A lot happens in these 40 weeks of human pregnancy. In this crucial phase, most about-to-be mothers get extra sensitive about everything they hear from their friends and family. It is not good to stress a pregnant woman by telling her the most superstitious stuff about childbirth and pregnancy time. So here are the most common pregnancy myths you need to know and ignore.
- “It’s OK to drink a glass of wine when you’re pregnant.”
We all know that it is recommended that you do not drink alcohol while pregnant. But, unfortunately, there is no such thing as a safe amount of alcohol, and there is no such thing as a safe time in pregnancy when we can be certain that alcohol will not harm a growing child. It’s also worth mentioning that we don’t believe it’s safe to drink while nursing because alcohol does go into breast milk. We also don’t know what the safe dosage is, and that quantity may vary depending on the woman.
- “Your belly reveals the baby’s gender.”
Patients frequently tell their doctors that they heard or were told by family members that they can determine whether they’re expecting a boy or a girl by looking at the woman’s tummy. However, we also know that there is no proof that the shape of your stomach can provide you with this sort of information. Another gender-related fallacy, in my opinion, is whether one’s heart rate is high or low. “Oh, it’s 160. It must be a girl,” patients constantly comment. No, not at all. If it’s 160, it suggests the child is active, and if it’s 120, it indicates the child is asleep. As a result, it’s impossible to tell whether it’s a girl or a boy.
- “Cocoa butter prevents stretch marks.”
This is a myth. While many pregnant women choose to use cocoa butter, there is no proof that cocoa butter or anything else that may be prescribed can prevent stretch marks. It’s most likely inherited, and if you acquire too much weight in one place, i.e., your pregnancy balloons, you’re more prone to develop stretch marks. However, it is not worth spending a lot of money on high-priced creams because they will not function.
- “You can give a cold to your developing baby.”
This is a complete myth. The infant will be immune to the cold. Although the baby can become ill if you catch the flu, physicians recommend that you receive a flu vaccination to protect your infant from being really sick. Some infections, such as the flu, can be passed on to your kid, but not a cold. People often mix the cold and the flu, which is terrible because the virus may make you quite unwell during pregnancy.
- “What you eat during pregnancy can influence the baby’s palate.”
There isn’t a crumb of proof to back this claim, in my opinion. Surely, what you eat throughout pregnancy is significant since it helps to provide a healthy foundation for your baby’s general nutrition and wellness. But it’s unlikely to alter the baby’s taste buds. Doctors frequently discuss nutrition, food choices, and healthy weight growth, all of which may have a long-term influence on your baby’s development, but they seldom discuss the palate or what they like.
- “Pregnant women shouldn’t drink coffee.”
That is a fallacy. Coffee is safe to drink while pregnant. This is one of those situations where moderation is key. Excessive coffee consumption during the first trimester has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage. Should you go wild with the coffee once the first trimester is over? Most likely not. However, it will not do any harm.
- “Pregnant women shouldn’t eat smoked salmon.”
That is a myth. If you prefer smoked salmon, you can eat it. This brings up the issue of fish-eating during pregnancy, which is a hot topic. Doctors also inform their patients about the dangers of certain species of fish. As a result, we wish to stay away from fish that are high in mercury. So, in most cases, it means avoiding too much tuna, opting for chunk-light canned tuna, and limiting the number of tuna cans consumed each week. There is also some worry about the possibility of toxins in certain oily seafood items. So, though salmon, in general, may fall under this category, smoked salmon is safe to eat while pregnant. The whole fish story has been exaggerated a little. And folks get all worked up over the mercury issue. I think it’s also crucial to know that fish has a lot of nutritional content, which pregnant women and newborns require. As a result, it’s terrible that the fish narrative has made many think, “I can’t have any fish.” The huge steak fishes are the ones to avoid because of the mercury. But don’t forget that foods like salmon will provide you with the DHEAS that you require.
- “Pregnant women shouldn’t pet cats.”
This is a misconception. It would be dreadful if all pregnant women worldwide were unable to pet their kitties. The litter box is a source of concern for pregnant women who care for cats, and the actual danger is toxoplasmosis. And the threat of exposure comes from changing a filthy litter box, not from socializing with your cat. Toxoplasmosis infection in women is highly uncommon in the United States. The essential aspect of these cat stories is that everyone is concerned about the cat and kitty litter; nevertheless, the most prevalent source of toxoplasmosis in women is not the cat or even the liter. It’s not about cleaning your garden veggies; it’s about the toxin-carrying cat that poops in your garden, which you then pick up and eat because you didn’t wash it. As a result, physicians advise pregnant women to avoid gardening without gloves because of the illness.
- “Exercise during pregnancy can strangle the baby.”
This is a fabrication. During pregnancy, exercise is highly advised. Unless a medical problem arises that requires a modification in those recommendations, all of our professional organizations advise patients to keep physical activity and exercise throughout their pregnancy. As a result, exercise is not harmful. In reality, the reverse is true. It’s pretty crucial. I believe that the whole strangling idea stems from the notion that your baby may choke itself if you get into certain yoga poses. You do not influence the position in which your kid is placed. The baby is floating in a pool of water. And it makes no difference whether you’re performing a headstand or simply chilling.
- “Dyeing your hair is harmful to the baby.”
This is yet another popular misconception. There is no evidence, and we keep going back to evidence because, as your physicians, that is what we look for. And there is no indication that the chemicals we use for hair coloring reach the infant or have the ability to damage them. The second thing about hair coloring is that if it makes you feel better, it’s pretty significant because how we appear and present ourselves has a lot to do with our psychological condition for many people. And you’d like it to be as healthy as possible when you’re pregnant.
- “If you sit all day, you’ll have a breech baby.”
It’s all a lie. You’ll gain a lot of weight and have back discomfort if you sit all day, but your baby will do whatever your baby wants. At full term, the majority of newborns are not breech. So, only approximately 3% of infants are born breech at full term. Those kids will flip several times till they are about 36 or 37 weeks old. As a result, it makes no difference whether you’re running a marathon or sitting on your bottom.
- “Pregnant women should sleep on their left side.”
I believe pregnant women should sleep as they feel most comfortable, while we know that as they go further along in their pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters, they may not be able to sleep flat on their backs. And that’s because, as the pregnancy progresses, the fetus develops, the uterus develops, and the weight the uterus places on your blood vessels and other structures may be pretty unpleasant for you and the baby. So, as a result, ladies can sleep on their left side, right side, or back, slanted slightly. However, we aren’t always so stringent as to state only the left side.
People are concerned that laying flat on their backs killed their infant. No, you did not murder your child. The inferior vena cava, a large blood channel that brings blood back up to your heart and brain, is the structure you should be most concerned about if you lie flat on your back. And the majority of individuals will feel sick, light-headed, and strange. As a result, you won’t have to force yourself to turn; you’ll do it naturally.
- “Eating spicy foods will induce labor.”
If this is accurate, it would be fantastic since we would assist women in inducing birth whenever they choose. Unfortunately, no one diet, physical activity, drink, or supplement has been identified as having the ability to induce labor. We have drugs that can be used to induce labor, but as far as we can tell, there is no proof that any of the things that women might wish to attempt would genuinely work. People are simply searching for a way out of Dodge after 40 weeks, which I understand entirely. It’s most likely not going to harm you. It’s unlikely that the spicy meal will hurt you. You are free to do whatever you want, but your kid is the boss. Keep it in mind.
- “Yoga can induce labor.”
We believe that there are many advantages to performing yoga and engaging in pregnancy, but triggering labor is not one of them. Indeed, more women are doing yoga, which may assist with relaxation, stress alleviation, and stretching. So, while I believe there are many reasons why yoga is a beneficial activity to engage in, there is no proof that it promotes labor. If only it were that simple.
- “Natural births are better.”
As a result, this is a myth. There are definitely ladies who spend time imagining what their delivery experience should be like. And I believe that natural delivery, as we usually think of it, is delivery without pain medication and that for some women, this may be a lovely experience. Still, we all know that we need to individualize our patients’ treatment. A natural delivery may not be the best option for many women. Having pain medication or an epidural may have significant medical advantages, depending on the scenario and underlying disease. However, I believe it does require some preparation, both mental and physical, and that it is neither better nor worse. Another fallacy about natural delivery, in my opinion, is that if you’re induced, you’ll need anesthetic because the pain will be much harsher. Whether we give you contractions, your child causes you contractions or comes naturally. The agony is excruciating. And other people can deal better because they have practiced mindfulness, hypnobirthing, or something like that. Then there are instances when individuals can deal better since it is faster. But, once again, I believe that everyone can make their own birth decisions.
