What's up with all the limitations?

What's with all the rules? I knew there were a few things that you shouldn't do - like smoke, drink strong alcohol, take drugs. But, I have to say the list of things you "can't" has left me absolutely unimpressed.

So the no drug thing doesn't simply mean avoid illegals like cocaine and heroine, but supposedly simple conveniences like Advil and allergy pills are out of the question. Let me tell you how I'm looking forward to the pollen season this year!

Then, there's the alcohol thing. I get I shouldn't crack open the new Patron silver tequila I was given as a gift (although I really want to), but really, you're telling me I can't have wine? It's made from grapes and is full of antioxidants. Heart patients are encouraged to drink it, yet healthy pregnant women can't?

Then there's the list of "no-no" foods. Sushi (give me the torture chamber instead), unripened cheese like brie (crucify me), deli meats (just kill me), undercooked fish like tuna or oysters (how cruel), and the list goes on and on and on.

Fine, there are some logical, medical reasons for some of these - like the mercury in tuna is dangerous and will penetrate the placenta and cause brain damage. But, others just seem cruel and truly defy common sense. For example, do pregnant women in Japan not eat sushi for 9 months? With more than 127 million people living in Japan, I can't imagine thousands go without eating sushi every year! Do the French really stay away from their cheeses? Do the Italians really stay away from their wine and cured salumi? I just don't buy it.

Some have even tried to scare me off from exercising. Really? Isn't now the time when I should be my most fit? I ran a half marathon last year and I trained every day for more than four months. And, now, when my body is going to expand and change and do things I still have yet to process, I'm going to sit back and take it easy? The response I got was that I could pick it up in the second trimester. So, let me understand, after spending 3 months on the sofa letting myself get uncomfortably fat and unfit, I should then shock my lazy heart and other unfit organs by starting to exercise. And this would be better than continuing with a healthy exercise regime now? Again, I just don't buy it!

For now, I'm watching what I'm drinking, eating and doing. I'm still enjoying my wine, but in moderation and I'm still running and doing yoga - although I'm listening more closely to my body and stopped pushing myself. I do plan on becoming more educated on these things, so I can determine for myself which limitations are based on research and fact, and which are based on mere conservative North American Puritanical fears and ignorance.