Yes, You Can: The Pregnancy "Rules" You Can Happily Ignore
You've just seen those two lines. Congratulations.
Once the excitement settles, the questions usually start, and a surprising number of them are some version of "wait, am I still allowed to...?" Pregnancy comes wrapped in a thick layer of folklore, handed down through generations, well-meaning relatives and the occasional alarming corner of the internet. Much of it is outdated. Some of it was never true to begin with.
Pregnancy is not a long list of forbidden things. For the most part, life carries on, and you are allowed to enjoy it.
So let's clear a few things up. In a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy, here is some of what you very much can do.
You can travel. Up to a certain point in your pregnancy, a holiday or a work trip is absolutely fine. Airlines set their own cut-off dates later on, so check those before you book.
You can have sex. If you want to. In an uncomplicated pregnancy, it is safe.
You can (and should!) keep moving. Yoga, swimming, running, cycling, even HIIT if that is already your thing. Staying active is good for you and your baby. The general guidance is to continue what your body is already used to rather than taking up something brand new and intense, and your GP or midwife can help you adjust as the months go on.
You can get your hair done. Dyeing your hair in pregnancy is considered safe. Very little is absorbed, and there is no good evidence it causes harm.
You can have your coffee. One small coffee a day sits comfortably within the recommended caffeine limits. You do not have to give it up entirely.
And yes, you can absolutely pat your cat. You simply get to hand over litter box duty for the next nine months, to avoid a parasite called toxoplasmosis. Finally, a perk of pregnancy.
Pregnancy does come with real precautions that matter, and your GP will talk you through the ones relevant to you and your circumstances. But it is not the endless list of don'ts it is so often made out to be. So congratulations again, and go and enjoy it.