Pregnancy hormones can send you on an emotional rollercoaster. It may take you and your body time to get used to pregnancy and you may need to adjust in other ways too. At this stage, what you eat and drink can harm your baby, so you might need to make some lifestyle changes.
In this feature we look at
Mixed feelings
However much you want a baby, it’s natural to worry about how things will turn out. You may be worried about being on your own, about whether your baby is developing normally, about how your partner or family will react. You may also be worried about money, about how you’ll cope. Don’t keep your feelings to yourself. Find someone to talk to and talk it all out. If you can, talk to your partner or family, or your midwife will put you in touch with someone who can help.
When to tell family and friends
Many women choose to keep the news of the pregnancy quiet until they reach 12 or 13 weeks, when the risk of miscarriage greatly decreases. You may want to tell one or two close friends, just so that on days when you don’t want to bottle up your emotions any more, you’ve got someone to confide in.
Drinking in pregnancy
Many women go off alcohol while they’re pregnant. Others choose not to drink at all, as too much alcohol can harm a developing baby. However, government guidelines say that one or two units once or twice a week is fine.
A unit is half a pint of beer or lager or a quarter of a pint of strong beer or lager, a measure of spirits, or a small glass of wine. Don’t forget that ‘home’ measures are often larger than ‘pub’ measures. If you’re worried that you’re drinking too much and need help to stop, call the free Drinkline on 0800 917 8282. It’s open Monday to Friday, 9am to 11pm, for advice and information, or log on to www.wrecked.co.uk
Non-alcoholic alternatives
Try these if you want to avoid your usual glass of wine:
- A Virgin Mary (a Bloody Mary without the vodka).
- Sparkling apple or grape juice.
- Fresh orange juice with fizzy water.
- Tonic without the gin.
- Alcohol-free wines and beers.
Street drugs
Using illegal drugs of any kind is dangerous for your baby. They increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. The risk is even higher if drugs are combined with alcohol. For advice and support in giving up, call the National Drugs Helpline on 0800 77 66 00, open 24 hours a day for free, confidential advice or log on to www.talktofrank.com
Some street drugs are addictive (habit-forming), and you may need help to give them up. Don’t stop suddenly; the withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous for you and your baby. Talk to your midwife – she will be more interested in protecting you and your baby than in judging you. You can be given help at specialist clinics to get you safely off the drugs as soon as possible.
Five ways to stop smoking
If you smoke when you’re pregnant, you increase the risk of having a miscarriage, a baby with a low birthweight, a premature birth or pregnancy complications. So, to give up:
- Call the NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline FREE on 0800 1699 169, 12 noon to 9pm daily. You can speak to a specialist adviser, get details of your local NHS Stop Smoking Service, and a free booklet. A free call-back service is available for extra support. Visit www.givingupsmoking.co.uk for further support.
- Decide on a date to stop. Plan activities for that day which you don’t associate with smoking; breakfast in bed, a walk, a swim, a massage, and go to places where smoking isn’t allowed, like cinemas or shops. The first day without a cigarette will show you that you can do it.
- Accept that you will have withdrawal symptoms. You may yearn for a cigarette, or become very irritable or anxious. The worst effects will be over in a few days, but remind yourself that the benefits to your baby will last a lifetime.
- Ask your midwife or GP for advice on nicotine replacement therapy.
- Combat any lack of energy you may feel by eating little and often; nibble a breadstick, or have some fresh fruit. Try to get plenty of exercise – this can replace the ‘kick’ that nicotine used to bring.
It’s not easy, but you can stop, and with help, you will. Talk to your midwife, your doctor, and ask friends and family for support.
Sex in pregnancy
Many women worry that sex could harm their baby or cause a miscarriage. If you have any bleeding in early pregnancy, your GP may advise you not to have sex until you reach 12 to 14 weeks. Otherwise, put your mind at rest. There is no physical reason why you and your partner cannot make love throughout your pregnancy. During intercourse, your partner’s penis cannot damage the baby in any way.
But you may go off sex. That’s normal, especially if you’re feeling sick, tired and low. This feeling may lift as pregnancy progresses and the discomforts ease. Then you may feel like making love again. Meanwhile you can still be close with kissing and cuddling.
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