Five Things I Googled When I Found Out I Was Pregnant.

As you wait for that longest minute of your life, you finally, yet barely see a second line appearing. First, you question your own sight as if your eyes were not to be fully trusted. Then you start thinking: That can’t be true, can it? I’m only two days late; there must be a mistake. After all, false positives are quite common. But, as you keep holding that stick, the second line keeps getting darker and harder to deny.

By the following week, your pregnancy is official, confirmed, real… You’re happy, puzzled, thrilled, worried, it’s all in there, and you don’t know how to handle the charge of emotions. Then you start thinking about all the adjustments you have to bring into your life to keep that pregnancy going.

And that’s when the google phase began. You find yourself at the window of uncle google, asking for some relevant piece of advice about what’s best for you and for what’s floating in your womb. Some facts are pretty obvious to solicit google, whereas others remain unclear, controversial, or even unknown.

So, here is what I googled, and here’s what I found.

Coffee

The WHO, the ACOG, the NHS, and almost every blog and every app I came across would say this: It is safe to drink coffee as long as you don’t have more than 200 milligrams per day. As a coffee lover hooked on a morning cappuccino, you can imagine the relief. But there is a but!

As I was digging, I found an article that says otherwise: There is no safe level for caffeine consumption during pregnancy (that includes coke too). Small doses can also increase the risk of miscarriage and low birth weight. A

I was really perplexed but also a little skeptical. After all, the Guardian remains one reliable source to get information. Even my doctor said it was ok to have one cup of coffee a day. However, the explanation was not a surprise: the coffee industry dismissed that study, making the WHO, the NHS, and other trusted institutions stick to the script. It sounds more like a lobbyist guideline to maintain profit regardless of anything else.

Prof Jack James of Reykjavik University stands his ground when it comes to the NO-SAFE-DOSE about coffee. He insists that trustworthy organizations should RADICALLY revise their coffee guidelines for pregnant women.

As for me, it wasn’t easy giving up on coffee. But eventually, I learned how to enjoy my mornings without a single drop.

Can I eat this?

Remember the old days when you wanted to eat something, and you just ate it! That’s so over! Anything you’d put now on in your mouth must be safe for you and your unborn baby! Sometimes, the least concerning things can turn out to be off-limit, and I’m not referring to the obvious, of course (alcohol, drugs, cigarettes.)

Take, for example, ginger. I love… loved fresh ginger. It’s even considered an excellent help for morning sickness. And yet, how much ginger you ingest matters. Less than 1g per day is fine, according to the NCBC, but more than that could increase the risk of miscarriage or vaginal bleeding. So take it easy!

But my favorite example is raw eggs. The WHO, NHS, and every page on the web agree that raw eggs are off-limit since it increases the risk of catching Salmonella. I don’t eat raw eggs, so it shouldn’t be a problem for me, right? Nonetheless, we often forget that many homemade recipes contain raw eggs, such as Carbonara, mayonnaise, tiramisu, ice cream…

So here is the thing if you’re eating outside, it won’t be a problem as long as they use pasteurized eggs, which they usually do. But if you’re having dinner at your friends’, and a homemade non-vegan Tiramisu is served, it’d be better to skip it respectfully!

Of course, there is a whole list of what you should avoid as a pregnant woman. I know it sounds extreme, but it’s always safer to double-check anything you’re about to ingest.

Nail polish

I love nail polish. Whether it’s winter or s summer, I’d always put it. I love the texture, the vivid and nude colors. That’s why giving up on nail polish wasn’t the easiest thing to do. I’m already thinking about summer, and that’s why I started my google research, looking for safe nail polish during pregnancy.

I’ve come across several blogs, and they almost all suggest the same list for safe nail polishes during pregnancy.

However, not all non-toxic nail polishes are equal. One nail polish can be only three chemical-free and still counts as safe. So the more nail polish has a high number of chemical-free, the safer it is.

But most importantly, no nail polish is 100% harmless, period. As far as I am concerned, I’d put some on only for special occasions.

Working out:

Regular physical activity is strongly encouraged during pregnancy, especially if your doctor says there is no issue with working out. They tell you if you’re used to working out, you shouldn’t stop. You can pick low-intensity classes, and if you’re just starting, you should take a beginner prenatal class.

However, your mind might not necessarily follow the logic of good advice. Now that you’re pregnant, a psychological reaction takes over you, and now somehow, you’re scared of working out. In addition to that, if you’re going through a rough first trimester, with some heavy morning sickness and exhaustion, working out might be the least of your concerns.

There is one thing I’d like to tell you: It is ok! The most important thing you need to do is to listen to your body. If you don’t feel it, you just don’t.

As someone who struggled with all-day sickness, I couldn’t work out. Nevertheless, there was something beneficial I could do: WALKING. Yes, I walked for 30 minutes, up to one 1 hour almost every day. Not only will it keep you healthy, but also you’ll feel less stressed while taking some fresh air.

Now that I jumped into the second trimester, I was able to work out again. I’m no expert. But from what I’ve found, jumping, carrying heavyweight, contact sports (soccer, football, basketball…), and even abs work out on the back are not recommended. And as your bump gets bigger, your balance changes, which means it’d be preferable to avoid other sports like biking, surfing, and skiing…

Doing it

It used to be taboo to talk about a sexual activity once you’re pregnant. Thank God these days are so long gone. Frankly, I googled sex during pregnancy only to make my partner feel more comfortable about it. Yes, your partner might be reluctant to have physical intimacy as you’re pregnant.

So, here is the thing. Every page on google will tell you that not only is sexual intercourse safe during your pregnancy, but also it’s an excellent anti-stress. Yet, a word from your healthcare giver is always more comforting, reliable, and trusted. It’s always a relief for both of you when it’s your doctor or midwife who delivers that piece of information. After all, everything starts with the mind, and that goes for sex too.

When it comes to positions, the first trimester might not be a problem. But as your belly bump gets bigger, one has to accommodate. Just keep in mind that if working out your abs on your back is bad for you, so is missionary.

The takeaway

Now that you found out your pregnant, you’re probably holding a ball of mixed-up emotions, and you’re not sure what to do with it. Embrace your feelings and live them fully, the good ones, the bad ones, but also the ugly ones. It’s part of who you are as you grow life within you.

To err is human. Whatever people or even healthcare givers tell you, if you feel that something isn’t quite right, don’t dismiss it. Always double-check and always think of all your options.

From now on, you’ll use google a lot to check to this or that. Just make sure you get your advice from reliable sources. After all, here I am writing about my own experience. Experiences are not rules, but learning from both could be very helpful.