Finding out that you are pregnant is big news and if it is your first pregnancy you may want to clear up any of those nagging doubts about what you should and shouldn’t do. Getting some early pregnancy lifestyle advice will enable you to be confident that you are behaving in the most supportive way for you and the baby developing in your womb.

So let’s take a look at what cats and hot tubs have in common. Any cat lover will confirm that cats are therapeutic to have around, lower maintenance than dogs, lovely to stroke and relaxing to hear purring. They don’t need to be walked and are pretty self sufficient creatures, with the exception of their litter trays, which they have not yet learnt how to change for themselves unfortunately. Read on to be aware of the issue with cats and being pregnant.

Cats can carry a disease called toxoplasmosis, which can be passed onto humans and can be transmitted from mother to fetus. Even though cats are very often blamed for spreading toxoplasmosis, in reality the source of human infections is more significant from raw meat. However the greatest risk from cats is from fecal contamination of hands. So kitty’s litter tray should ideally be out of bounds during pregnancy.

Ask your partner or someone else to change the litter tray daily. If there is no-one who can help with this task, you can do it yourself but use disposable gloves and wash your hands thoroughly. Do the same after petting cats. Many cat owners are already immune, but it is wiser not to take risks at such an important time.

Another time when you will want to wear gloves is when using any strong cleaning products. Wear rubber gloves to avoid absorption of chemicals into the skin. Ideally avoid using products such as oven cleaners at all. When cleaning it is advisable not to breathe in fumes of products and make sure that there is plenty of ventilation.

When it comes to food you will want to be extra careful. Don’t eat raw or undercooked meat or unpasteurised milk. When handling raw meat make sure you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Fruit and vegetables should be rinsed also very thoroughly.

Avoid lead exposure. Lead can be found in old paint, pottery, earthenware and drinking water. Ensure that the water you drink is lead-free. If you live in an older house, especially if paint is flaky, then a job may need to be done, without you around. The same applies with some older objects. If you suspect lead, then avoid exposure and get someone else to get it checked out.

Depending on what habits you’ve developed, adopting a healthy pregnancy lifestyle can also present some challenges. There are a few habits that in an ideal situation would be knocked on the head even before finding out you are pregnant. Please don’t panic, if this is not the case, instead be practical about making this change now. Get whatever support you need.

Smoking cigarettes or marihuana, drinking alcohol, taking too much caffeine and using drugs-both legal and illegal are all habits that need to be changed now if you haven’t done so already. Legal (over the counter) medication should be checked with your medical practitioner if you are pregnant, or suspect that you might be.

If you are finding it difficult to stop any of these habits, make sure you ask for help from your medical practitioner. Some women find it very easy and others don’t. Each person is different. Don’t let guilt consume you, instead act and take the first steps towards a healthier early pregnancy lifestyle.

Later Dating

10-17 weeks

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