Myths regarding Pregnancy
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Advice and opinions with little medical or
scientific basis are plentiful during pregnancy - don't get carried away with inaccurate
information. Women can usually be certain of a few facts during pregnancy. For one, even the smell of
your favourite extra hot, half soy, double shot, low fat latte with extra foam will make you
feel sick. But what to do with all the varied and sometimes contradictory advice friends and
relatives love to dish out on a regular basis? The best strategy? Take it all with a grain of
salt and consult your doctor if you have questions or concerns. Here are some of the most
common misconceptions and misunderstandings surrounding pregnancy.Here are a few of the
most common pregnancy myths:
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Myth: Standing
on your head after sex can increase your chances of becoming pregnant
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Truth:
Although some experts say that lying down after sex for 20 to 30 minutes
can boost your chances of conception because it keeps the sperm inside
you, standing on your head has not been proven to aid in conception
(and you might hurt your neck while trying to do it!).
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Myth: The shape and height of your belly can indicate your baby's
sex.
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Truth: The popular belief that women carrying boys carry low and
that women carrying girls carry high just isn't true. The shape and
height of your belly is determined by your muscle tone, uterine tone,
and the position the baby is in. That's why someone may think you're
having a boy because you're carrying low, when actually the baby just
dropped lower into the pelvis because you're closer to delivery. So,
what's the most accurate way to determine your baby's sex? Talk to
your doctor about getting an ultrasound
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Myth: Fetal heart rate can indicate your baby's sex.
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Truth: A normal fetal heart rate is between 110 and 160 beats per
minute (bpm), although some people think if it's faster (usually above
the 140 bpm range) it's a girl and if it's slower it's a boy. But
there have been no studies that conclusively show that heart rate
is a predictor for a baby's gender. Your baby's heart rate will probably
differ from prenatal visit to prenatal visit anyway - depending on
the age of the fetus and activity level at the time of the visit.
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Myth: The shape and fullness of your face during pregnancy can indicate
your baby's sex.
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Truth: Every woman gains weight differently during pregnancy, and
every woman experiences different skin changes. If people tell you
that because your face is round and rosy you're having a girl, they
might be right - but it's just as likely that they're wrong
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Myth: If you experience heartburn during pregnancy, your baby will
be born with lots of hair.
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Truth: Because it's extremely common throughout pregnancy, heartburn
isn't an accurate predictor of whether your baby will be born with
lots of hair.
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Seeking the Truth
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As you go through your pregnancy, it can be fun to collect and record
various people's tales. However, for medical advice pertaining to
pregnancy, you should always consult your doctor first.
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And keep in mind that every woman's pregnancy is different, which
means that your doctor can provide you with information tailored toward
your personal medical situation. That's information that friends,
family, and strangers at the mall won't have when they tell you their
pregnancy predictions.
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