Here Are Some Myths And Facts Linked To Ease Your Pregnancy

Giving birth to a new life is a beautiful yet the most complicated task. However, it does not mean that expecting mothers should fret over it. Many times it is difficult for a partner when his pregnant wife calls him at 3 am and asks for an ice-cream. Also, a woman is surrounded by several questions such as what’s healthy or safe to eat during pregnancy. Can hair dye hurt the fetus? Do I need to change the litter box?

Therefore, during pregnancy, a woman gets plenty of advice on what to avoid or what to maintain to keep the baby healthy. Such advice often leave a mother in a dilemma that what to believe or not? Here are some facts clearing all the myths associated with pregnancy that may clear your doubts.

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Myth # 1

Taking Stress During Pregnancy Can Harm The Fetus

Fact: A research has shown that moderate anxiety or stress is not harmful to the fetus. Further, it helps in the faster growth of fetus and tones the fetus’s nervous system. Notably, such mothers are likely to have two-week-old infants with brains that respond faster than infants of mothers without the same stress, according to developmental psychologist Janet A. DiPietro, Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins. In fact, these children are more advanced in their mental and motor development at the age of two.

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Myth # 2

Expecting Mothers Should Avoid Exercise

Fact: Avoiding work means risking your fetus because when a pregnant woman exercises, not only her body but her fetus too get a beneficial workout. Therefore, exercise or gyming at moderate levels is a great way to control your weight. Mothers who use more have lower birth weights with bigger brains that help them to become more intelligent adults, later in life. For baby’s health and reasonable heart rate, pregnant women should follow at least 150 minutes of light aerobic activity, according to the recommendations of ACOG.

Notably, back support or back lying exercises should be avoided as it reduces blood flow to your brain and uterus.

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Myth # 3

Pregnant Women Should not Eat Sweets

Fact: Recent studies have shown that if a chocolate piece is a part of pregnant women lifestyle, then their six-month babies show less fear but more smile and laugh. In the third trimester, women who consume five servings of chocolate each week during their third trimester have a 40 percent lower risk of developing a risky high blood pressure condition known as preeclampsia.

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Myth # 4

Want To Drink At A Party?

Fact: It is completely a personal choice whether a woman wants to have a few sips of champagne or stay away from any alcohol consumption. In case, you are pregnant then take note: many researchers have confirmed that alcohol intake during pregnancy leads to an increased risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) say a pregnant woman should completely abstain themselves from drinking alcohol. However, the birth defects associated with drinking during pregnancy are entirely preventable,” according to ACOG president Mark S. DeFrancesco. The healthcare providers, especially ob-gyns, should advise their patients that alcohol use is not safe during pregnancy.

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Myth # 5

Stick To Decaf Only

Fact: Intake of caffeine ups the levels of placenta making your baby feel a buzz. However, you do not need to worry as ACOG says that moderate coffee (200 milligrams) or tea a day is fine for your health. Also, it is better to opt for a light coffee that is made using milk as caffeine levels depend on the type of bean used to make coffee like how it was roasted or brewed.

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Myth # 6

You Must Have Been Told That Whatever You Eat, You Need To Eat For Two

Fact: It is correct that food craving is healthy during pregnancy. However, it does not mean that you need to double your calorie intake as a body of a pregnant woman requires only about 200-300 extra calories a day. According to the ACOG, expecting mothers should not gain weight more than 25 to 35 pounds. Overeating can cause problems like obesity and gestational diabetes that can cause a problem during delivery. A woman should add in her diet foods rich in protein, calcium, and carbohydrates.

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Myth # 7

A Pregnant Woman Would Go Through Pain And Sickness

Fact: To avoid pain or sickness, doctors usually provide proper medication to a pregnant woman. It is always better to consult your ob-gyn if you feel uneasy. However, drugs like Tums or Mylanta for heartburn; Tylenol for headaches and fever; Benadryl for allergies; and Robitussin for colds have been given the green light. Also, one can meditate to soothe up nerves or eat a piece of chocolate.

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Myth # 8

Pregnant Woman Cannot Have Hot Baths

You elders must have said that you cannot take baths because germs could easily transmit into your vagina that is likely to harm the baby. However, steaming hot shower or relaxing in a tub filled with warm water is a great source to get relief from body pain occurs during pregnancy. Notably, one needs to make sure that water is not too hot and the temperature is less than 100 degrees F. High temperature can cause troubles like neural tube defects such as spina bifida, dehydration, and dizziness. Thus, it is completely a false statement that your baby is in danger of getting germs from bathing as the mucous plug and the amniotic sac are there to protect your baby.

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Myth # 9

Give Away The Thought Of Hair Coloring

Pregnancy does not mean that you need to look dull. However, one should avoid hair colouring as there is theoretical risk associated with it. According to Fischbein, pregnant women should avoid hair dye for the first trimester because baby organs form during this period. If you still need to colour your hair, then follow the advice given by Candice Wood, MD, an ob-gyn at the Banner University Medical Center Phoenix, according to whom one should opt for natural vegetable dye.

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Myth # 10

Say No To Cheese

You do not need to avoid cheese as some of them are pasteurized such as cheddar and Swiss. Usually, soft cheese product like Brie, feta and goat cheese are harmful as they are unpasteurized that might carry food-borne illnesses.

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