https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 27 May 2026 05:31:05 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170924 Mon, 28 May 2012 10:18:39 +0000 MamaMoose 170924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've cut down my caffeine but not cut it out. I'll have an iced tea every now and then which has 35mg of caffeine in it. The recommended daily limit is 200 so I'm not going to stress over that. The other rules I've been pretty good on (only deli meats once because I was at a work lunch and it was the only option, soft cheeses only from my own fridge that I know is pasteurized, and absolutely no alcohol). I'm in my second tri now and still follow the rules. I will probably ease up a bit but I don't intend to break the alcohol rule. A good friend of mine who is pregnant and a nurse practitioner told me she read a study recently that it can vary hugely between women as to what amount of alcohol it takes to cause problems for your fetus. Some women drink heavily with no issue and some women drink very little and their babies have fetal alcohol syndrome. Since you never know what end of the scale you're on it's not worth the risk to me. I will say before she told me this I totally intended to have a glass of wine or two at some point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170898 Mon, 28 May 2012 09:28:38 +0000 Minnie_Girl 170898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been very relaxed through the first trimester and will continue to be through the rest of the pregnancy. I eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of seafood, runny eggs, soft cheeses, and other no-nos. I only eased up on exercise because I felt sick, but I never pushed myself less when I worked out. </p> <p>And absolutely nothing bad has happened! If I really wanted to hurt my baby, I'd smoke a pack a day and drink 2 g&amp;ts every night. </p> <p>(Personally, I think it's completely ridiculous to cut out fish when omega 3s are so important to health/development...but eating bags of Cheetos and gaining 40 lbs is acceptable? Bullsh*t! I think a lot of the "rules" are extreme for the average first world woman.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170837 Mon, 28 May 2012 07:47:22 +0000 mrsjyw 170837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most def. I drink coffee more often now that I'm in the second trimester. I've had soft serve and had a sip of champagne over the wknd at a wedding. I still haven't dyed ,y hair. Used acne meds, or bleached my teeth though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170828 Mon, 28 May 2012 07:37:38 +0000 lavender 170828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also ate everything in moderation. Caffeine, deli meats, soft serve, you name it I ate it in throughout my pregnancy. Heck I ate an italian sub and then took a HPT and got my BFP! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170802 Mon, 28 May 2012 01:25:20 +0000 lemondrop 170802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: Exactly!</p> <p>There are risks that you take, you have to weigh the pros and cons to everything, but living in a bubble wasn't worth it to me. I was very careful during the first trimester after I found out, and relaxed a lot in the second and third. And honestly for the first trimester I didn't feel like doing anything or eating anything anyway, so that made it really easy to be good. </p> <p>A friend of mine gave me flack for having a half glass of wine or half a beer with dinner once or twice a week- she smoked for her entire pregnancy and had a low birthweight and sick baby at first. I was so frustrated by this situation, and as much as it upset me, I had to remember that we all make our own choices and hope that we don't unintentionally hurt our babies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170762 Sun, 27 May 2012 21:43:51 +0000 googly-eyes 170762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just on caffeine, everything else I've been pretty consistent. But I wouldn't say I was super strict. No raw egg (eggs benedict!), lunch meat, not a lot of caffeine, not sleeping on my back, no raw fish (sushi!) For medicine I've taken tylenol since I got sick in the first trimester and that's what the nurse recommended anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170605 Sun, 27 May 2012 16:48:28 +0000 Mrs. Cat in the Cradle 170605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to watch my caffeine intake, but I know if I were presented with soft serve or deli meat, I'd totally eat both right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170584 Sun, 27 May 2012 16:19:27 +0000 kml636 170584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have had more caffeine if I want it, I get half caf instead of decaf. I have also been drinking non alcoholic beer... Haven't tried regular yet because I'm so paranoid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170537 Sun, 27 May 2012 13:52:35 +0000 jennylynn 170537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did slightly. I followed the rules by the book the first trimester. Once I hit 2nd trimester I allowed myself a coke every few days, and I did have some soft serve on occasion. I'm too much of a worrier and have too much of a guilty conscience or else I probably would have been more relaxed about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170507 Sun, 27 May 2012 13:01:51 +0000 Mrsbells 170507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>with thinks like caffeine &amp; alcohol I was strict all the way to the end of the pregnancy. I feel strongly about caffeine and alcohol and abstain from them even when I'm not pregnant. But I did relax a bit with soft serve and started have shakes from wendys and mcdonalds on a weekly basis </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170491 Sun, 27 May 2012 12:36:43 +0000 lovehoneybee 170491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely...to echo PPs....I'm a believer in everything in moderation. </p> <p>I don't usually want lunch meat, but I have no qualms in having an occasional turkey sub if I'm craving it (even untoasted!). Ditto for soft serve. I've dyed my hair, savored the occasional glass of wine, and have a cup of coffee every morning (which I would have done during the first tri had the thought not made me sick). I won't turn away from a chunk of the brie I'm in love with if it's front of me (although I don't seek it out, but more because if I didn't have to share it with other people I'd eat the whole wedge by myself....) and I sometimes order my steak rare or medium rare (but only if I trust the restaurant, or if it's my BIL grilling). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170442 Sun, 27 May 2012 10:45:44 +0000 Lindsay05 170442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes definitely! I rarely go out of my way to watch what Im eating anymore. If im hungry and crave it then I will probably eat it. Luckily I dont like seafood so that rule doesnt apply to me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170436 Sun, 27 May 2012 10:25:29 +0000 PrincessBaby 170436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just a funny story to add - to go along with your points that everything really is okay in moderation....My husband is an identical twin, and he has one brother that's 6 years older (DH is 32 so you know the time frame we're talking about)...MIL told me that when she got pregnant with the older brother, her drink of choice at the time was vodka and tonic (due to lower calories) and her doctor just told her that she may not want to get blasted, but a drink with dinner or something was fine. So she drank vodka tonics for that whole pregnancy. When she got pregnant 6 years later with the twins, she had finally discovered wine (she is a mega Wino!), and her same doctor told her that she really should cut back on the alcohol now. And to only have a drink once a week or something. She was BLOWN AWAY. She is in her 60s now, and forgets a lot, but she totally remembers the shock of those words. And she remembers going home and telling FIL about it and saying, "Can you believe that? Once a week??" And she still had her wine once or twice a week. All three boys are super wonderful:)</p> <p>Originally DH had voiced the opinion of no wine while pregnant, after one of my pregnant friends had a glass of red wine at a restaurant. But he didn't know his mom drank the whole time - lol - with him and his older brother. So now he's in the "Whatever you want to do" camp since his own mother did it.</p> <p>My birthday is July 6th and I might venture to have a glass of red wine! I love those Cupcake wines and every time I pass it at Publix I think, "I heart you."</p> <p>Anyway, I thought it was funny to see where doctors stood on things 30 years ago versus all of the pregnancy fearmongery that is promoted today:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170410 Sun, 27 May 2012 09:36:08 +0000 chopsuey 170410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Haha. I was pretty relaxed during my entire first pregnancy and I'm the same for my second! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170369 Sun, 27 May 2012 08:55:08 +0000 heffalump 170369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No.... but I did those things during my first trimester. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170367 Sun, 27 May 2012 08:49:43 +0000 autumnlove 170367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was more strict in my 2nd trimester! I switched OBs...my first OB was older and was really lax...he oked acne meds(topical salicylic acid), sushi, undercooked meat, etc. His only advice was don't go scuba diving, do drugs or drink!<br /> After I got married, I switched to a new OB who advised against the normal stuff! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170360 Sun, 27 May 2012 08:41:10 +0000 yoursilverlining 170360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: "I feel like stress and paranoia is more harmful than some of the things they claim are harmful. I agree with everything in moderation."</p> <p>I agree with what Zippylef said completely. </p> <p>I never avoided caffeine because it's not "forbidden", and everything else in moderation (including unpasteurized cheeses, rare meat, sushi, wine, etc.) Around the world babies continue to be born healthy and happy without living through 9 months of rules mostly only imposed in the US. </p> <p>Do whatever will stress you out the least, as that's something that is actually harmful to baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170337 Sun, 27 May 2012 07:18:13 +0000 SleepyMonkey 170337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! After 12-13 weeks and everything was a-ok, i started having a cup of tea on most mornings and deli meat sandwiches on occasion without heating it up. Sometimes at work, I really want a sandwich so I'll have one maybe once a week =/ other ladies that are pregnant or have babies stare at me in horror if they see me eating a sandwich! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170331 Sun, 27 May 2012 06:52:02 +0000 chrispygal 170331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>JHO, great news!! You must feel so relieved!!! I definitely relaxed a bit after my first trimester. I try and follow the "rules" as much as I can, but definitely have had some items in moderation. I will tell you though, I so cannot wait for sushi and a martini after I have this little nugget! lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170316 Sun, 27 May 2012 05:21:16 +0000 Andrea 170316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was pretty consistent. For me, the only thing that I needed every once in a while was caffeine. They don't tell you to cut it out completely so I felt like it was OK to have occasionally throughout. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170300 Sun, 27 May 2012 04:53:22 +0000 mediagirl 170300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had some smoked salmon a few weeks ago. I also am eating soft serve when I want it. That's it, though! </p> <p>As for soft cheese, I've eaten that throughout since the stuff I buy is pasteurized. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170287 Sun, 27 May 2012 01:12:02 +0000 Ree723 170287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most definitely. I was pretty strict during the first tri but once we got the all clear and the great NT scan results, I threw a bit of caution to the wind. I still haven't had deli meat but I resumed eating all red meat rare (or sometimes med rare) and indulged in the occasional small glass of red wine. I also had the odd coffee and a Coke with dinner a few nights per week and felt absolutely zero guilt. :-) </p> <p> I'm currently 36 weeks and just had my first soft serve the other day - YUM! I'm still holding out on deli meat but only because I have my heart set on it being the first thing I eat after LO arrives. Everything else I'm eating in moderation now.</p> <p>Congrats on making it to the second tri and your great NT results! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170284 Sun, 27 May 2012 01:06:00 +0000 loveisstrange 170284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I was never super strict and my LO is happy and healthy. I ate lunch meat through my whole pregnancy, drank caffeine, etc. Heck, I credit wine and bowling for putting me into labor.</p> <p>I feel like stress and paranoia is more harmful than some of the things they claim are harmful. I agree with everything in moderation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170281 Sun, 27 May 2012 00:57:37 +0000 KT326 170281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, especially after the anatomy scan at 20 weeks. I even had a couple glasses (small ones) of wine towards the end of my third trimester. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170275 Sun, 27 May 2012 00:47:39 +0000 MsMini 170275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got less and less strict as the pregnancy progressed. Every time I broke a "rule" it felt so freeing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170271 Sun, 27 May 2012 00:34:06 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 170271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep I sure was. And at 3rd trimester I basically threw all the rules out the window.<br /> I ate deli meat, drank coffee, ate soft cheeses, enjoyed soft serve, etc. My baby is very happy and healthy!<br /> My motto is everything in moderation. :) now you go enjoy that ice tea and those quiznos subs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-less-strict-in-the-second-trimester#post-170247 Sat, 26 May 2012 23:55:28 +0000 PrincessBaby 170247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To have been such a worrywart in the first trimester, now that I'm 12 weeks, have had a thumbs-up NT scan, and heard my doctor say, "The risk of miscarriage is less than 1% now. You are not going to miscarry," I am feeling SO much more relaxed! I have actually had caffeine several times in the past couple of days - iced tea...Gasp! But I'd had none since several months before I got pg because I'd given up caffeine for TTC. I also found myself working out a little harder today, and I allowed myself to eat a heated sandwich from Quiznos even though I have no idea how hot they actually heat it...Previously I only trusted my own toaster oven to zap deli meat.</p> <p>So does this rebel need to slow down? Or is this pretty normal behavior? </p>