Things to avoid when you're pregnant

• Avoid activities that put a strain on you or the baby, like intense physical activity or extreme temperatures.

• Avoid foods that are particularly prone to containing bacteria, like raw meat and fish and unpasteurised milk and dairy products.

• Just as with flying, there are things you can do within certain limits. Use your own judgment and if you’re unsure, speak to a doctor.

Keep a little note of things to avoid when pregnant – and things that are particularly good for you – in your phone or your diary to be able to easily check what you should go for when out and about or when having meals out at the beginning of your pregnancy. Don’t worry, you’ll know it by heart soon enough!

If you’re pregnant for the first time, you probably have a ton of questions about what you can and can’t do. It’s an exciting time of your life, but also one where you tend to go into overdrive in terms of worrying! Thankfully, help is at hand: check out our tips for mothers-to-be to keep calm and carry on to term.

Things to avoid when pregnant

To help ease your mind and answer some of the anxieties you may have over what to avoid during pregnancy, such as ‘is it safe to fly when pregnant?’ and activities to avoid. we’ve put together a few of the most frequently asked questions.

Can you fly when pregnant?

So, can you fly while pregnant? Yes, flying when pregnant is fine for you and your growing baby. Just be aware that airlines will have a cut-off point (usually around 37 weeks or so), but this is only because they’re worried about you going into early labour on board. That certainly wouldn’t be ideal mid-flight!

The only thing you should be cautious about is feeling uncomfortable. Sitting in a cramped space for a long time whilst pregnant isn’t always the nicest thing in the world. But in terms of safety, you’ll be fine.

Cat litter and pregnancy

When it comes to cat litter, pregnancy can be affected. Cat litter and cat faeces can contain a harmful parasite known as Toxoplasmosis, which can be fatal to an unborn baby if the mother becomes infected. However, the chances of contracting it from cat litter or faeces is pretty slim, particularly if your cat lives indoors, doesn’t hunt and doesn’t eat raw meat.

To prevent any risks, if someone else lives with you then ask them to change the litter box whilst you’re pregnant – it may sound cheeky but once you explain the risks, they should be happy to do it!

The litter box should be cleaned daily and if you are forced to clean it, wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. In terms of things to avoid during pregnancy, this one’s pretty important!

Should you avoid cleaning during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is probably the best excuse you’ll ever have to ask someone to give you a hand with the cleaning, especially during the third trimester. A quick hoover isn’t an issue, but remember not to overdo it – cleaning a home can be a bit of a workout if there’s a lot to do.

When it comes to cleaning products, you should avoid:

• Strong fumes

• Harsh chemicals

Not sure about using bleach during pregnancy? Read our tips.

It may already be time to switch your usual laundry liquid to a more gentle type that works just as well but is less harsh on your skin, like Persil Non Bio (you can combine this with Comfort Pure fabric softener to give your clothes that extra soft feel).

Activities to avoid during pregnancy

If you’re wondering what to avoid during pregnancy in terms of activities, we’ve put together a little list to help you out:

• Amusement park rides

• Cycling

• Contact sports

• Diving

• Gymnastics

• Horse riding

• Hot tubs and saunas

• Snowboarding

Most daily activities are fine to do while pregnant, but if you’re worried that you’re doing something that should come under the ‘what to avoid when pregnant’ category, do a quick search online or ask your doctor. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!