Pregnancy Myths Busted

1. Cut Out The Cheese

2. “Don't eat mold-ripened soft cheese, such as brie, camembert and chevre (a type of goat's cheese) and others with a similar rind. You should also avoid soft blue-veined cheeses such as Danish blue or gorgonzola. These are made with mold and they can contain listeria, a type of bacteria that can harm your unborn baby. Although infection with listeria (listeriosis) is rare, it is important to take special precautions in pregnancy because even a mild form of the illness in a pregnant woman can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or severe illness in a newborn baby.” (3)

3. “You can eat hard cheeses such as cheddar, parmesan and stilton, even if they're made with unpasteurised milk. Hard cheeses don't contain as much water as soft cheeses so bacteria are less likely to grow in them. Many other types of cheese are okay to eat, but make sure they're made from pasteurized milk. They include cottage cheese, mozzarella, cream cheese, paneer, haloumi, goat's cheese and processed cheeses such as cheese spreads.” (3)

4. Morning Sickness Only Happens In The Morning

5. Despite the name, a small percentage of pregnant women experience morning sickness in the morning.“Morning Sickness” can occur at any time of the day or night.

6. These nausea spells usually strike in the fourth week and can last until early in the second trimester.

7. Skip The Gym

8. Exercise during pregnancy is actually encouraged in most cases. Exercise can decrease your risk of needing a C-Section, it can help lower your blood sugar if you have gestational diabetes, and it helps reduce back pain and constipation.

9. 150 minutes per week is recommended by the American Heart Association.

10. Yoga and light cardio are highly recommended because these aerobic exercises increase your heart rate just enough to initiate healthy blood flow throughout the body, making sure the baby gets the nutrients it needs.

11. You Must Give Birth By Your Due Date

12. Less than 4% of mothers give birth on their due date.

13. Due dates are estimates, and are not 100% accurate.

14. While your doctor may not want you to go much beyond your due date, a few days is usually perfectly safe.

15. It’s Okay To Drink A Glass Of Wine

16. No amount of alcohol use is safe during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends no alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

17. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, as well as premature birth. Alcohol intake during pregnancy is also linked to low birth weight. It can also affect your baby after they're born. Drinking during pregnancy can cause your baby to develop a serious condition called fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

18. Pregnant Women Can’t Fly On Airplanes

19. If you have a healthy, low-risk pregnancy there is no reason why you cannot fly up to 36 weeks of pregnancy.

20. Sex During Pregnancy Hurts The Baby

21. There are many myths that go along with this one, such as: it will induce labor, the baby will feel it, and it will harm the baby. However, having sex while pregnant is perfectly safe.

22. While it may not always be the most comfortable or desirable to the pregnant woman, it is safe. Certain positions may be less comfortable than before pregnancy.

23. Of course, talk with your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have.

24. Sleeping On Your Right Side Is Harmful

25. A 2019 review of medical studies suggests that sleeping on your back carries risks, but it doesn’t seem to matter whether you sleep on your right or left side.

26. “Sleeping on your left side is often referred to as the “ideal” scenario during pregnancy. Positioning yourself on the left side of your body allows for optimal blood flow from the inferior vena cava (IVC). This large vein runs parallel to your spine on the right side and carries blood to your heart and, in turn, to your baby. Sleeping on your left side also takes the pressure off your liver and your kidneys. This means more room to function properly, helping with swelling issues in your hands, ankles, and feet.” (4)

27. There are lots of mixed messages around this topic. The conclusion I’ve come to is that lying on your left side does have more benefits than lying on your right, but neither is harmful or risky for the baby or mother.

28. Drink 100% Decaf

29. While you should limit your caffeine intake, cutting it out altogether is not necessary.

30. Most doctors recommend having less than 200mg of caffeine per day.

31. Consider caffeinated tea, which usually has less caffeine than coffee, or one 8-12 oz cup of coffee.

References:

1. https://adriaticawomenshealth.com/true-or-false-7-most-common-pregnancy-misconceptions/

2. https://www.geisinger.org/health-and-wellness/wellness-articles/2019/07/19/20/31/6-pregnancy-myths-true-or-false

3. https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/foods-to-avoid-when-pregnant

4. https://www.novanthealth.org/healthy-headlines/9-most-common-pregnancy-myths