Myths On Pregnancy - Debunked

When it comes to family planning, there are a lot of couples who are worried if it will be a smooth process of forming a new human being. Pregnancy brings along a lot changes related to lifestyle for the expectant mother and the family as well. Couple who are planning to have a baby have always been worried about some of the pregnancy myths which surround the whole process of motherhood.

Apart from the dos and don't an expectant mother needs to follow, there are a number of pregnancy myths too which have been debunked by experts. These pregnancy myths have out ruled most of the real facts behind the thought of pregnancy leaving behind a scare for the expectant mother and the family as well. Some call these pregnancy myths 'grandma stories' or tales which have been strictly followed by our former generations. In today's society, modern oriented mothers look away from these pregnancy myths which are now a hindrance blocking a happy pregnancy lifestyle.

So here are some of the pregnancy myths that have been debunked. Expectant mothers need not worry about these myths any more as it is considered to be in the past. However, if you have come across any more of pregnancy myths, please do let us know so that we can help those millions of pregnant women out there.

Flying

Flying

There is a common pregnancy myth which says that pregnant women who are in their third trimester should avoid travelling by flight. The reason being that due to the fear of flying, one might go into labour and thus will require an emergency landing. There are no side effects or health concerns when it comes to this myth.

Pet cats

Pet cats

One of the common pregnancy myths that traditional women still follow is to not pet their cats when pregnant. This myth has been debunked. However, a pregnant woman should not change the cat's litter box during pregnancy because of the risk of toxoplasmosis from the faeces.

Sleeping

Sleeping

There are a number of pregnant women who follow a ritual of sleeping positions. It is said that an expectant mother should not sleep on her back as this can cause difficulty for the baby's breathing. The best positions for pregnant women to sleep in on the left side. This pregnancy myth has been debunked.

Baby's gender

Baby's gender

In countries like India, determining the sex of the unborn is prohibited. But, this does not stop a pregnant woman to wonder what gender baby she would have. There are pregnancy myths which now claim to provide the baby's gender. It is said that the baby's position in the womb can tell the sex of the child. You might have heard this as well - If a pregnant woman's belly is high, in all possibility it is a girl and if her tummy is low it is a boy.

Heartburn

Heartburn

One of the common problems that pregnant women face is heart burn. This does not determine that your baby will be born with a lot of hair. This is one of the pregnancy myths which has been been moving on for years.

Cord

Cord

Some pregnant women stay away from raising their arms above their head when they are carrying. The pregnancy myth is that if the expectant mother raises the arms it can get the chord to be wrapped around the child's neck.

No exercise

No exercise

A handful of pregnant women stay away from exercises. A common pregnancy myth about exercising while pregnant can cause added strain to the baby. However, it is important for pregnant women to do some form of exercise which can ad to a beneficial workout for the fetus.

Story first published: Monday, July 29, 2013, 16:08 [IST]
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