Everyone has a lot of advice to offer when it comes to pregnancy, don’t they? Information overload can be confusing and overbearing at times, especially for new moms-to-be. Women hear tons of advice the second they announce their pregnancy, but not everything you hear might be true. Always do your own research before listening to what others say or talk to your Gynecologist about anything that’s confusing you.
Pregnancy – Myths vs. Facts
If you’re listening to unsolicited advice regarding pregnancy every other day, it can be hard to determine what is right and what is wrong. To make it easier for you, here are some common pregnancy myths and the truth about them.
Myth 1 – Eating for two during pregnancy
Many pregnant women get to hear that they need to eat double to provide enough nutrition to the baby, which is a myth. Women may increase their calorie intake slightly as they feel hungry, but overeating can be unhealthy. Consuming excess calories, especially empty calories can be detrimental to your health as well as the health of your baby. Focus on increasing the quality of food instead of the quantity.
Myth 2 – Morning sickness is a morning thing
Morning sickness includes nausea and vomiting, and there are chances that due to an empty stomach in the morning, you may experience nausea. The name can be misleading, but morning sickness doesn’t occur in the morning only and can happen any time of the day during pregnancy. Morning sickness usually starts in the first trimester and gets better by the second trimester.
Myth 3 – Avoid exercise during pregnancy
Are you worried about the extra weight you’ll put on during pregnancy? Are you tired of people telling you to stay away from any exercise? Well, lucky for you, light to moderate exercise is recommended for expecting mothers as it’s good for your and your baby’s well-being. Experts recommend exercise such as walking or aerobics for women in their first trimester.
Myth 4 – Stay away from caffeine
Are you missing your morning coffee during pregnancy? Well, you don’t have to anymore. You don’t have to completely cut off caffeine throughout your pregnancy, although health experts advise limiting caffeine intake to 200 mg a day. Nonetheless, excess caffeine can be dangerous for pregnant women but moderation is key in this case.
Myth 5 – Avoid sex during pregnancy
During a normal pregnancy, there is no restriction on sex. Having sex will not hurt the baby. Your baby is safe inside the thick wall of your uterus. Additionally, research suggests that sex doesn’t increase the risk of preterm labor in low-risk pregnancies. In some cases, your doctor might ask you to abstain from sex due to a complication. Only in these instances, it’s okay to avoid having sex.
Myth 6 – Baby can get a food allergy from your food choice
Healthy nutrition is essential for pregnant women. But avoiding certain foods because you think that your baby will develop an allergy is a misconception. Food is broken down into nutrients before it reaches the baby, and the baby is unlikely to be allergic to the food that the mother eats.
How to differentiate between a pregnancy myth and fact?
The unsolicited advice given to you when you’re pregnant can be chaotic, as you wouldn’t know if you should take the suggestion or not. In this case, consulting a Gynecologist in Lahore can clear any misunderstandings. Furthermore, they can tell you the do’s and don’ts of pregnancy as well.
