The pregnancy things nobody tells you.
Liquorice. Pâté. Going to sleep on your back. Itchy palms. 42 surprising, evidence-based things that can matter for your baby — each explained in two minutes, with the official source.
- ✓ Official sources on every tip
- ✓ Reviewed by an obstetrician
- ✓ Free to read
Black liquorice is a harmless pregnancy snack.
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Most of these aren’t covered in a standard appointment. We’ve collected 42 of them — each with a clear answer and the official source.
The ones that surprise people most
These come up again and again as “I had no idea.” Each takes about two minutes to read.
Is liquorice safe during pregnancy?
Heavy liquorice eating in pregnancy has been linked to lower IQ scores and more attention problems in children.
Read the answer →
Are enoki mushrooms safe during pregnancy?
These trendy salad mushrooms have been behind multiple listeria outbreaks.
Read the answer →
Can you take ibuprofen while pregnant?
Many cold-and-flu tablets quietly contain ibuprofen — which isn’t recommended in pregnancy.
Read the answer →
When should you start taking folic acid?
The baby’s spine starts forming before most women even know they’re pregnant.
Read the answer →
Can you change cat litter while pregnant?
You can keep your cat — just hand over the litter tray.
Read the answer →
What is the safest sleep position in pregnancy?
Going to sleep on your back in the third trimester is linked to a higher risk of stillbirth.
Read the answer →
Why should pregnant women avoid sheep at lambing time?
Farm visits in spring carry an infection risk that almost nobody mentions.
Read the answer →
Do babies move less at the end of pregnancy?
It’s a myth that babies move less near the end — and it can be a dangerous one.
Read the answer →
Why are my hands and feet itchy in pregnancy?
Intense itching on your palms and soles can signal a liver condition that affects your baby.
Read the answer →Everything in one calm place
Food & drink
The surprising foods to skip, limit or cook differently.
15 tips →Medicines & supplements
Everyday pills, vitamins and skincare that behave differently in pregnancy.
7 tips →Home & lifestyle
Pets, travel, sleep, exercise and DIY — what to change and why.
10 tips →
Body & wellbeing
Gums, nausea, pelvic floor and mood — what is normal and what helps.
5 tips →Warning signs
Symptoms that should never wait until your next appointment.
5 tips →Clear answers you can actually check
The answer comes first
Every tip opens with a short, direct answer. The detail is there if you want it — the reassurance is there even if you don’t.
Sources on every page
We link to the NHS, CDC, FDA, ACOG, RCOG and published research, and say so when advice differs between countries.
Doctor-reviewed, kept current
Every tip is medically reviewed by Dr. Christopher Sterling, an obstetrician with 24 years of experience. When guidance changes — like the NHS’s recent update on sushi and pâté — we update ours.
Get the complete guide first
We’re putting every tip into one beautifully organised guide — with trimester checklists and a printable fridge list. Join the early-access list and we’ll email you when it’s ready.
Frequently asked
What foods should you avoid during pregnancy?
The main ones are liver and liver products, raw or undercooked meat, raw eggs (except UK British Lion or Laid in Britain hen eggs), cold cured meats unless cooked, cold-smoked fish unless cooked, raw fish and shellfish, mould-ripened and soft blue cheeses unless cooked, high-mercury fish such as shark and swordfish, raw sprouts, raw enoki mushrooms, game meat, liquorice root and alcohol. Caffeine should be kept under 200 mg a day.
Is liquorice bad for you when pregnant?
Real liquorice contains glycyrrhizin. Eating a lot of it in pregnancy has been linked to preterm birth and to lower cognitive scores and more ADHD-type behaviour in children. The NHS advises avoiding liquorice root in pregnancy.
What pregnancy symptoms should never be ignored?
Call your maternity unit or doctor straight away if your baby’s movements slow down or change, if you have a severe headache, vision problems or sudden swelling (possible pre-eclampsia), itching on your palms and soles (possible cholestasis), bleeding, fluid leaking, a high temperature, or you can’t keep fluids down.
Where does PregFacts get its information?
Every tip is based on published guidance from national health bodies and professional organisations such as the NHS, CDC, FDA, ACOG and RCOG, links to those sources so you can check them, and is medically reviewed by Dr. Christopher Sterling, an obstetrician with 24 years of experience. PregFacts is for general information and is not a substitute for your own midwife or doctor.