Is it safe during pregnancy?

The safest approach is to not drink alcohol at all while pregnant, to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.

Artificial sweeteners including aspartame are considered safe to use in normal amounts during pregnancy.

You can have caffeine, but keep to less than 200mg a day — roughly two mugs of instant coffee.

You can keep your cat, but avoid emptying litter trays if possible; if you must, wear gloves and wash your hands to avoid toxoplasmosis. Wear gloves for gardening too.

Avoid cannabis and CBD in pregnancy. Cannabis can affect your baby's development, and CBD products are not quality-controlled or tested for pregnancy.

Cured meats like salami and prosciutto may contain toxoplasmosis parasites; the risk is small, but you can reduce it by cooking them or freezing first.

Energy drinks are not recommended in pregnancy — they can be high in caffeine and other ingredients not advised for pregnant women.

Staying active is healthy and encouraged in pregnancy. Keep up your normal daily activity and exercise for as long as it feels comfortable.

Flying isn't harmful in a healthy pregnancy, but many airlines restrict travel after 28–37 weeks. Move around and stay hydrated on long flights.

Hair dye is most likely safe, as very little chemical is absorbed through your skin. Some choose to wait until after 12 weeks to be cautious.

Drink no more than 4 cups of herbal tea a day, and remember green tea contains caffeine that counts towards your daily limit.

Honey is safe for you to eat in pregnancy. (The advice to avoid honey applies only to babies under 1 year old, not to pregnant women.)

Avoid hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms in pregnancy — getting too hot (over 39°C) can be harmful, especially early on.

Avoid liver and liver products such as liver sausage — they are very high in vitamin A, which can harm your baby.

Massage is generally fine; tell your therapist you're pregnant so they can position you comfortably. Some avoid it in the first 12 weeks as a precaution.

Avoid all types of pâté, including vegetable pâté — it can contain listeria, and liver pâté also has high levels of vitamin A.

You can eat peanuts or foods containing peanuts during pregnancy, unless you're allergic to them or a health professional advises otherwise.

Eggs with the British Lion stamp are safe to eat runny or raw. Eggs without the stamp, or non-hen eggs, should be cooked until solid.

Avoid shark, swordfish, and marlin, and limit other oily fish, because of high mercury levels that can affect your baby's nervous system.

Cooked shellfish such as prawns, mussels, and crab are safe. Avoid raw shellfish, which can cause food poisoning.

Cold-smoked and cured fish like smoked salmon are fine for most people, but carry a small listeria risk; heating until steaming removes it.

Avoid mould-ripened soft cheeses (brie, camembert) and soft blue cheeses unless cooked until steaming — they can contain listeria. Hard cheeses are fine.

You can eat sushi if the raw fish was frozen first (as most is in the UK), which kills parasites. Avoid home-made raw-fish sushi that hasn't been frozen.

Limit tuna to no more than 2 fresh tuna steaks or 4 medium cans a week because of its mercury content.

Avoid unpasteurised (raw) milk and any dairy made from it — it can contain harmful bacteria such as listeria. Pasteurised milk is fine.

Vaping is far less harmful than smoking and can help you quit, but nicotine-free options are best in pregnancy — licensed nicotine replacement is preferable to vaping if you need help stopping.