When I got pregnant with my first kiddo I knew all the obvious things to stay away from. We’re all aware we can’t drink, smoke, do illegal drugs or change the cat box and that’s totally cool. But as the months went on I started to learn more and more things I wasn’t “allowed” to do and the list got pretty long.
It seemed like every week there was something new I wanted to do and was instantly hit with, “you can’t do that while you’re pregnant” from a friend or the internet. I remember telling my mom I should write a book solely about the things you can’t do while you’re baking a baby – the list was THAT long.
The funny thing is, like with most things you are told you can’t do, you don’t really want to do it, you just don’t like being told no. I got pregnant and suddenly wanted to ride bumper cars and eat sushi. Well, I never wrote that book, but here is what would have graced a few of the pages.
10 Awesome Things You Can’t Do While You’re Pregnant
1. Ice Skate – I’ve been trying to get my husband to go ice skating for years now, and while he still refuses to go, the two winter seasons I was pregnant I thought for sure I could convince him. But falling onto hard ice isn’t something you do when you’re pregnant… and yes, you will fall, don’t kid yourself.
2. Ride A Roller Coaster – This is one of my all time favorite things. I was so bummed when I was pregnant for two summers and couldn’t hit up the local theme park.
3. Soak In A Hot Tub – Would it not feel so amazing to soak your aching back and legs in bubbly 100 degree water? Too bad, not allowed. Neither are heating pads and electric blankets, I hear.
4. Go Skiing – “Ohmygosh it would be SO fun to go skiing!” That is yet another sentence that is met with a head shake and a finger wag.
5. Eat at Subway – Some people get so crazy over the deli meat thing. Did you eat deli sandwiches when you were pregnant? I didn’t but I know several people who did. The crappy thing is that during my first-trimester when everything else made me nauseous, I was certain that a salami sandwich was exactly what my stomach needed.
6. Use Heated Seats – Being pregnant in the winter months made me want nothing more than to heat my buns up when I got in the car and sat down on freezing cold leather. I don’t see a whole lot of information about this out there but I wasn’t willing to risk it.
7. Ride Bumper Cars – I can’t recall when this came up during my pregnancy but yes, at some point I sincerely wanted to go crash around in some bumper cars.
8. Try Sushi – I hate fish and think Sushi sounds disgusting – but you bet when I was pregnant I thought about how desperately I wanted to try a piece of raw fish wrapped in seaweed.
9. Drink A Red Bull – I know how awful it is for you, but Red Bull is my weakness. I don’t allow myself to have it often, but a whole nine months was much longer than I wanted to go without it. Plus, I also didn’t allow myself to drink it during the many months of breastfeeding.
10. Go Blonde – Many people will disagree and say that dying your hair is just fine during pregnancy. Since I’m not a doctor I have no clue, but I do know that there are horror stories of women’s hair turning green and that was not cool with me. Also, it’s years later and I’ve still not dyed my hair blonde (and probably never will).
In the end, every minute of it is worth it to get that sweet little baby, right ladies? What did you miss the most during pregnancy?
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Liz is a just a mom trying to keep it real about how little she sleeps, how often she gets puked on and how much she loves them. You can find her here every day writing about real-mom moments.
Inese says
I love sushi and I ate sushi during pregnancy. Don’t see why not. I think it is the same with all- you can get poisoned. But for sure I wouldn’t try, if I wouldn’t love sushi before pregnancy.
Ashley says
Most of these things I have zero desire to do, but the deli meat thing drives me nuts! It seems every time I am pregnant I crave turkey sandwiches! Now I just ask for my sandwich toasted, and I’m good to go! I even found out Panera will heat up the meat on my favorite turkey sandwich there!
Liz says
Great idea! One time I bought salami and tried to heat it to the correct temperature and for me, it just ruined it. It ended up like leather, lol.
Cami says
I ate a Cutlers turkey and avocado sandwich literally every day when I was pregnant with my first. My doctor said deli meat was okay as long as it was stored at the right temperature and used well before the expiration date. My first is now 8, he’s healthy and happy.
Brittney says
My doctor told me after the first trimester I was fine to eat deli meat. Which is a good thing since my biggest craving is a Spicey Italian from Subway.
Just a Mn mom says
I used heated seats in both l my pregnancies. I also dipped my feet in hot tubs, (for a few minutes, not lengthy amounts of time) just not my whole body.
Liz says
Just soothing your feet in a hot tub would be a great alternative! In fact, I do recall doing that once.
Amy says
There’s a few things that are hit and miss you can have sushi if it’s made fresh and with out deli meats and raw fish , the reason they say no hot tubs is due to very high risk of infection and prem labour as the water gets too hot but mostly infection which kinda rules out the other things heat bags like wheat packs etc are algood so are electric blankets I do admit pregnant woman that eat deli meats especially chicken is a pet peeve like come on it’s 9 months for the health of your child deal with it! But do not do bleaching the amount of chemicals and amonia in the bleach is far to toxic you can get amonia free blonde colours though that are safe to use in well ventilated areas
Liz says
Umm, what’s wrong with deli meats (especially chicken?), as long as it’s heated thoroughly?? Ham was just about the only protein I could reliably tolerate with my son, and he’s happy, healthy, and attacking me as I write this!! Although I will say that rough-housing with him is what I miss being able to do the most with this pregnancy 🙁
Tara says
I missed sushi, med rare steak, over easy eggs, and I didn’t colour my hair either. I stayed away from deli meats as well, but that wasn’t hugely difficult. The no hot tubed sucked, and no amusement park ride, but I dealt.
Oh and of course the soft cheeses.
There really are a lot of things you ‘shouldn’t’ do while you are pregnant. But in the long run it’s only 9 months, and you get a beautiful amazing gift at the end!!!
Liz says
Rare steak would never have crossed my mind because I hate it – ha! But you’re so right.
And yes, such a good reason to go without. 🙂
Natasha says
I wanted oysters almost every second day, but unfortunately that one was a big NO-NO. I also really missed my rally driving and racing.
Liz says
So many cool things we can’t do for those 9 months!
Heidi says
I just want some eggs over easy, but they say no runny yolks!
Liz says
“They” say a lot of things don’t they? 🙂 I just always erred on the side of caution.
By the way, thanks so much for commenting because I just found your blog and I love it!
Rita says
My doc told me if you cook them at home it’s fine.. Just don’t have them at a cafe. You don’t know how long the eggs have been out of the fridge for.
Liz says
Luckily (?) for me, eggs have always been one of my biggest pregnancy aversions!
Dusti says
Wow, I’m sorry but I’m pregnant, not disabled or diseased. I used heated seats, ate deli meat sandwiches, rode fourwheelers and snowmobile into my 9th month amongst other things. I have two healthy boys and one on the way.
Anna says
sleeping on my belly 🙂
Liz says
Yes! See? The list could go on forever. 🙂
dianna says
Well I work at outback, so med rare steaks, ate the whole time! Boars head turkey, cut fresh, or hot deli sandwiches, I ate! Heated seats & heat pads I used on my back, just not on your stomach it will heat the baby! I did hot baths, really hot baths, but did not cover the belly with water! Fish / sushi, would be careful where I got it from, but stay away from the fish high in mercury!. Talk to your Dr, the list isn’t the same for everyone!
I live in Florida, never saw snow, but skating, biking, swimming, boating, did all of it I’m due in a week!. Someone else said I’m pregnant, I’m not diseased, or unhealthy! My Dr said do whatever ever you did before you were pregnant, the healthy your are the easier it is !!!!!
aly says
i ate deli meat like a motherfucker while pregnant with my first. i craved turkey sandwiches like you wouldnt believe. also i had a heating pad for my back…
als you arent suppose to use tigerbalm like creams either i was told.
Kelly says
No soft cheeses! I love love love blue cheese…. And 9 months is much longer than I like to go without… But I do. 😉
Lupe Meyer says
My dr told me that as lond I was not past 18 weeks, I could get on any ride I wanted at Disney land. So I did. I got on splash mountain, space mountain, thunder mountain, indiana Jones and star tours. Im sure each pregnacy is different and had I had risky pregnancy, he would have told me no.
Jen says
My Dr encourages sushi in moderation. Now a days most is farmed raised and not wild. I just make sure I trust the restraunt and stay away from too much of the “bad” fish that’s are high in mercury and iron.
Carey says
I have friends who are going white water rafting tomorrow, and I can’t go. I’ve only been rafting one time in my life, but now I really want to go. Oh, and I couldn’t eat the blue cheese dressing that I was craving at the restaurant tonight. 🙁
Annie says
I am all for keeping baby safe; I won’t smoke or go to a tanning bed but I never even had my Dr warn me about the turkey thing until I was pregnant with our fifth! I have been on a roller coaster at 5 months and all was well, although he is my most intense and adventurous child. And since all seven of my children are incredibly healthy and reason my intelligent I’ll even admit that wine is often my friend in the third trimester!
รับซื้อ Patek Phillippe says
Magnificent web site. A lot of useful info here.
I am sending it to several buddies ans also sharing in delicious.
And obviously, thank you for your effort!
Jen says
I think many of these are ok with caution. I live in a ski town grew up skiing and snowboarding and went while I was pregnant. My Dr. was fine with it as long as I didn’t do crazy stuff and slowed down. Her rule of thumb was if it is something you regularly do why stop, just be more careful, I skied, snowboarded, even went sledding one day. I also accidentally went on a roller coaster before I was sure that i was preggos.
Ate turkey and a bit of sushi. My baby girl turned out fine and happy and smart! If I think of all the things my mom was doing when she was preggos with me…what I did was not nearly as crazy!
Kelly says
What about hot dogs? If they are uncured I have heard they are bad. I often wonder if we hear old wives’ tales or sound medical advice. The deli meat thing is the hardest for me. Thankfully I like hot sandwiches!
I had never heard the one about heated car seats. I did the entire last trimester with my last one. It warmed me up on a -20 degree day!
Jody says
I’ve never heard about the heated seats!! I love deli sandwiches. Unfortunately, I have not been able to refrain. I get the risk. I really do, but they’re soooo good. Thank you for your fun list! I love you’re blog!
Amanda says
I suspect heated seat thing has to do with overheating your body in general. If you’re overheated, baby is REALLY overheated since he can’t cool himself off in utero. I see no good reason to avoid heated seats.
Rachel says
I totally at at Subway. I was so sick and had lost so much weight, my doctor told me “If it stays down, eat it”. What i really REALLY wanted was a beer. And I don’t even LIKE beer!
Dani says
Here’s another thing that should be added to the list- laser hair removal. It was a huge bummer for me because I was mid way through the sessions and I was almost hair less! Any with the pregnancy hormones…. Hello again annoying hairs!!!!
Lisa says
I love subway I missed it so much during my first pregnancy that my best friend brought me one to the hospital. But with my 2nd and 3rd I have them toast just the meat because I don’t like the toasted sub thing and by the time I eat it it’s usually cooled off enough by the cold things in the sub that it tastes like normal!
Ayesha says
What is it with pregnancy and Subway sandwiches? I couldn’t stay away from my Italian MLT during pregnancy. Although I only ate it twice during my 9 mmonths, I simply HAD to have my fix.
Kristen says
Sushi! Also soft cheese like Brie. I went to a bruschetta board type place and found I couldn’t do much because it had smoked salmon, soft cheeses and deli meats, though they were cured. I chose Mac n cheese instead! 🙂
Yzelle says
I always used to sleep on my stomach. . That is probably what I missed most during my pregnancy. Also the deli meat and cheese .. my “go -to” comfort food is a toasted ham cheese and tomato toasty.
Olivia says
Well I did eat sushi when I was 4 months pregnant and got horribly sick with campylobacter. It’s actually not really the fish that’s the prob, but the rice is dangerous for catching listeria from.(apparently) which crosses the placenta. Fortunately I didn’t get listeria but got campylobacter from a restaurant that was prepping chicken in the same space as the sushi… Prob just bad luck really, still after having gone through that I was super, super paranoid and careful for my next pregnancy! Prob best not to be too gung ho! Also the NZ government recommends staying away from hummus… Darn it!
Leeanne says
Or jump on a trampoline – never want to jump normally but I when I was pregnant – very appealing
DZB says
You should add get Botox… but remove not using heated seats. That is absurd. Not soaking in a hot tub is about raising your internal body temperature over 102. You can absolutely sit in a tub for 5 – 10 minutes without any issue. A heated car seat is not going to raise your internal body temp.
Brittany says
I miss eggs Benedict, champagne, charcuterie boards and roller coasters! About 2 more months and I’ll be celebrating with all of those things 🙂
Alicia says
I literally did what I wanted, ate what I wanted with all my pregnancies including not quitting smoking (but I did cut back). I am currently 7 months with my 4th…all of mine were completely healthy and still are, never get sick, nothing…I know this isn’t the norm but just saying the “old wives tales” are not true for everyone. I have jumped on trampolines, rode roller coasters, bumper cars, use a heating pad and heated seats, snowmobiling, you name it I’ve probably done it prego…again not saying that everyone can or should…I just believed that being pregnant wasn’t a reason to stop being me. I also ate what I wanted and drank coffee too!! I guess I’m just a rebel😁😁
Teresa says
Most of these are fine! This article must be old. Lol
Jessica says
Must be. I’m pregnant with my second and I have Sciatica. Heated seats and heating pads are perfectly safe even directly on your stomach as long as they are not on high and do not change your core body temperature. The deli meats things is still said to be a no no but only because of the tiny risk of listeria. The risk is very small and I have yet to meet or even hear of someone who has gotten it.
Ezra fitz says
Shit talking nanny fuckers 😘
Ezra fitz says
Allison is alive 😮and she loooks like a gronk🥞🥨
🍣
alliemom says
Thats weird because when I was pregnant with my first the doctors never told me to stay away from Subway. It was the only thing I could fully keep down guaranteed. They said I needed the food more then any risk the processed meat would cause.
Stefanie says
Heated seats, warm baths, electric blankets, heating pads and even a space heater at your desk at work are safe during pregnancy as long as you don’t raise your core body temperature. Also, you can eat sushi, just nothing raw. You can also dye your hair. You can also eat deli meat in moderation.
rentersi says
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