Curious whether exercise, tattoos and piercings, or trendy foods are safe during pregnancy? Our experts, Twin Doctors TV’s very own Dr. Idries and Jamil Abdur-Rahman, are here to separate the truth from what's false.
It’s okay to eat sushi.
False
By and large, it is not safe to eat sushi during pregnancy. “The main concerns with sushi are the fact that most types are uncooked which increases the risk of exposure to potentially harmful bacteria.
Also, the fact that most (but not all) types of sushi are high in mercury. Mercury exposure during pregnancy increases the risk of brain damage as well as hearing and vision loss,” explains Dr. Idries.
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Gel manicures are a go.
True
“With one exception, it is safe to use gel manicures during pregnancy," says Dr. Idries. "There is a specific type of gel manicure that uses MMA (methyl methacrylate liquid monomer), and these should be avoided by all women (especially pregnant women) and have been banned in the US.
The issue with gel manicures, however, is the removal. Gel manicures require acetone for removal, same as any nail polish, but the gel manicure requires prolonged exposure and immersion in the acetone which should be avoided during pregnancy.”
Hair dye is harmful.
False
Dr. Idries says, "While there have been no organized studies to evaluate the effect, the chemicals used in hair dyes have not been found to be harmful to fetuses, especially in the small amounts that would be absorbed into the mom's bloodstream. We still do recommend that our patients limit hair dying or use vegetable oil-based dyes whenever possible to be completely on the safe side.”
Rollercoaster rides are safe.
False
I'm not sure why a woman expecting would want to, but riding rollercoasters should be avoided. According to Dr. Idries, “You should not ride a roller coaster during pregnancy. There have been no studies to evaluate the effect of rollercoasters on pregnancy but there are many aspects of rollercoasters during pregnancy that could potentially be harmful. These include the placement of safety harnesses, which could impact the pregnant uterus, as well as the jerky, unpredictable nature of the rides, which can potentially cause placental issues including abruption (a premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall).”
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Piercings and tattoos are okay.
True and False
"Piercings are safe while tattoos are not safe," says Dr. Idries. "When it comes to piercings, standard infection control precautions need to be followed (clean, new needle). When it comes to tattoos, standard infection control precautions should always be practiced (clean needle, new dye, etc.), but due to the risk (which is extremely small but not zero) of blood-borne diseases like HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, tattoos should be avoided during pregnancy.”
Exercise & Pregnancy: What’s Safe?
Pregnant women shouldn't exercise.
False
Exercise during pregnancy is actually a good thing. “Typically, I advise that pregnant patients stick to low impact aerobic exercise instead of high impact exercise and/or heavy lifting. Firstly, when pregnant women engage in regular aerobic exercise research has revealed that they have a lower risk of gestational diabetes, are happier (as they release more “feel good” neurotransmitters), sleep better, have less constipation, have shorter labors on average and quicker postpartum recoveries. Low impact aerobic exercise (e.g., a brisk walk/very light jog, swimming, yoga, exercise bike, elliptical, etc.) is the best type of exercise for pregnant women because it helps to keep the heart rate up and the circulation optimal (which helps to eliminate a lot of the swelling that pregnant women suffer) but it is not traumatic on the joints,” said Dr. Jamil.
