with your partner? As long as your pregnancy is uncomplicated, there is usually nothing preventing you from taking a flight. However, flying with a baby bump comes with a few restrictions. What they are and how you can prepare for your flight, you’ll find out in our article “ Tips for flying during pregnancy .

• Nail painting: Many nail polishes contain chemicals such as solvents and plasticizers. So far, there are no studies on the effects these may have during pregnancy. If you want to play it safe, you can opt for so-called “free nail polishes,” which deliberately omit certain risk substances and allergens. When choosing nail polish remover, make sure it is as free as possible from solvents like acetone. Gel and acrylic nails are generally not recommended during pregnancy, as they contain even more chemicals than regular nail polish.

• Hair coloring: It is suspected that harmful chemicals from hair dye can enter the bloodstream through the scalp and potentially harm the unborn child. Whether these substances actually reach the baby is controversial. If you want to be on the safe side, it’s best to switch to highlights for the duration of your pregnancy, as the dye won’t come into contact with your scalp. Even better is coloring with purely plant-based hair dye, which can be used without concern.

Even if the list of things to consider may seem long at first, you only have to give up a few—and keeping your little explorer in mind will probably not be too difficult. Many things can still be done with a baby bump with a few small adjustments, so you can enjoy your pregnancy with peace of mind. We wish you all the best for the exciting months ahead!

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