Of course we must start with ‘Congratulations Your Pregnant!’
Having a baby on the way is such a joyous and exciting time. After the total thrill of sharing the news with your closest friends and family, a realisation kicks in – you are solely responsible for safely nurturing this little being into the world for the next nine months!
Don’t feel overwhelmed – we can help you navigate the pregnancy journey with some quick Suggested Swaps that will see you and your new little bundle of joy celebrating in 9 months’ time!
Food Swaps
For some this may be an obvious one, but in the throes of great hunger and cravings it can easily slip your mind!
| From: | To: | |
|---|---|---|
| Pate | SWAP FOR | Hummus |
| Raw or smoked Fish Sushi | SWAP FOR | Vegetable Sushi |
| Raw or Soft Boiled Eggs | SWAP FOR | Hard Boiled Eggs |
| Rare Roast Meat | SWAP FOR | Well Cooked Meat |
| Sprouts | SWAP FOR | Leafy Spinach or Broccoli |
| Oysters | SWAP FOR | Garlic Olives |
| Processed Meats | SWAP FOR | A Sunday Roast |
| Ready Made Salads | SWAP FOR | Homemade Green Salads |
| Soft Cheeses | SWAP FOR | Tasty Cheese |
| Soft-Serve Ice cream | SWAP FOR | Fruit Sorbet |
| Egg Mayonnaise | SWAP FOR | Pasteurised Mayo |
| Coffee and energy drinks | SWAP FOR | Decaf Coffee or Herbal Tea |
Product Swaps
For bub to get the best start in life, it’s also important to also think about what goes in your body and on your skin. Being your largest organ, your skin can readily absorbs chemicals with some having the potential to pass through the skin barrier and into our bodies.
Now you are pregnant, start reading the labels again as what you may have used commonly before may not be suitable now. If in doubt, you should always ask your doctor about your specific circumstances.
| From: | To: | |
|---|---|---|
| Cold and Flu Medicine | SWAP FOR | Natural remedies like lemon and honey with water |
| Cleaning Products | SWAP FOR | Home-made cleaning supplies using Vinegar and Baking Soda (also wear gloves and open the windows!) |
| Pest Sprays | SWAP FOR | Citronella |
| Some Head lice Treatments | SWAP FOR | Natural ‘Nit’ Solutions or simply leave lots of conditioner on for 10 minutes and then comb out. Tea Tree Hair products can also help prevent it returning. |
| Hot tub and Jacuzzis | SWAP FOR | A warm candle-lit bath at home |
Beauty Swaps
Pregnancy-proofing your beauty regime is also something to consider.
| From: | To: | |
|---|---|---|
| Essential oils such as: cinnamon nutmeg rosemary basil cedar jasmine sage peppermint juniper berry | SWAP FOR | Safe essential oils or diluted oils suitable for pregnancy. |
| Teeth Whitening | SWAP FOR | Strawberries to remove surface stains |
| Wrinkle Creams including Retinoids, labelled as: Differin (adapelene) Retin-A, Renova (tretinoin) Retinoic acid Retinol Retinyl linoleate Retinyl palmitate Tazorac and avage (Tazarotene) | SWAP FOR | Organic Age Corrective Night products. |
| Acne treatments, labelled as: Accutane Salicylic acid Beta hydroxy acid BHA | SWAP FOR | Eight Greens Youth Serum and Eight Greens Whip Moisturiser. |
| Soybased skin products, labelled: Lethicin Phosphatidylcholine Soy Textured vegetable protein (TVP) | SWAP FOR | 'Active soy' products or other natural based ingredients that don’t increase dark patches commonly associated with pregnancy. We suggest finding your perfect product from our organic range of skin care. |
| Makeup containing retinol or salicylic acid | SWAP FOR | Mineral Makeup and Organic Kiss Lip Glosses |
Source: The Baby Centre
Some of these Suggested Swaps are also worth continuing with if you are a breast-feeding mum.
In general, the best advice is to find a moderate approach to making changes that fit within your lifestyle and preferences. Your local chemist can assist you in making some new choices along with your GP and obstetrician – and there are plenty of books in the library or online references available at your fingertips!
Share your Suggested Swap in the comments below.