If there’s one thing I learnt while pregnant, it’s that however niche your question about your pregnancy, another mother-to-be will have already asked it. During my pregnancy, I searched dozens of increasingly obscure questions and never came up blanks. Granted, most of the resulting pages are chatroom/comment threads without actual answers to the question you’re searching, but in terms of not feeling alone, it’s ace. So here, I thought I’d run through some of the obscure questions I had during pregnancy, and what the answers I found were. They range from using a bouncy castle while pregnant, to eating cheesecake. All the important stuff…
Frequently Asked Questions In Pregnancy, Answered
Here are some of my more random searches during pregnancy (and some answers)…
‘Is it safe to use bouncy castle while pregnant?’
I was going to a birthday BBQ with one and I REALLY didn’t want to miss out.
Answer: No specific medical advice, but best avoided due to the increased risk of injury. Falls, trips and bumps are common on bouncy castles, so you’re better off sitting out the bouncing if you’re pregnant. If you really can’t resist, choose a moment when there’s nobody else bouncing and try not to fall over.
And if you were thinking about getting on a trampoline: don’t. There are even more injuries on trampolines (most commonly from falling off or through, rather than sustained while actually bouncing) than on bouncy castles. Best to remain seated comfortably and allow people to bring you food and drinks for the next few months (/years).
‘Being punched in the stomach in early pregnancy’
No actual punch experienced, but my cat jumped onto me really hard (it was more of a pounce than a jump, really) and I thought the cat-pounce search was a little too niche.
Answer: The little babe is well protected in there. Being punched is best avoided (bloody cats) but you should be OK. If you are punched in the stomach while pregnant, visit your doctor for a check up.
And on a serious note, the risk of domestic violence increases during pregnancy. You can seek help and support from Women’s Aid.
‘Can I eat cheesecake while pregnant?’
Duh.
Answer: If it’s baked.
‘Can I play tennis pregnant?’
Please say no, please say no, please say no.
Answer: New sports are best avoided. What. A. Shame. But if tennis is usually on the agenda for you then yes, you can generally play tennis while pregnant, but it’s important to take precautions. Pregnant women should avoid overexerting themselves, should ensure they stay hydrated, and listen to their bodies. If you have any concerns of questions then speak to your doctor.
‘What is normal weight gain during pregnancy?’
Because WHOA I got heavy.
Answer: The normal weight gain during pregnancy is 25-35 pounds for women of normal weight, 28-40 pounds for underweight women, 15-25 pounds for overweight women, and 11-20 pounds for obese women. Most pregnant women gain 10-12.5 kg (22-28 lbs), with the majority of the weight gained after 20 weeks. It varies from person to person but as long as you are keeping healthy, active (and sane) then weight gain shouldn’t be high up on your priority list during pregnancy.
‘When should you wear a baby on board badge?’
Because THIS.
Answer: The recommended time to start wearing a “baby on board” badge in London is around 10-14 weeks of pregnancy. The badge helps make other passengers aware that the wearer is pregnant and may need a seat, especially if the pregnancy is not yet visibly showing. And for anyone who doesn’t understand why someone who isn’t visibly pregnant might need a seat while travelling, I just want you to know that I frequently fainted during my first trimester while travelling. So it’s a case of give up your seat or get fainted on.
‘Is it normal to sweat more during pregnancy?’
TMI? Sorry but was going through a second adolescence.
Answer: Yes, it is normal to sweat more during pregnancy. Your breathing will deepen and you may sweat more than usual because your thyroid gland is more active during pregnancy. This increased sweating is due to the hormonal changes and increased blood volume that occur during pregnancy. Sweaty, heavy, tired, emotional. Such a beautiful time.
‘Cheesecake pregnancy’
Was just double checking.
Answer: Still needs to be baked.
‘Can you drink wine while pregnant?’
I’d never needed wine more in my life. But I’ve needed it a lot more post-birth.
Answer: Every single doctor, government and person has an opinion on this and none of them are exactly the same. (Current) official advice is to avoid alcohol entirely while pregnant. There is no known safe amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and drinking can increase the risk of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders and other health problems for the baby. The safest option is to avoid alcohol completely while pregnant.