Why Pregnancy Myths Are Easily Perpetuated
I can still picture myself at a family dinner, four months pregnant, when my aunt informed me that I was “carrying low” and there is no doubt about it, I was carrying a boy. I was not “carrying low.” I was not carrying a boy. I was just simply digesting dinner.
The issue with pregnancy myths is that everyone believes they have an opinion, and their opinion is fueled by love: Your mother, your neighbor, the stranger at the supermarket that feels compelled to touch your baby bump. Love does not equate to being right
These pregnancy myths exist due to their generational nature and due to the fact that pregnancy itself is quite uncertain. The lack of knowledge regarding the processes taking place during one’s pregnancy makes one feel better about hearing an authoritative statement, which may be wrong.
This article takes you through the myths of pregnancy you may encounter in your first, second, and third trimester and gives you the scientific facts based on the guidelines issued by institutions such as WHO, ACOG, NHS, and AAP.
Myth 1: You’re Eating For Two
Without a doubt, it is the most repeated pregnancy myth out there, and there is no wonder why it makes perfect sense on the face of it.
The truth is that the ACOG and NHS both point out that the increase in calorie requirement during the first trimester is minimal, and even later it is only increased moderately — around 340 per day in the second trimester, and 450 in the third one.
Overeating during pregnancy raises your risk of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. The goal isn’t more food. It’s better food.
Actual solutions include the following:
- Include a protein element in your meals (eggs, lentils, paneer, chicken)
- Include iron-rich foods in your diet (spinach, dates)
- Consume a prenatal vitamin on a daily basis, preferably one that contains iron, folic acid, and DHA
- Do not miss meals because of nausea and vomiting; you should eat small meals frequently rather than three big meals per day
Myth 2: Morning Sickness Only Hits in the Morning
The term is a misnomer, leading to an undue sense of shame in women who feel sick all day long.
Fact: It is the rise in the levels of hormones such as hCG and estrogen that trigger morning sickness, and there are no limits to the functioning of hormones on time. Certain women may have it the hardest in the evening. Some women suffer from nausea throughout the weeks.
What really works:
- Keep dry crackers or toast by your bedside, and have a couple of bites before rising from bed.
- Have some ginger tea or ginger candy between meals.
- Consult your doctor for taking vitamin B6 or doxylamine in case your nausea interferes with daily activities.
- Contact your doctor in case you are unable to retain fluid intake for more than 24 hours. This may indicate hyperemesis gravidarum.
Myth 3: Your Baby’s Gender Can Be Determined by How You Look
Carrying high predicts a girl, while carrying low is a sure sign of a boy — at some point, you have probably heard some variation of this myth, and it’s most often repeated with complete certainty.
Truth is, belly shape has no bearing on the baby’s gender. It all comes down to muscle tone, body shape, number of previous pregnancies, and the position of the baby at the time. If it’s your first pregnancy, it will carry high simply because the muscles haven’t been stretched before.
Only the ultrasound or a blood test can tell you for sure what the gender of your baby will be.
Myth 4: It’s Dangerous to Exercise During Pregnancy
Many pregnant women do not exercise anymore when they discover the two lines on a pregnancy test because they fear harming their baby in the process.
What research actually shows: For pregnant women who have a low-risk pregnancy, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists encourages being physically active. This means spending around 150 minutes per week in physical activities, which can help improve circulation, control weight gain, ease backaches, and even shorten labor time.
Physical activities safe during pregnancy include:
- Walking
- Prenatal yoga
- Swimming
- Stationary biking
- Light strength training
Activities that pose a risk of falling, contact sports, or any activities which your physician advised against due to your health condition should be avoided.
Myth 5: No Caffeine Allowed During Pregnancy
Telling pregnant women to give up caffeine completely often results in a great deal of panic when they miss their first cup.
Reality: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists considers moderate consumption of caffeine, less than 200 mg a day, which is about one cup of 12 oz coffee, safe during pregnancy. This is because excess consumption has been linked to higher chances of miscarriage and reduced birth weight in a number of studies.
Simple alternatives if you are yearning for more caffeine:
- Half caf coffee
- Pregnancy-safe herbal tea
- Decaf coffee with little bit of caffeine
Myth 6: You Have to Sleep on Your Left Side
In the third trimester, somebody is bound to come out and tell you that sleeping on your left side is not an option.
In Truth: Sleeping on your left side is advised because it aids better circulation to the placenta, particularly towards the end of the pregnancy. However, the NHS is quite definite on the fact that changing positions while sleeping is perfectly fine and your body won’t hurt the baby if you are lying in another position.
What helps:
- Using a pregnancy pillow to help you sleep on your left side and not force yourself into doing so
- Not freaking out about your sleeping position, just change back when you realize where you’re at
- Falling asleep being your priority over positioning
Myth 7: Heartburn Indicates a Hairy Baby
And this myth has some basis to it, in that there are actual studies that support its claims.
Here’s what’s actually true: One study published in 2006 reported a minor correlation between greater heartburn severity (which correlates with estrogen levels) and more hair in babies. But this is a single study, not enough for us to use it for any predictions whatsoever. It is simply because of the enlargement of the uterus, which pushes on the stomach and allows acid to flow upwards due to the weakened valve.
What really works:
- Eat several smaller meals rather than a few big ones.
- Don’t lie down after eating.
- Sleep in an elevated position.
- Consult with your doctor regarding safe heartburn medication during pregnancy.
Myth 8: Sex Is Not Safe While Pregnant
Many people abstain from sex in the name of protecting their child from harm for an entire nine-month period.
Fact: With a healthy pregnancy and no known risk factors, it’s completely fine for a pregnant woman to engage in sexual activity. The baby is well-the amniotic sac protects and the uterus and cervix.
When you should avoid it: When your physician tells you that you have placenta previa, preterm labor in your history, unknown bleeding, or your water breaks.
Myth 9: Stress Automatically Harms the Baby
This myth adds stress on top of stress — pregnant women worrying that their worrying is hurting the baby.
Here’s what’s actually true: Everyday stress — a rough day at work, an argument, feeling overwhelmed — is normal and doesn’t damage your baby’s development. What research links to potential effects on birth outcomes is chronic, prolonged stress over the entire pregnancy, not the ordinary ups and downs of daily life.
What actually helps:
- Build small stress-relief habits into your week — a walk, deep breathing, journaling
- Talk to your doctor if you’re feeling persistently anxious or low — support is available and it matters
- Let go of the guilt that a hard day is somehow harming your baby. It isn’t.
Myth 10: Every Pregnancy Is the Same
Even if you’ve given birth before or shared experiences with a friend, you have most likely been told, “Well, my pregnancy was nothing like that.”
Truth: Each pregnancy in the same woman could be totally different from one another—different cravings, different moods, different symptoms. You will find that comparing your pregnancy with others (or even to a previous pregnancy of your own) tends to cause needless stress.
Myth 11: You Shouldn’t Color Your Hair or Go For a Manicure
This myth stops many expecting moms from going for a haircut that they had actually been looking forward to.
Fact: Most dermatologists and OBs believe that hair dye and regular nail polish are safe in pregnancy, particularly in the second trimester onward. The amount of chemical ingested via your skin or scalp while getting a salon treatment is insignificant. If you wish to err on the side of caution, then ammonia-free dye and properly ventilated salon would be a good compromise, not an absolute necessity.
Myth 12: Spicy Food Causes Labor
When you are in the last trimester, a lot of ladies are inclined to eat their most spicy curries to try and help get things moving faster.
The reality of the matter is that there isn’t any real scientific proof that spicy food causes labor. The one thing it may cause is some sort of indigestion or heartburn, which might seem like something is working, but it isn’t causing labor.
ACOG, WHO, NHS Guidelines and Your Obstetrician vs. a Message Forwarded on WhatsApp:
- When in Doubt, Refer to the Source {#acog-who-nhs-guidelines-and-your-obstetrician-vs-a-message-forwarded-on-whatsapp-when-in-doubt-refer-to-the-source}
- Think about “compared to what”. There are a number of pregnancy myths that are essentially about how much, not whether – caffeine is okay in small amounts; large amounts of caffeine are not.
- Take strange information to your next prenatal visit. Doctors hear this question all the time and would prefer you ask them rather than agonize about it.
- Remember that just because “my mother did it this way” doesn’t mean that’s the current recommendation; things have changed a great deal in maternal health research over the past twenty years.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
1.Isn’t it true you aren’t supposed to put your arms above your head when you are pregnant?
No. It’s an old wives’ tale that doesn’t have any medical truth. There’s nothing to prove that putting your arms above your head while pregnant will cause the umbilical cord to get around your baby’s neck.
2.Doesn’t stress cause miscarriage?
Daily stress doesn’t cause miscarriage. According to ACOG, most miscarriages are caused by chromosomal reasons that have nothing to do with stress levels.
3.Is it possible to travel by plane during pregnancy?
For most normal pregnancies, it’s possible to fly until about week 36 of pregnancy. However, the policy of airlines might differ, so it’s best to ask your OB before booking tickets.
4.Will I lose my tooth for each child?
No. You can blame this on pregnancy gingivitis and the increased risks of having the condition. It isn’t possible to lose teeth just because you are pregnant.
5.Can you determine the baby’s gender by its heartbeat?
No. The heartbeat can differ in every single baby and in every stage of pregnancy. This is one of the most popular but wrong myths about pregnancy.
Conclusion
There is already enough doubt surrounding pregnancy without having to believe in myths too. While much of this may come from genuine care, it is important to understand that care and facts are not synonymous terms.
Whenever you come across something that contradicts what your physician has told you, it would be worth it to ask. One question is all it will take to get rid of months of useless worrying.
Next step: Save this list. When an uncle or auntie gives you one of those rules of pregnancy at a family gathering, you will have the answer ready.