Rules of life during pregnancy

If you are in the process of becoming pregnant, or you are already pregnant, we recommend caution with this self-medication.

• Self-medication is the use of medications and drugs not prescribed by a doctor or midwife (e.g., ibuprofen, vitamin preparations).

Preferably use only preparations that have been prescribed (e.g. by your doctor) and tell the staff at your pharmacy that you want to get pregnant or are pregnant. If you would like to continue taking certain medications or vitamins that you were already taking before pregnancy, be sure to discuss this with one of our midwives. This way you can avoid ingesting substances during pregnancy that could be harmful to your baby’s development and growth.

If the dentist (or other doctor) finds it necessary or advises the use of anesthesia, there is no objection to this during pregnancy. Do tell the doctor that you are pregnant.

If an X-ray examination is necessary during pregnancy, clearly state that you are pregnant. Sometimes the examination can be postponed until after delivery. Often the uterus can be shielded. Your baby will then receive as little radiation as possible. Screens and microwaves have not been shown to be harmful.

• When exercising, adjust your pace.
• Swimming, cycling and fitness are sports you can do very well until the end of pregnancy.
• Diving with oxygen tanks is absolutely not allowed anymore.
• Skiing or other sports where you spend longer periods of time at high altitude (above 2,000 meters) can be done, but be careful. Your body always needs some time to get used to high altitudes. So take the time to acclimate, and of course fall hazards also exist with this sport. At this altitude, the air contains less oxygen.
• Sports such as field hockey, where you run the risk of getting something against your stomach, or sports where you can easily collide with other people or fall, are less wise.

For all these activities, do what you always did, but reduce or stop when you notice that it gives you symptoms or when it tires you more than usual. In addition, always make sure you get enough fluids while exercising.

A visit to the sauna can be very relaxing for your body and mind. We discourage you from going in the 1 e 12-14 weeks of your pregnancy to go to the sauna, avoid raising your body temperature during these very months.

• Avoid herbal baths and infrared saunas.
• If you are a regular sauna visitor, then you can certainly go occasionally until the end of your pregnancy.
• Keep listening to your body carefully, because in your pregnancy, sometimes your body can react differently to something you were previously very normal or used to.

If you are pregnant, you can safely go on vacation. It is usually recommended that you choose a vacation destination where good medical care is available, should unexpected problems arise. In distant, tropical countries this is not always the case. Moreover, under primitive conditions it is somewhat easier to contract an infectious disease accompanied by, for example, high fever or diarrhea. There is no objection to air travel from a medical standpoint. Airlines usually do not want to transport pregnant women after 32-34 weeks of pregnancy, because they do not want to risk giving birth in the air. High-altitude vacations are discouraged. Due to the decreasing oxygen tension of the air, less oxygen is available. The advice is not to stay higher than 2,000 meters for long periods of time.