Things you CAN do when pregnant

"Throw the cat out! It’ll make you and the baby growing inside, sick."

"Don’t dye your hair. The chemicals are bad for your baby."

"No make up! Your baby will be born with a funny face!"

"No bathing until you deliver, okay?"

Alright, perhaps I went overboard with the last one. But I’m sure as you spread the joyful news of your pregnancy, you are bound to be hit with these rather strange pieces of advice.

This week, we separate the old wives’ tale from the truth and give you a list of what you really can do while being pregnant, even if the old mom-in-law advices you against it!

Acupuncture and Massages

Acupuncture during pregnancy reduces backache, joint pain, morning sickness and fatigue and helps you to maintain balance. However, it’s always advisable to discuss this with your doctor before you start any acupuncture sessions while being pregnant.

As the belly gets bigger, you get more uncomfortable and keep slipping into dream mode of someone massaging you. Why do you have to dream about it? Get out there and get yourself a massage. But look for a place that has a massage table with a cut-out for your belly. Massages are known to cause contractions of the womb so stop immediately if you feel any strong contractions.

Dyeing

The concern over chemicals being absorbed into the bloodstream from these hair ‘doings’ is large and relatively fair. However, most of these chemicals are cleared from the bloodstream quickly. When you dye your hair, little actually reach the scalp and almost nothing reaches the bloodstream. Thus, none of will harm the little baby inside. If you are still unconvinced, then try to do it after your first trimester as cosmetologists recommend that period.

Hairy Business

Do not use pregnancy as a reason to keep yourself, well, unkempt. I remember seeing a lady who was well into her second trimester with legs full of hair. As much as I wanted to be happy for her as she told me the joys of being pregnant, I just couldn’t stop staring at those hairy legs and feeling rather a little sick!

Really, how hard is it to take the epilator and go down your legs? If you can’t do it, then what are sisters, mothers, cousins, best friends and maids for? We, women folk, have to stick together in times of ‘hairy’ crisis and help one another out! So the next time you see your pregnant sister walking around with legs full of hair, you know what to do!

Hello Baby, Goodbye Kitty?

So you’re blessed with a baby growing in you and it’s time to throw the family pet? Come on now, that dog could just be the thing that saves you as we are told by countless stories of people being rescued by their pets when home disasters strike.

Dog are safe for you and your little developing baby. Be concerned over big dogs as they might jump on your stomach. But that’s still no reason to get rid of them. Perhaps you can have someone take them in until you deliver, if you’re still undecided about it.

So Mom told you to leave the cat in a deserted corner of the street and scoot? Well, she is just merely concerned over toxoplasmosis which is a parasite infection that can be transmitted by cats.

Toxoplasmosis can cause premature delivery birth defects in children. Toxoplasmosis is spread from the feces of the cat and it can latch on to you when you are cleaning out the litter box. You don’t have to abandon the poor kitty because of this! Like the dog, perhaps somebody could take in your cat till you deliver.

People will continue to dole out things you shouldn’t do while being pregnant and some with too much time on their hands might even write a list (and laminate it!) but always check with your doctor as some of those things on the list could be just plain silly paranoia bits passed down from one generation to the next!