We will be travelling to Penang in May spending the majority of time in Batu Ferringhi, and a couple of nights in Georgetown. I will be 5 months pregnant. Does anyone have any recommendations/tips/comments? Mainly with reputable eating places (I love Hawkers food, but am a bit worried about the safety factor whilst pregnant), and any establishments that do pregnancy massage.
Thanks in advance.
Pregnant and travelling in Penang - any tips?
Transport - Move around by taxis as public buses are not for the faint-hearted. The ShangriLa hotel chain has a shuttle that plies between their Batu Ferringhi resort and their Georgetown hotel Traders so as a guest, you can use this service.
Food - Hawker food is fine if you select dishes that are cooked to order or served hot such as fried noodles (char kuay teow), savoury radish cake (chye tow kueh), Penang style tapas (ngoh hiang), kebab with peanut sauce (satay), local savoury pancake (roti canai) or pork and crabmeat soup (bakwan kepiting). Stay clear of shellfish and uncooked, semi-cooked or raw food and you should be safe. Bon appetit.
Pregnant and travelling in Penang - any tips?
Food is safe - just eat fresh cooked, hot, food and you will be fine. Seafood, is the higher risk but is mostly fresh and well cooked.
Massage - unless you can find a fully trained and qualified person (like me) then do not have a massage.
They may use oils (essential oils) that are not suitable and can cause a miscarriage.
Have a look at my website for more info www.naturalbeautyandhealth.co.uk
With hawkers food i would just make sure you use a busy stall not a quiet one then you know the food is market fresh that day.
Boil the water although it is fine normally just to be on the safe side.
If you have any concerns whilst your there go and see a doctor there are plenty around especially for pregnant or babys its not expensive.
If you go anywhere and have to wait in line there is usually a special line for elderly and pregnant people how i would have loved that in England when i was pregnant.
I would say the Malaysians are very conservative on their maternity wear so try and be a bit respectful if you are wearing a tight top make sure it covers your belly etc.
Thank you for your input.
Esorleqin - do you have any comment about the Javanese milk baths/hair cream baths. We are staying at the Park Royal and the spa there does both these treatments, so I thought they might be appropriate.
Also I have seen your food recommendations list. Fantastic. I am thinking we might have to extend our trip so I can start at the top of the list and work our way down!!
Alibristol - The tip on maternity wear is a great one. Although I try to dress modestly when pregnant, it is a ggod reminder to be respectful of others cultures and views when visiting another country.
hi! the advice above is spot on. a couple of things to add... fresh fruit juices on street stalls often are diluted with sugar and water, the water is safe but if you are only drinking bottled water at least you know. nutmeg oil is very popular in penang but may not be safe in pregnancy, it is made from the skins called mace which is toxic in high densities. as for clothing, the indian salwa kameez or the masculine equivalent is suitable, stylish and easy to buy in malaysia.
Cannot comment on a treatment without knowing what is going to be used.
Simple rule - if it conatins essential oils and you are pregnant - DON%26#39;T USE IT.
this is a list of essential oils that WILL cause problems for you. This list is not fully inclusive - other oils not listed can cause problems.
AMMI VISNAGA
Ammi visnaga
Avoid when pregnant and with blood thinning medications. Not for children. Phototoxic. Potentially hepatoxic at high doses.
ANGELICA
Angelica archangelica
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Somewhat phototoxic. Possible skin irritant, sensitizing. Avoid in pregnancy, epilepsy.
ANISEED
Pimpinella anisum
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Should not be used when pregnant or by children. Possible skin irritant, sensitizing.
BAY
Laurus nobilis
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant. Possible skin irritant. Potentially sensitizing.
BIRCH (YELLOW)
Betula alleghaniensis
Potentially toxic. Use sparingly and highly diluted. Should not be used when pregnant/lactating or by children or babies.
CAMPHOR (WHITE FRACTION)
Cinnamomum camphora
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potential toxic reaction. Possible convulsant, neurotoxic. Avoid when pregnant.
CARROT
Daucus carota
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant.
CEDARWOOD (ATLAS)
Cedrus atlantica
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant. Potentially irritating at high levels.
CEDARWOOD (RED)
Juniperus virginiana
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant. Possible skin irritant, phototoxic, sensitizing.
CHAMOMILE (GERMAN)
Matricaria recutita (M. chamomilla)
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Should not be used when pregnant.
CHAMOMILE (ROMAN)
Anthemis noblis L.
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid in early pregnancy (up to 22 months).
CHAMOMILE (WILD)
Chamaemelum mixtum (Ormenis m.)
Potentially sensitizing. Should not be used when pregnant or by children.
CINNAMON BARK
Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Skin, mucus membrane irritant, sensitizing. Should not be used when pregnant, with ulcers or by children. Use highly diluted.
CINNAMON LEAF
Cinnamomum zeylanicum J. Presl
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potential skin, mucus membrane irritant, sensitizing. Should not be used when pregnant or by children.
CLARY SAGE
Salvia sclarea
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant, with endometriosis and cancer. Potentially sensitizing. Sedative.
CLOVE
Eugenia caryophyllus
Skin and mucus membrane irritant, Potentially sensitizing. Use only highly diluted. Possible hepatoxic. Avoid when pregnant.
CYPRESS
Cupressus sempervirens
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant, with high blood pressure and with cancer.
FENNEL (SWEET)
Feoniculum dulce
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid in pregnancy, epilepsy. Potentially sensitizing.
FRANKINCENSE
Boswellia frereana
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant.
GERANIUM
Pelargonium graveolens
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid in early pregnancy.
HYSSOP
Hyssopus officinale
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid with high blood pressure, epilepsy. Possible neurotoxic. Should not be used when pregnant or by children.
JUNIPER
Juniperus communis
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid extensive use on delicate skin, in kidney or bladder disease, when pregnant. Potentially sensitizing. Strong diuretic.
LEMONGRASS
Cymbopogon citratus
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Should not be used when pregnant or by children. Possible skin irritant, sensitizing.
LEMON VERBENA
Lippia citriodora
Avoid when pregnant. Phototoxic. Skin irritant. Strong sensitizer.
LIME
Citrus latifolia
Should not be used when pregnant or by children. Phototoxic. Possible skin irritation.
MARJORAM
Origanum marjorana, sweet
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant, with asthma, low blood pressure, depression. Sedative.
MELISSA
Melissa officinalis
Possible skin irritation. Avoid when pregnant.
MELISSA (STANDARDIZED)
Nature Identical
Possible skin irritation. Avoid when pregnant.
MUGWORT
Artemisia herba alba
Potentially toxic. Should not be used when pregnant, with epilepsy or by children. Possible neurotoxic.
MYRRH
Commiphora myrrha
Avoid when pregnant. Possibly toxic in high levels.
NIAOULI
Melaleuca viridiflora
Should not be used when pregnant or by children.
NUTMEG
Myristica fragrans
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Possible skin irritant. Avoid when pregnant.
OREGANO
Origanum vulgare L.
Should not be used when pregnant or by children. Possible skin, mucus membrane irritant. Possible hepatoxic in large levels.
PEPPERMINT
Mentha piperita
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant, lactating. Skin irritant. Keep away from infants.
RAVENSARA AROMATICA
Ravensara aromatica
Should not be used when pregnant or by children.
ROSE ABSOLUTE
Rosa damascena
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potentially irritating at high levels. Should not be used when pregnant
ROSE OTTO
Rosa damascena
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Should not be used when pregnant
ROSEMARY (CINEOLE)
Rosmarinus officinalis
Should not be used when pregnant, with epilepsy or by children. Possible neurotoxic.
SAGE
Salvia officinalis
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Possibly toxic at high levels. Should not be used when pregnant/lactating or by children. Possible neurotoxic.
SPEARMINT
Mentha spicata
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant. Potential skin, mucus membrane irritant, sensitizing.
SPIKENARD
Nardostachys jatamansi
Should not be used when pregnant or by children.
TAGETES
Tagetes bipinata
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Phototoxic. Possible neurotoxic. Should not be used when pregnant or by children.
TANACETUM ANNUUM
Tanacetum annuum
Should not be used when pregnant or by children.
THYME (LINALOL)
Thymus vulgaris L.
Should not be used when pregnant or by children. Possible skin irritant.
THYME (RED THYMOL)
Thymus vulgaris L.
Tested non-toxic at low levels. Skin, mucus membrane irritant. Avoid with high blood pressure, pregnancy. Potential hepatoxic at high levels.
VANILLA
Vanilla planifolia
Should not be used when pregnant or by children.
WINTERGREEN
Gaultheria procumbens
Potentially toxic, skin irritant, sensitizing. Should not be used when pregnant or by children.
YARROW
Achillea millefolium
Should not be used when pregnant or by children. Possible neurotoxic.
Thank you for the listing. I have been looking everywhere for such a comprehensive list to check on the ingredients of the natural hair shampoo, conditioner, face cream etc that I am using. The manufacturer would not give me any comment.
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