Common Myths and Misconceptions

You’ve learned that you’re pregnant and you’re feeling overwhelmed. You have parents, friends and family telling you things what you should and shouldn’t be doing that could affect your baby. Admittedly, this whole process can be confusing, so what can you do to help curb your anxiety.

Here are the top 8 misconceptions and myths about pregnancy!

Myth #1: As a pregnant woman, you’re fragile and can’t exert yourself!

While you may feel exhausted, especially during your first trimester, it’s important to understand that you’re not in a state of illness. Pregnancy is a natural process, and your body innately knows how to deal with it. If you were active before your pregnancy, you can continue to maintain that activity. The important thing is to listen to your body and take adequate rest and recovery time. If you never exercised before your pregnancy, the first trimester is not the time to start. Refrain from overexerting or trying new high-intensity activities if you’ve never done so before getting pregnant.

Myth #2: Exercise will stimulate premature labour.

There is no concrete evidence to prove that exercises will induce labour. Many women’s health specialists will suggest taking a long walk to help induce labour around your delivery time however that doesn’t work for many people.

Myth #3: You should stop exercising if you want to conceive.

Exercising, especially if you have been doing it consistently, is good for you! Maintaining a healthy active lifestyle will actually improve your chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy.

Myth #4: High intensity exercise too much for a pregnant woman.

If you’ve been active throughout your life, you can continue to maintain your activity level, just ensure that you modify the intensity and take breaks when needed to ensure you don’t push yourself too hard.

Myth #5: Pregnancy is 9 months long.

This is a widespread misconception. A full-term pregnancy is in fact 40 weeks long, which equates to 10 months. Since many children are born before that time, the timeframe is usually rounded to 9 months.

Myth #6: Sexual Intercourse during pregnancy is not good for the baby.

Sex during pregnancy is safe unless otherwise directed by your OB/GYN. The fetus is protected by the amniotic fluid, the amniotic sac, the thickened uterine wall and the cervix. Sexual activity should be engaged at maternal comfort and tolerance; however, it won’t affect the fetus.

Myth #7: Eating as much as you want during your pregnancy.

It is a common misconception that a pregnant woman has a free pass to eat everything and anything in sight. This misconception can be detrimental to the health of mom and baby. Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can cause gestational diabetes in mom, type 2 diabetes and high birth weight in the baby, more difficult birth and increases in the risk of post-partum depression.

Pregnancy “costs” approximately 300 extra calories per day, and moms should consider avoiding any more than that.

Myth #8: You can determine the sex of the baby by various methods.

Many myths surround the baby’s sex. Fetal heart rate, how you carry your pregnancy, acne, bloating and food sensitivities are all urban legends that are typically passed on from family and friends to guess your baby’s sex. The only reliable way to know for sure is through genetic screening.

Stay tuned for the next 4 parts of the Pregnancy Chronicles!