12 Things You CAN Do, Even Though You're Pregnant

Congratulations, you are pregnant! While you may find a lot of things you can't do, we wanted to create a list of things you can still enjoy during pregnancy. We recommend reading Expecting Better by Emily Oster. Oster explores the “why” through consolidating all of the research related to the things you aren’t supposed to do in pregnancy and a little bit beyond. A few of these things on our list are well, a little controversial, BUT read the research and make your own decision. Let's dive in!

1. Get active at least 3x/week. Think swimming, walking, and prenatal yoga. If you already have a workout routine continue that and modify where needed. We LOVE Amy Bizal Wellness and Ella Frances Yoga for prenatal yoga options!

2. While hot tubs may be out, you can still enjoy a nice warm epsom salt bath at the end of the day. If you are battling with pregnancy insomnia then the magnesium from the bath could help facilitate an easier lull to dreamland.

3. Moisturize! Nothing is worse than constantly itchy skin. You will find your belly and a few other spots on your body are stretching. Invest in some good moisturizing options. I recommend these: Shea Moisture 100% extra virgin coconut oil, Epionce Renewal Body Lotion, and for the shower use a nice scrub like Earth in Bloom Body Glow by Bambu Earth. If you want to treat yourself as you get further a long, book a jelly belly facial at #Face in Uptown Minneapolis.

4. Invest in a skincare routine because your skin will change during and after pregnancy. Book a nice facial at a local spa, regularly. You can book with #Face or another spa near you. Wash your face at least 2x a day if you aren't already.

5. Book a baby moon. You can travel; although, it's not advised after 36 weeks. It's usually most comfortable to travel in the second trimester or beginning of the 3rd trimester. Think tropical or if you are on a budget go local.

6. Find a quality prenatal vitamin with methyl folate vs folic acid. If you want more information on finding a quality prenatal vitamin, head over to Aloha Nutrition for a vitamin guide.

7. Book a childbirth education course for both you and your partner so you can understand the stages of labor and educate yourself on all things birth.

8. Book additional education courses such as workshops or webinars like our Preparing for Postpartum Workshop.

9. Enjoy your favorite latte decaf or fully caffeinated. Consuming upwards of 150mg of caffeine/day is perfectly acceptable.

10. You can still eat your favorite sandwich from Jimmy John's. The concern is listeria and it does affect pregnant people 10x more than non-pregnant people, but is still pretty rare. Things that have caused listeria include: cantaloupe, lettuce, chicken, bean sprouts, deli turkey. To be safe, check your area for recent outbreaks.

11. Enjoy sushi? Yup, you can eat that too, just don't get it from a gas station (pregnant or not). It's recommended to stay away from high mercury options. If you feel nervous about raw fish find a new favorite in a cooked sushi roll.

12. You can drink alcohol in moderation in the second and third trimesters. If you know you can't limit yourself then it's best to stay away because the research does show us that binge drinking leads to fetal alcohol syndrome. Read more here.

What were you most surprised about when you were handed a list of things you "can't" do or eat while pregnant?