Have you ever heard any of these myths? You should not believe what these unfounded beliefs say.
20 famous false myths about pregnancy without any scientific basis
Today we must not let ourselves be fooled by false myths about pregnancy . Although there are those who may have their doubts about whether there is any truth in them, science has shown that they have no basis. There is no grain of truth that supports these ideas.
Below, then, we will find different misconceptions about pregnancy and an explanation to demystify them. Do not let any of these beliefs condition your life, making decisions about everything related to pregnancy must be exempt from any relationship with them.
Myth #1: “Being pregnant makes you get stretch marks”
There is a widespread idea that pregnancy produces stretch marks. There are those who believe that this is something natural, but it is only a myth about pregnancy, as there are women who do not have stretch marks on their skin. These kinds of ideas should not be taken for granted.
Myth #2: “Taking medication is contraindicated”
You need to be careful with these kinds of claims. Some medications are contraindicated in pregnancy, but it is not true that all medications should be avoided. You should consult your doctor in case of doubt.
Myth #3: “Being nauseous in the morning indicates that you will have a boy”
Being nauseated in the morning is quite common. You don’t have to worry too much about that, but you don’t have to attribute truths to it that aren’t either. There is no correspondence between nausea and the baby being a boy and many mothers can attest to this.
Myth #4: “A round shape of the belly indicates that it is a boy”
This is another fairly common false pregnancy myth, but there is no relationship between the shape of the belly and the fact that it comes out a boy or a girl. This type of ideas must be demystified, although in any case nothing should change in our behavior as well.
Myth #5: “Exercise should be avoided during pregnancy”
This is an idea that must be seriously refuted. Moderate exercise is not bad for the health of the mother or the child, it just goes very well for them (like everyone else). It promotes blood flow and keeps the mother in shape, which will help even at the time of delivery.
Myth nº6: “Getting pregnant will cause you to have varicose veins”
It is a myth similar to that of stretch marks. Certainly during pregnancy there is a hormone that causes vasodilation called relaxin, so the blood flow can change. In any case, not all mothers have acquired varicose veins, far from it.
Myth nº7: “If you have to travel, better do it in the first trimester”
It is associated with the fact that the volume of the belly is smaller, but the best period to travel would be the second semester. There is a risk of miscarriage in the first trimester, and one is usually better in the second trimester because there is less sleepiness and dizziness.
Myth nº8: “That the mother was born in a good birth indicates that the baby will have it too”
Do not be fooled by preconceived ideas like this. It may be that one birth is one way and that of the next generation is different. Details as apparently simple but determining as the position of the baby has nothing to do with past experiences.
Myth #9: “Spicy food helps in childbirth”
It is one of those types of associations of the most extravagant. Linking spicy food with childbirth is something that science has not been able to achieve. In the process of childbirth there is no help for the fact of having eaten something spicy before.
Myth #10: “What you eat affects your baby’s physical traits”
The baby’s facial and physical features have no bearing on the baby’s appearance, as long as we are not taking anything that could seriously harm them, such as alcohol. Genetics will be responsible for the shape of your face and other body parts.
Myth nº11: “You have to avoid sexual intercourse during pregnancy”
There are those who fear having intimate relations with their partner once pregnant. This fear must disappear, since the risk is non-existent for both the baby and the mother. A false myth about widespread pregnancy that must be eradicated.
Myth #12: “The baby’s heart rate indicates whether it is a boy or a girl”
This is a fairly widespread belief, but without any scientific basis. The myth is that slow heart rates indicate that she will have a boy, and that fast heart rates indicate that she will be a girl. There is no scientific study that concludes that heart rate can be reliable in predicting whether you will have a boy or a girl.
Myth #13: “Dying your hair is bad for the baby”
Although it is true that there are some dyes that contain undesirable chemical substances, there is no evidence that they can be absorbed through the mother’s body and reach the fetus.
Myth nº14: “Having intercourse with your partner improves childbirth”
There is no significant difference between births in this regard. Science has been in charge of demonstrating that these types of ideas are far from reality. As we can see, there are many myths about pregnancy that are far from reality.
Myth nº15: “Getting pregnant is easier if there is a full moon”
One of the oldest myths, but there is no evidence of any relationship between the moon and pregnancy. The probability of getting pregnant is the same in periods of moon and in periods of new, waxing or waning moon.
Myth nº16: “Sweet or salty cravings determine who comes out boy or girl”
Sometimes a pregnant woman has some food cravings, but they have nothing to do with having a boy or a girl. Taking more sweet or salty foods has no significance at this level, so it is another myth about pregnancy.
Myth nº17: “If the future mother has a swollen nose, the baby will be a girl”
This is also a slightly bizarre association. Certainly pregnancy can affect the mother in the sense of suffering some swelling in some parts of the body, but to relate this to any trait of the child is an idea without any scientific basis.
Myth nº18: “It is not good for the baby to sleep on his back”
Although sleeping on the back is not comfortable for a pregnant woman, there is no danger to the baby. Generally it is better to sleep on your side, but we can be on our back for a while to rest from that position.
Myth #19: “Pregnant women have psychological problems”
This sentence is completely out of place. Some pregnant women may have somewhat unpredictable reactions and have a difficult time. Even so, it is only a question of more susceptibility due to changes in hormonal levels since pregnancy can have its difficulties.
Myth #20: “Heartburn predicts that the baby will be furry”
Again there is nothing true. There is no scientific evidence to show any relationship between heartburn and the amount or density of baby hair. You always have to ask yourself if there is a scientific basis for this type of statement.
Bibliographic references
- Campbell, L.A. y Klocke, R.A. (2001). Implications for the pregnant patient. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 163 (5), 1051–1054.
- Curtis, GB and Schuler, J. (2003). Your Pregnancy Week by Week. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: Da Capo Press .
- Murkoff, H. and Mazel. S (2010). What Can You Expect When You’re Expecting (Spanish Edition). USA: Workman Publishing Company
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.