OMG! I have a BFP! Now what? What can I NOT EAT? Or drink? Or...everything!!! - Page 2

[erigeron]

I think 'cold turkey' would stress the baby as much as it stresses you, however much that might be or not be. It sounds like you smoke sort of reflexively in the car. What if you tried putting your cigarettes on the opposite side of the car from you so you can't reach them when you're driving, or even leave them home if you won't be out long? A simple modification like that might make it easier to cut back.

[madcap150]

A book that I'd recommend is The Panic-Free Pregnancy. It's getting a little dated now so not all the research is current, but it's still a great resource that lays out what the risks really are and what "OMG don't do that when you're pregnant NOOOOO!" stuff is just NOT research-based. I feel much better basing my decisions on research rather than paranoia. :)

As far as a few particulars--

Caffeine: I decide to cut back early in pregnancy simply because recent studies have shown that even moderate amounts can raise miscarriage risk-- I know I CAN cut back, so I do early on, because I don't want to increase my risk of miscarriage. This is a very personal decision and I don't think the "pregnancy police" should have any part of it; it's just something you should have the information on so you can make an informed decision.

So this preg, once I found out I was pregnant, I started cutting back my daily mug of coffee gradually: a few days at 3/4 mug, a few days at 1/2, etc. I happened to have a lot of hormonal headaches early in pg anyway so cutting the caffeine didn't make a difference on that score!

Now I have an occasional coffee. Later in pregnancy I'll probably go back to one mug a day since caffeine is not linked to problems in, say, the third trimester.

Cutting chocolate: no, just no. Chocolate is always my friend. :) It has much less caffeine than coffee, so once I cut the coffee I really don't worry.

Lunch meat, sushi, soft cheese, etc: the book above has good research on this. After reading the research I just decided not to worry about this stuff, which I don't consume much anyway. Also, unpasteurized soft cheese is difficult to come by in the US, so just check whether it is pasteurized. If not, look at the research to make your decision. But it will probably be pasteurized and then it is a no-brainer that it's perfectly fine, or as fine as any other food.

ETA: One more thing I want to mention is that it is easy to feel stressed that you have to do things perfectly. The research that comes out about prenatal nutrition, emotion, etc and how it affects the baby is interesting on a scientific level, but on the personal, I'm-gestating-a-baby level can feel like a mandate to eat a pristine diet and avoid all toxins and move somewhere free of pollution because otherwise something will go wrong with the baby and it will be ALL YOUR FAULT. I really encourage you to stay away from any resource that makes you feel that way. I hate that kind of pressure and I feel better reminding myself that 1. the system can't be THAT fragile, considering how many perfectly normal people have resulted from less-than-ideal conditions over thousands of years of human history, and 2. I'm doing a pretty good job of eating as well as I'm able, and that's all I can ask myself.

[Buddhamom]

Not sure if your hubby smokes or not, but maybe if you tell him about baby he will help you quit and that way you aren't in this alone, KWIM?

[Maurine]

Originally Posted by mrsbernstein 

I completely hear y'all on the smoking.  And I've had 2 cigs today...and the second made me want to, you know.

When I first saw the BFP, I started reading on Dr. Google, and found the some research has shown that "cold turkey" can 

stress the baby.  eeks.  So...I'm decreasing...and at this rate, quite quickly!  But not officially "cold turkey".

As for the weight gain...I'm noticing that my tighter jeans are getting tighter...but not TOO tight, kwim?

Thank you all so much for your help!!  

Mrs B

Mrs B -- I googled really quickly about quitting cold turkey and pregnancy, and I found just the opposite:

"Not only is quitting cold turkey safe, it's one of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby while you're pregnant. As soon as you give up your cigarettes, your baby will start getting more oxygen, and the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and other complications will drop."

http://www.babycenter.com/404_im-pregnant-can-quitting-smoking-cold-turkey-hurt-me-or-my-b_1405526.bc

And here:  http://www.drspock.com/faq/0,1511,2465,00.html

Anyway, I used to smoke like you did (about 2 a day) until about 2 years ago.  I found it was way easier to quit when I had a real reason to (in my case it was a liver issue)...pregnancy should make it easier for you!