Myths and Facts - Common Pregnancy Myths
Technology and medicine have
transformed pregnancy for women of the modern era in to a blissful
experience. Prenatal medical testing can indicate the sex of your child,
the amount of fluid in your uterus, the weight of your baby before
birth, and many other things. Despite this increased reliance on
diagnostic information, pregnancy still continues to inspire its own set
of myths and facts. Pregnancy myths may vary from generation to
generation and from region to region; but they exist however.
The shape and height of your belly can
indicate your baby’s sex.
The popular belief that women carrying
boys carry low and that women carrying girls carry high is not true. The
shape and height of your belly is determined by your muscle tone,
uterine tone, and the position the baby is in. That is why someone may
think you are carrying a boy when actually the baby just drops rower
into the pelvis only because you are closer to delivery.
Fetal heart rate can indicate your
baby’s sex.
A normal fetal heart rate is between
120 and 160 beats per minute (bpm). But some people falsely think if it
is faster (usually above the 140 bpm range) it is a girl and if it is
slower it is a boy. In fact there have been no studies that conclusively
show that heart rate is a predictor of a baby’s sex. Your baby’s heart
rate will probably differ from prenatal visit to prenatal visit anyway -
depending on the age of the fetus and activity level at the time of the
visit.
If you are pregnant, you cannot have
X-rays and should avoid microwaves and Computer terminals.
While unnecessary exposure to
radiation should generally be avoided during pregnancy, if there is a
good reason for a chest X-ray (for example), the amount of effect of
radiation on the fetus is minimal. In fact, according to some experts,
There is no evidence that modern microwave ovens or computer terminals
expose women or their fetuses to harmful radiation.
The shape and fullness of your face
during pregnancy can indicate your baby’s sex.
Every woman gains weight differently
during pregnancy and every woman experiences different changes on the
skin. If people tell you that because your face is round and rosy you
are having a girl, they might be right - but it is just as much likely
that they are wrong!
To keep your unborn child safe, avoid
sex and exercise during pregnancy.
Within the bounds of common sense,
there is no recommendation to avoid exercise or sex during pregnancy-
The baby is protected in the uterus and hence sex is unlikely to cause
problems. Similarly, moderate exercise is not prohibited during
pregnancy; rather it is often recommended. Exercising in hot weather
should be avoided as excessive body heat can be harmful to a developing
fetus. And if your pregnancy is complicated by bleeding, pre-term labour
or other problems, your obstetrician may recommend that you avoid sex as
well as certain exercises.
Pregnant women should not carry heavy items.
True: Nothing more than 15 Kgs. Pounds. The pregnant body is already burdened
by additional weight, which throws a woman off balance and makes her
more likely to fall. This and other things that cause a diminished sense
of balance in pregnant women should be avoided, as a fall after the
first trimester may be devastating to the pregnancy always requiring
immediate medical attention.
All pregnant women have morning
sickness.
Women and their pregnancy hormone levels are individual. The feeling of morning sickness is often caused by a rise in the female hormone estrogen during pregnancy. If the pregnant woman’s body already produced a high level of estrogen prior to her pregnancy, additional estrogen may cause morning sickness in the first trimester or may not. It only depends on the individual.
Men cannot really be a part of the pregnancy.
Turning your life partner into your pregnancy partner can make a big difference in how much you enjoy your pregnancy. Pregnancy can be the most wonderful opportunity to bring a couple together as a solid team. When men are given the means to assist, pregnancy can make the relationship between that man and his pregnant partner exceptionally strong and lasting.
Avoid spicy foods; they can trigger labour before you are ready.
As above, scientific evidence suggests that labour is triggered by biological signals, some of which are well understood and others that remain uncertain. For a routine pregnancy, as long as you eat a well-balanced diet, there is no evidence that what you eat has any effect on your delivery date.
Avoid bumpy car rides they can trigger labour (or being bumped in the abdomen or lifting groceries can trigger labour). Minor bumps, taps and jolts, as in a bumpy (but ‘on-road’) car ride are highly unlikely to trigger labour. The uterus and surrounding fluid provide ample cushioning and protection from minor trauma. Of course, major injury, as in a car accident or a fall may complicate pregnancy, including inducing pre-term labour.
To be precise, every woman’s pregnancy is different, which means that your doctor can provide you with information tailored for your personal medical situation.