Pregnancy questions: food, hair dye, pets and the gym

Common pregnancy worries: food, hair dye, pets and the gym | Questions during pregnancy | First trimester

placeholding invisible text

Average rating:

10. There seem to be so many things that I shouldn't eat or drink - I'm terrified I'll eat something that will harm my baby - do I need to be this worried and what should I be avoiding?

All the information we have on what you should and shouldn't eat is based on the best available evidence. So ideally you shouldn't eat things that you're advised not to eat.

Don't panic if you do eat something you're supposed to by accident. It's unlikely to affect your baby. Remember in the old days nobody was bothered about what they ate at all.

Check the Food Standards Agency website to see what you should avoid.

11. Should I be avoiding hair dye? And can I keep my pets?

Hair dye is a difficult one. Highlights are probably the safest option, as the dye doesn't touch the scalp so it can't get absorbed.

Pets like dogs and cats are usually safe if they're well-cared for and healthy (regularly wormed etc). Contact with cat faeces (especially faeces that aren't fresh) can transmit toxoplasma, which can be hazardous, so either wear gloves to clean the litter tray, or get someone else to do it. It's the same with gardening. It's generally considered safe to stroke and handle a healthy cat, as cats tend not to have 3-day old faeces on their fur!

You should keep away from sheep and goats, especially in early pregnancy.

I personally wouldn't bother going this far, but if you want to be absolutely protected from bacteria and parasites, then wash your hands after touching a cat or dog.

12. I love going to the gym. Does being pregnant mean I have to stop?

You can usually still go to the gym during pregnancy if you've regularly attended before you conceived, but there are some important rules. Steer clear of any high-impact exercises, and don't get overheated as temperature changes can be harmful to a growing baby.

Stop if you feel any untoward symptoms like shortness of breath or pain. Make sure your fitness instructor knows you're pregnant.