Congratulations on your pregnancy! Aside from preparing yourself for the next 9 months or so, you need to be ready for the information overload. Mothers-to-be are constantly bombarded with guidance and advice, which can be overwhelming. Moreover, some of the data you come across may be false as well.
While some big pregnancy myths have already been dismissed, some continue to persist and are still widely believed by many. Perhaps you thought of them too. Here are a few not-so-popular beliefs about pregnancy that are very much false:
You need to eat for two. This is one common thing you might find while you’re learning about pregnancy through your own research. While this is presented casually as a fact, it is actually a myth. While it is true that you do have to increase your intake of food, you don’t have to totally double it. After all, a baby in the womb won’t need as much food as a grown woman. You only need to eat a bit more than you usually would, around 300-350 calories more.
With that said, eating more during one of your meals in a day should suffice. Instead of focusing on how much you eat, it’s better to pay attention to the food you eat.
Try to eat nutritious foods that are rich in protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates, and minimize the processed foods you eat during this time, so you can make sure you and your coming little one are healthy. Remember to take your vitamins as prescribed by your doctor as well.
Morning sickness only happens in the morning. It is actually possible to feel nauseous and frequently vomit during the day. Perhaps if you suffer from hyperacidity, you are more likely to feel dizzy and throw up when you wake up in the morning from having an empty stomach.
But aside from that, morning sickness can happen in midday, during the afternoon, or at night. Fortunately, this pregnancy symptom usually goes away after the first trimester. You can also combat this by eating small meals throughout the day to maintain your blood sugar levels and help prevent nausea from getting worse.
Exercise is bad for the baby. Even if you have to be a bit more careful while pregnant, that does not mean that you cannot exercise at all. In fact, some exercises can even be beneficial for the baby and can help make giving birth a lot easier too. So there are definitely exercises that you can partake in. It’s just probably a good idea to avoid those high-intensity workouts and activities for the time being.
Stick with moderate intensity exercises and aim for sessions as long as 20-30 minutes every other day. You can consult your doctor about what workouts are safe and collaborate with your personal trainer to create a plan if you have one. Remember that you need to alter your exercise routine as the months go by since your growing baby bump may throw off your center of gravity.
Pregnant women should avoid coffee and chocolate. It has been proven that caffeine in small amounts is not harmful to the baby. Just make sure to reduce your intake of both while you’re pregnant. Limit your coffee intake to one small cup a day, and try to stick with low-calorie options when it comes to chocolate. It’s time to dispel the myth that caffeine in any amount is totally bad for expecting moms. You can definitely enjoy both in moderation.
Do not dye your hair while you’re pregnant. If you love dyeing your hair in fun colors or do it to keep your natural color looking fresh, you might have been told that you can’t do that while you’re pregnant. However, the good news is that you can, in fact, dye your hair even if you’re pregnant. It’s the hair bleaching and other intense treatments that you should be avoiding while pregnant. However, coloring your hair every few months is perfectly fine.
The chemicals found in most semi-permanent and permanent hair dyes are not highly toxic. Moreover, only a tiny amount is actually absorbed by the skin when using dyes. If you want to minimize your exposure to harmful and synthetic chemicals while you’re expecting, use vegan and cruelty-free hair dyes to be on the safe side. You should also consider that box dyes often contain a lot of ammonia, which isn’t good for you, your hair, or your baby.
You have to spend less time with your cats while pregnant. If you have pet cats or are planning to adopt one while you’re pregnant, it is perfectly fine to do so. There is nothing unsafe with petting your feline friends or cuddling with them during your pregnancy.
This myth probably stems from the fact that you can catch toxoplasmosis while cleaning the cat’s litter box because it is found in a parasite present in cat feces. This can be extremely harmful to the baby as it can put them at risk of vision loss, brain damage, or even death.
It’s best to have your spouse or your children take over litter box duty for the duration of your pregnancy. You can also wear gloves and a mask if this is not possible.
With so much information out there, it’s easy to feel confused and overwhelmed about your pregnancy. But hopefully, this list has helped clear up some of the questions you might have. Remember that knowledge is power and that you can always ask your midwife and doctor for clarification, so your information is from a reliable source. When you’re more aware of reality and fiction, pregnancy can be less anxiety-inducing for you.
