Eating
- Eat healthy: whole grains, vegetables, fruit and berries, lean dairy products, fish, beans, lentils, peas and nuts. Eat less processed meat, red meat and food with a lot of saturated fat, sugar and salt.
- Eat several small portions spread out over the day instead of fewer large meals. This helps your body to digest the food better.
- Some foods, dirt and used cat litter can carry germs that are dangerous for the foetus (danger of infection of toxoplasmosis and listeria). This means that clean hands and clean food are especially important.
- Do not eat raw eggs.
- Do not eat raw or smoked fish.
- Do not eat raw or uncooked meat.
- Wash your hands after cutting raw meat. Wash kitchen utensils that have been in contact with raw meat before they are used on other food.
- Do not eat cheese made from raw milk and do not drink raw milk (raw milk has not been pasteurized).
- Wash raw fruits and vegetables very well.
- Wear gloves when working in the garden or cleaning the cat litter box. Always wash your hands afterwards.
Drinking
- Drink enough water.
- Only drink small amounts of coffee, tea or cola.
- Do not drink alcohol. Alcohol can seriously harm your baby.
Medicine and drugs
Folic acid, iodine and vitamine D
- During the first three months of your pregnancy you need to take the vitamin folic acid. You can ask for it at the pharmacy. You should start taking folic acid already if you are planning on getting pregnant.
- When you are pregnant you should take iodine and vitamine D daily. Ask a pharmacist, midwife or doctor.
Sports and outdoor activities
- You should stay active: walking, cycling, swimming...
- Relax when you feel tired.
- Stay out of the sun. If you plan to be in the sun for awhile, use sunscreen.
Sex
You can still have sex during pregnancy.
Pregnant womant having sexual intercourse while sitting on top of the man
Visits to a doctor or midwife
Make an appointment with a doctor or a midwife when you discover that you are pregnant.
You can choose if you want to be followed up by your general practitioner, a midwife or both during your pregnancy.
A doctor or midwife takes a blood sample from a pregnant woman
