[Polaris (OP)]

Hi,

I have noticed something different between pregnant women in China and in Germany. For instance, in China,they wear a special vest in order not to get radiation from computers (if one works in a office) some even walk on the street with such vests, which i never saw anywhere in Germany or Sweden (perhaps they wear them at home). Is that scientific proven that one must do that or its better to do that?

And I searched Chinese websites about pregancy, what to eat what not to eat, (eating lots of stuff that only exist on chinese lunch table, like pigeons which i found #&$*#($&#$*(&&$@!@!!!! what to do and not to dos. but in a non chinese website, there is nothing like that. im confused what is really scientifically right, or better for a pregnant woman. (Im Chinese who work and live in germany)

 is there such a list?

thanks!

[CliffordK]

Here are a couple of lists of "don'ts" that showed up with a quick search.
http://www.babycenter.com/404_what-activities-should-i-avoid-during-pregnancy_7229.bc
http://www.symptomfind.com/health/activities-pregnant-women-should-avoid/

This isn't very scientific, but here are some ideas for things that you can do while pregnant.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080412103123AAhlj7g

I don't think there has been any harm proven by the use of CRTs.  LCD screens should have less EM radiation.  The radiation does allowed in the radiation industry (different than a computer monitor) is much less than for ordinary people, and many companies routinely do not allow radiation professionals from working in places with significant radiation exposure when pregnant.

[RD]

... in China,they wear a special vest in order not to get radiation from computers (if one works in a office)...

The electromagnetic radiation from computers is not ionizing like X-rays ...

computer screens only produce very low levels of non-ionising electromagnetic radiation which won't harm your baby. It's the same kind of radiation that comes from your television and radio

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/isitsafeto/vduexpert/

[CliffordK]

If the concern is about ionizing radiation.
Then what about flying?  Perhaps one would want a lead lined dress for flying.  TSA will surely like that idea too!!!

[Lmnre]

When we talk about CRTs and LEDs, we're talking about items made to conform with our safe emissions regulations, but what does China have for emissions regulations, and how well do they enforce them? Maybe China addresses the situation from the user's perspective instead.

[Bored chemist]

I'm going to be seriously impressed when anyone gets significantly ionising radiation from a LED.

I suspect the vests are propaganda.
"See how well we look after you! we even give you lead lined vests. They don't do that in the West!. Now stop thinking about the fact that you work a 12 hour day."

[chris]

or, more accurately:

"...you [only] work a 12 hour day [at the weekends and on Bank Holidays]."

[Ophiolite]

Bungee jumping should be quite high on the list, surely.

[RD]

Bungee jumping should be quite high on the list, surely.

That reminded me of the Frankie Boyle joke ...

The oldest woman ever to give birth gave birth last year, she was 63. I’d imagine at 63 the baby didn’t have to force its way out, it spent the last 3 months bungee jumping.

[Ophiolite]

As an almost Glaswegian Frankie Boyle and I share the same disregard for good taste, by the way.

[evan_au]

I heard a new "don't"recently: Liquorice!
Apparently, it allows maternal cortisol to cross the placenta more easily, affecting the baby's brain development.
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2009/10/04/aje.kwp272.full.pdf

[evan_au]

A more conventional list of foods to avoid is listed here (with reasons like bacterial infections): http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/foodstoavoid.html

There are a few things that should be done before pregnancy, like checking for Rubella immunity, and folate levels.
Putting out the cat litter should be avoided, as many cats have toxoplasmosis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii), which can affect the baby.

Note that in China, a woman is allowed to have only one baby, so she wants to avoid any potential risks, no matter how remote.