Daily Activities   (www.americanpregnancy.org/isitsafe)

·          Practice good hygiene – wash hands often.

·          Avoid very hot showers, tub baths, hot tubs. Ok for tub baths or hot tubs as long as the

         temperature is 100 degrees F or less.

·          Hair treatments are allowed after 12 weeks in pregnancy (perms, relaxers, and hair color).

Activity and Exercise   (exercise sheet – pregnancy and postpartum ACOG)

·          Exercise 30 minutes per day – You may try:  brisk walking, swimming, walking on treadmill, riding stationary bike.

·          Do not over-exert yourself to the point of fatigue.

·          Do not lift more than 20 pounds in pregnancy – ask for assistance if you need to move

         heavier objects.

·          Avoid activities that could cause personal harm: such as riding motorcycles, bungee

         jumping, whitewater rafting, etc.

Nutrition and Vitamins   (www.choosemyplate.gov)

·          Take a prenatal vitamin or multi-vitamin daily with folic acid 400-1000mcg daily.

·          Take your vitamin with food to decrease nausea.

·          Take a DHA supplement daily – many prescription prenatal vitamins include a DHA

         supplement.

·          Eat small, frequent meals that focus on nutritional balance.

·          Maintain adequate calcium intake with dairy products, nuts, and green leafy vegetables.

·          Drink 8-10 glasses / water bottles daily (8oz serving size).

·          Limit caffeine intake to 1-2 servings per day – this includes coffee, tea, chocolate, and 

         soft drinks.

·          Notify your provider if you have cravings for non-food substances like dirt, corn starch,

         plants, paper, freezer frost or ice.

Meats, Deli products, and Cheese   (www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/listeria.html)

·          Avoid any raw or rare meats in pregnancy – cook meats thoroughly to medium.

·          Wash hands after handling any raw meats and clean countertops after any meat exposure.

·          Consume only pasteurized dairy products.

·          Limit deli meats and hot dog consumption and warm meat thoroughly prior to consumption.

Artificial sweeteners   (www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/artificalsweetener.html)

·          Avoid Saccharin (pink packet called Sweet'N Low).

·          Limit Aspartame / NutraSweet to 1-2 servings per day (Diet Coke, diet foods, and blue

         packet called NutraSweet).

·          Ok to use Sugar based products (yellow packet called Splenda, green packet called Truvia,

         or Stevia).

·          Agave (Agave nectar) is NOT recommended in pregnancy.

Fish   (www.epr.state.nc.us/epi/fish)

·          Avoid raw or rare seafood of any type – no sushi or raw oysters or tuna steak.

·          Avoid deep water, large fish in pregnancy due to Mercury contamination (shark,

         swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish).

·          Ok to consume canned light tuna (avoid albacore tuna), salmon, flounder, tilapia, catfish,

         pollock, crab, trout, scallops.

·          Check local advisories for any locally caught fish prior to consumption.

Pets and Animals   (www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/complications_toxoplasmosis.html)

·          If you have indoor cats, ask someone else to change the litter box.

·          Maintain good hygiene by washing hands after contact with pets.

·          Wear gloves in the garden or when digging in dirt.

·          Contact us if you are bitten by an animal.

Tanning and Sunscreen   (www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/tanningmethods.html)

·          Wear sunscreen while in the sun – use 30 SPF or higher to protest skin.

·          Ok for self-tanning sprays and lotions AFTER 12 weeks (avoid use in first trimester).

·          Avoid tanning bed use while pregnant.

Contact our office:

If you need to reach a nurse or provider – please call our main number 336-273-2835 at any time

of day or night.

Call us IF you experience…

·          any bright red bleeding

·          onset of pain

·          regular contractions

·          leaking of water from vagina

·          a fever over 101 degrees F

·          a decrease in baby activity or baby is not moving

·          vomiting with dehydration – unable to tolerate anything by mouth for more than 4 hours