What Are Myths or Misconceptions?
Myths or misconceptions are certain beliefs that do not have scientific evidence. These are wrong ideas or concepts that can be misleading.
Pregnancy is also known as gestation and is the time during which one or more offspring (baby to be/ fetus) develops inside the womb of a woman. The womb or the uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ located in the woman's lower abdomen.
This period lasts for about 40 weeks or 9 months (measured from the last menstrual period) and is divided into three trimesters:
The first trimester includes the first 12 weeks of pregnancy
The second trimester is from the 13th to 26th week
The third trimester is from the 27th week to the end of the pregnancy (around the 40th week)
During this period, a woman's body goes through a lot of changes and each will have a different experience.
Myths or misconceptions exist with almost everything that we know and myths associated with pregnancy are also not new to us. Once you get pregnant, you start receiving a lot of advice and suggestions from your friends and family, which can mostly be misleading and confusing.
However, when it comes to your health, believing in myths can result in unforeseen or adverse events as there is no scientific backing to these beliefs.
Let's explore the most common myths about pregnancy and the truth behind them.
7 Myths and Facts About Pregnancy
Myth 1: You should now eat for two.
Fact: An absolute NO. Being pregnant doesn’t mean you should be gobbling up food all the time as you are carrying a baby. That’s not true. Yes, you need to take some extra calories for the proper development of the baby but that doesn’t mean you should be eating twice over.
To know your diet better, you can consult your obstetrician. He/she will be able to guide you on the nutritional requirements during pregnancy.
Myth 2: You should be at complete rest during pregnancy.
Fact: It is a common belief that you need to take complete rest during pregnancy and avoid any physical activities. Staying physically active and exercising is in fact good for your mental and physical well-being. It also helps keep a check on your weight gain.
So, it’s completely healthy to take a stroll or two in the mornings and evenings and follow regular low-impact exercises to stay healthy during pregnancy. This should only be done after consulting your doctor.
Myth 3: You can determine the sex of the baby by the shape of your stomach.
Fact: It is believed that if a woman is carrying low it is a boy and if she is carrying high, it’s a girl. This conception has no scientific basis.
The shape of your belly depends on the position of the fetus and your muscle size and structure. It has nothing to do with the sex of the baby.
Myth 4: If you suffer from heartburn, you will have a hairy baby.
Fact: It is a common myth that if a woman suffers from heartburn, the baby will be born with a lot of hair. It’s far from true. Heartburn (a burning sensation in your chest due to acid reflux from the stomach) is very common during pregnancy.
The hormonal changes during pregnancy relax the esophageal sphincter muscle, which is a thick band of muscle on top of the stomach. This allows the partially digested food and stomach acids to backflow or reflux into the esophagus (food pipe).
Avoiding spicy food will help you prevent heartburn. If it’s causing too much discomfort you can consult your doctor.
Myth 5: You should not eat papayas during pregnancy.
Fact: Fully ripe papaya can be consumed during pregnancy. In fact, ripe papayas are a good source of Vitamin C and E. It also contributes to adding fiber and folic acid to your diet.
However, unripe papayas are harmful as they contain latex which can cause uterine contractions. Latex is the white milky fluid that comes out of unripe papaya which mimics prostaglandin (a hormone that causes contraction of your uterus). Your body recognizes latex as prostaglandin, leading to uterine contraction; thereby, increasing the chances of abortion.
Nowadays, the excessive use of chemicals to ripen fruits faster makes it challenging to identify a naturally ripen papaya. Therefore, doctors don’t openly advise to have it in your diet.
Myth 6: Consuming certain food can change your baby’s complexion.
Fact: Some people believe that taking caffeine or iron supplements can make your baby dark and consuming saffron can make the baby fair. That’s not true. Excess intake of caffeine may lead to complications such as low birth weight. Therefore, it is better to limit the intake of caffeine during pregnancy.
Unlike caffeine, iron intake is essential during pregnancy to supply the growing fetus and your placenta (an organ that develops in your uterus during pregnancy). Also, saffron cannot make your baby fairer. The skin color of your baby depends on the genetic factors and not the type of food you consume.
Myth 7: Morning sickness happens only in the morning.
Fact: Nausea or vomiting can happen at any time during the day and not necessarily only during the morning. This happens due to the hormone changes during pregnancy.
Most of the women experience nausea or vomiting in the morning during their pregnancy, whereas, for some, it's different and they can experience it throughout the day or even in the evenings. It is nothing to worry about. Consult your doctor to know more.
There are many nutritional, religious, and other myths and misconceptions associated with pregnancy which you should not believe. Consult your obstetrician as she/he will be able to give you the right advice on the nutritional requirements, exercises, supplements, and other measures you need to follow during your pregnancy.
Disclaimer: This article is written by the Practitioner for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.