Pregnant women might be used to hearing a variety of things during their pregnancy, including advice, opinions, and even pregnancy myths. But, to what extent are all of those things true, or are they just common verses that you’ll hear over and over during your pregnancy?
So, putting your origins and culture aside, let’s talk about the “7 Myths about Pregnancy.”
1. You should avoid sex during pregnancy
Having sex does not affect the health of the pregnant mother unless your doctor or midwife advises otherwise, it is safe to do throughout pregnancy.
Because of increased blood flow in the pelvic area, sex may feel better than previously for some women. However, some may experience different outcomes (hormones can reduce your libido). It is possible that reaching the climax or sexual intercourse will cause harmless contractions, but this is not something to be worried about.
It’s quite normal for your sex desires to change during pregnancy. This should not be a problem, but it is also a good idea to discuss it with your partner so that you both understand what is going on.
2. You will experience strange cravings
Contrary to popular opinion, not every pregnant woman likes strange or random foods. Scientists disagree over the cause of this phenomenon but they believe it is caused by several factors, including an increase in ‘Neuropeptide Y’ during pregnancy. On the other hand, other studies believe that this urge during pregnancy is usually emerging from the mother’s psychological factors.
Hormonal changes may play a role because they can modify your perception of taste and, as well as your preference for certain foods. Some women develop a craving for foods they dislike. It is possible that a pregnant woman will no longer like her favourite foods anymore. However, if you have a strong need for something you can’t digest, such as dirt, clay or detergent, consult your doctor right away. This can be a symptom of significant Anemia and may involve a ‘Pica’ problem
Desires based on other ‘Pica’ diseases include:
· A match that has burned.
· Stone.
· Charcoal.
· Ais.
· Cornflour.
· Toothpaste.
· Soap.
· Sand.
· Plaster.
· Baking powder.
· Cigarette ash.
3. You need to eat for two portions
You may already know that the “one for me and one for baby” advice is a myth before you follow it. While it is true that pregnant women should increase their calorie intake during pregnancy, at the same time they should also avoid overeating. Excessive food consumption can be harmful to both the mother and the baby, particularly if the diet comprises high calories.
During pregnancy, you should need 300 extra calories a day. So, basically, you need to eat as much as one and 1/5 portions. If you eat as much as 2 portions, your baby will be born with a greater size, which might lead to various problems. . Therefore, a healthy and balanced diet is very important during pregnancy.
4. The sex of a baby can be determined by the shape of a pregnant mother’s abdomen
Various strategies to predict the sex of the child are constantly promoted by society.. Baby boys are usually said to be in the lower part of the abdomen while baby girls will often make the abdomen appear wider. However, no scientific proof or relevance has been found yet to justify this approach.
In fact, the line on the skin that develops below the does not indicate the gender of your child. Generally, there is no way that you can tell it from the outside of the uterus. It can only be seen through an ultrasound test that creates an image of the baby and at the same time reveals their gender. However, there are times when they are undetected because your baby is hiding or being “too shy” in front of the camera, as doctors call them.
5. You can’t touch a cat
While it may seem like a silly statement, there are actually a few facts you need to know as well. Keeping a cat is ‘ acceptable’ only for pregnant mothers and their babies but the box/faecal region is harmful. This box/area has the potential to induce ‘toxoplasmosis’, which is a disease that can result in birth abnormalities. Therefore, pregnant women should wear gloves when cleaning the stool box/ area or ask others to do so. After that, they need to wash their hands thoroughly.
Next, as long as they follow the proper guidelines, pregnant women should not avoid interacting or getting direct contact with cats. If you are worried that you may have been exposed to toxoplasmosis, see a doctor, consult a doctor and get a blood test to discover if you’re immune. If you’ve had a cat for a long time, you’ve most likely picked it up without even realising it. There is no need to be worried in this case because it will never happen again and poses no risk to your baby.
6. You can’t exercise during pregnancy
Many women stop exercising after finding out they are pregnant because they have heard that “Exercising while pregnant can cause your baby to choke”. In fact, pregnant mothers who exercise benefit their foetuses as well. Studies show that fetuses for physically active women have a slower but varied heart rate; both show signs of a healthy heart. In fact, because of their larger brains, these babies have a lower birth weight and may grow up to be smarter adults.
Start with a simple and not heavy exercise first such as walking if you were not particularly active before pregnancy.
7. Your baby will have a lot of hair if you experience heartburn symptoms
In 2006, a short study found that there may be a link between the mother’s heartburn and the baby’s hair thickness. According to the researchers, this could be due to pregnancy hormones (estrogen) that affect hair growth and muscle movement that are foreign from the oesophagus, or the food route from the stomach.
Although this is often heard during pregnancy, having symptoms of Heartburn is actually common and occurs approximately in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. As a result, having such symptoms does not always imply a single cause, as they might potentially be caused by a variety of other circumstances.
