Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful and exciting experiences in a woman’s life. But along with pregnancy comes a wave of advice—from friends, family, and even strangers.
Some of these can be helpful but there are many of them which aren’t rooted in truth—and leave you more confused than informed.
Let’s explore 10 common pregnancy myths and facts.
You don’t actually need to eat for two during pregnancy. It’s true that your body needs extra nutrients to support the growing baby, but that doesn’t mean you have to double your food intake.
In fact, your baby doesn’t need extra calories until the third trimester—when you need almost 200 more calories per day.
What really matters is eating a healthy and balanced diet.
Staying active is usually safe and even beneficial during pregnancy.
Unless your doctor advises otherwise, regular, mild to moderate physical activity can actually help make pregnancy easier.
However there are some exercises that should be avoided during pregnancy, so it’s better to ask your healthcare provider before starting any exercise.
Here’re some easy exercises and low-impact workouts for the second trimester of pregnancy.
It’s usually believed that your symptoms can tell something about the gender of your baby. For example if you’re having sweet cravings, it’s a girl, or if you’re having salty cravings, it’s a boy. But none of this has been proven.
You can find out your baby’s gender by ultrasound. Usually around 20 weeks of pregnancy, your doctor can see and tell the gender of your baby—depending upon your hospital’s policy. But they can’t always be sure as sometimes the baby is in the position that makes it hard to see the gender.
Eating peanuts is generally safe for pregnant women. So you don’t need to avoid eating peanuts during pregnancy, unless you’re allergic to them, or your doctor says to do so.
There are certain fish that have high concentrations of mercury, such as swordfish and mackerel, that should be avoided during pregnancy. Other fish are fine if you take them in moderation.
You should also avoid raw fish due to the risk of having food poisoning.
Fish like salmon and sardines can be part of a healthy pregnancy diet. These fish are low in mercury and rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are good for your baby’s development.
According to research (although limited), it’s safe to colour your hair during pregnancy.
Although chemicals in permanent and semi-permanent hair colour may cause harm, but only in high doses. When using hair dye you’re only exposed to these chemicals in very low amounts.
Just a heads up: You should always do a patch test before using a permanent or semi-permanent hair dye (even if you’re using your regular brand).
There’s no evidence that spicy foods can cause labour. What spicy food can do is cause gastrointestinal distress which may cause some uterine contractions, but it doesn’t lead to labour.
Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is often worse when you wake up in the morning, which is why it’s called morning sickness. But it isn’t necessary that you feel sick only in the morning. It can happen any time of the day or night, and hormonal changes are thought to be the cause.
Every pregnancy is different, some women don’t experience any pregnancy sickness at all.
If you’re experiencing morning sickness, here’s a well-curated blog for you by Babymore on home remedies for morning sickness.
You can still be around cats during pregnancy, just avoid cleaning the litter tray.
The concern here is toxoplasmosis, an infection that can harm an unborn baby. You can get it from the feces of an infected cat, that’s why you should avoid changing the cat’s litter box or use gloves if you have to do so. Touching the contaminated poo of a cat and then touching food can put you at higher risk of getting this infection.
Generally it’s safe for you and your baby to fly during pregnancy. However, before traveling you should ask your healthcare provider. They can guide you on any concerns you have.
After 28 weeks of pregnancy, most airlines need a note by your doctor or midwife, confirming your due date and there is no risk of complications.
It’s best to check with your airline about their policy, before booking your ticket.
Pregnancy comes with a lot of excitement—as well as myths. It’s normal to become overwhelmed by so much advice. It’s important to understand that not all you hear is based on truth.
Every pregnancy is different. If you ever find yourself confused about something, always turn to a trusted source like your GP or midwife, for accurate information.
After all, pregnancy should be a time of joy, care, and preparation for what’s coming—not unnecessary worry!
