You've read all the articles, books and magazines and the in-laws have already overshared a plethora of "advice" on the new life you are growing inside of you. When you're pregnant, everyone has their own advice and opinions, and that could leave you wondering what's true and what is just downright false! With advances in medicine, research and technology, a lot of these myths have been debunked! We're going to look at some of the most common pregnancy myths and provide some insight and answers to these misconceptions.
This is false! Although called morning sickness, this can happen to any woman at any time of the day. This is in large part due to hormones. For many, this is the first sign of pregnancy, and it happens to around 80% of women expecting! In most studied cases, morning sickness only happened in the morning to around 2% of pregnant women. We'd like to say this myth is debunked!
Have you ever heard the tall tale that eating peanuts and certain dairy products can make your newborn allergic to them? Not true! Eat what you like, as long as you yourself are not allergic to these foods. So, soon-to-be mama's - indulge in that ice cream sundae topped with a peanut buttery drizzle!
Myth 3: There are "ways" to tell the sex of the baby.
The position of the baby in your belly, skin conditions and crazy cravings, we've heard all the old wives tales on determining the gender of your baby! None of these methods is true, unfortunately. From the moment of conception, your baby's sex is determined, but it might take a while for you to find out what you're having. Recent technological advances have made it possible to determine the gender of your baby as early as nine weeks with genetic testing's like free cell DNA blood tests and chorionic villi sampling or CVS tests.
Myth 4: Cocoa butter prevents stretch marks.
Do you find yourself slathering creams and butters on your belly every night to prevent stretch marks? Put the cocoa butter down ladies because this isn't necessarily helpful! One study, that surveyed 175 pregnant women, randomly assigned cocoa butter lotion to some and a placebo lotion to the rest; after a couple of months, they found no difference in the severity or appearance of stretch marks over the stomach, breast or thighs! If you're looking for an alternative that actually can help, try vitamin e oil!
Myth 5: You shouldn't have a cat in the house while pregnant.
Another false! Keep your cat, but have hubby clean the litter box! An infection can occur called Toxoplasmosis, which can be contracted after coming in contact with cat feces.
Myth 6: You should stay away from all seafood.
While this one holds some truth, you don't have to stay away from all seafood. There's been a ton of studies and concern around the mercury levels in fish and how they can be potentially harmful to anyone if consumed in large amounts. Fish that are low in mercury include salmon, tilapia, prawn, tuna and cod and they contain vital nutrients like omega 3's and minerals like iron. The fish you want to avoid while pregnant include mackerel, swordfish and shark. So, go ahead and order your favourite prawn tempura roll!
Myth 7: Heartburn means your baby has a full head of hair.
While we like the creativeness with this one, there's just not enough research to back it! One small study found some correlation between the two, but heartburn is one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy, and with that, we are calling the bluff on this old wives tale!
Myth 8: Dying your hair, working out and taking hot baths is a no-no when pregnant.
With numerous studies done on hair colouring and pregnancy, it's safe to say that you can continue to pamper yourself at the salon. Only trace amounts of hair dye are absorbed through the skin, and the amount is so small it is not harmful to the baby. Kiss your roots goodbye, mama.
It's always a good idea to exercise regularly, even when you're pregnant! Most exercises that you previously enjoyed will be okay but keep in mind you're carrying some extra weight around now so you may become tired more easily or feel hot more quickly. Check with your doctor on what he recommends and go from there.
When you're pregnant, your hormonal changes can make you feel warmer than normal. Stick to warm baths - not scalding - and you can still indulge in a little self-care Sunday relaxing bath!
Myth 9: You shouldn't be lifting your hands above your head or touching your toes.
Just when you thought you heard them all! Old wives tales suggested reaching above your head or down to your toes could affect your baby's umbilical cord, but that's just not true. Unless you have a specific medical condition, hanging laundry, touching your toes and any other movement is okay.
Myth 10: Pregnant women should be eating for two.
Eating a well-balanced, healthy diet is what you should be doing while pregnant. In fact, during most expectant mothers first trimester, she probably won't need to consume any additional calories! Keep in mind; the fetus is the size of a pea, so not much extra nutrients are needed during this time. It is suggested that on average, into the second and third trimester, only an additional 300-500 calories extra is needed a day (based on a typical 2,000 calorie diet). Sorry, food-lover's!
