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Pregnancy Myths, what they mean and why we believe them.
Pregnancy myths may vary from generation to generation and from region to region. Myths your grandmother in Texas claims are true might be different from what your uncle in Alaska believes. Pregnancy is a time when one gets to hear a number of myths; you must heard them all. Relax. A lot of the things you hear might not have a scientific basis. Here we deal with some of your worst pregnancy concerns, which could prove to be mere myths.
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!). Fetal heart rate can indicate your baby's sex. 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. 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.
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! If you experience heartburn during pregnancy, your baby will be born with lots of hair. Because it's extremely common throughout pregnancy, heartburn isn't an accurate predictor of whether your baby will be born with lots of hair. Small breasted women will not have enough milk. As absurd as it sounds, this myth is extremely common. Size, as in many cases, doesn’t matter here either! If you are having plenty of liquids, a fair amount of rest and relaxation and adequate nutrition, there’s no reason why you won’t produce enough milk, small breasts or big! You can't get pregnant if you're breastfeeding. This one of the myths the many women wish were true. It is said that breastfeeding works as birth control only during the first six moths, after which you are on your own! Chances of pregnancy increase after the mother resumes her menstrual cycle also. So don’t take it too easy on this front, or you will face another pregnancy before you’ve recovered from one!
It will not. There are also other myths about sex stating that intercourse during pregnancy can result in deformity. No truth about either. Whether or not to indulge in sex is determined by an individual’s health, preference, comfort level and the doctor’s advice. There is nothing to stop a woman from enjoying sex till the day she delivers, provided the above factors are taken into account. The Spicy Food Fraud. Spicy food will bring on labor. For the most part, pregnant women can eat just about anything, but there are certain foods that we tell them to look out for, or to try and avoid. Those include very soft cheeses, unpasteurized cheeses and raw-milk cheese. Though rare, they may contain a bacteria called lysteria that has been associated with miscarriage or pre-term labor. 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. So, enjoy the stories - but talk to your doctor before you do anything that could affect the health or well-being of you or your baby.
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