Pregnancy Myths

Announcing Pregnancy in the First Trimester

Myth

It is suggested that you do not inform anyone of your pregnancy, until you complete the first trimester as this is considered to be bad luck

Fact:

Sharing the news of your pregnancy has nothing to do with bad luck or does not result in a miscarriage. It is a fact that 26 % of pregnancies are lost in the first trimester but this is due to hormonal reasons, some abnormality or improper development. The body has innate wisdom and would abort if the foetus is not viable.
If mom has multiple miscarriages then it should be investigated and not attributed to bad luck.

Beauty treatments during pregnancy

Myth

I cannot undertake any beauty treatments during my pregnancy

Fact :

Most beauty treatments are safe during pregnancy. However as a caution you may want to visit your favourite salon for a makeover once you have completed the first trimester and your baby is now past the critical period of development.
Bleach, hair color, waxing all can be undertaken safely during pregnancy.

Awww now brings the salon home to you. Call us and we will send our experts to your doorstep to help you with treatments you need as and how your pregnancy proceeds. Let our experts guide you on whats best for you

Buying for your baby before birth

Myth

It is suggested that one should not buy anything for the baby before the baby’s birth as it is again considered to be bad luck

Fact:

This statement is not true. Buying something in terms or clothes or any other baby accessories and preparing for your baby’s arrival is good planning and has got nothing to do with bad luck. Again ideally it is good to use old clothes since they will be pre washed and also softer. This is good for the baby’s skin.

 

Also babies outgrow clothes super fast and it might make financial sense to use some borrowed stuff. If you do buy new clothes you can wash it once before your baby wears it so that its softer on the baby’s skin and does not create discomfort to the baby.

Coconut realted myths

Myth 1

Eating coconut will make the baby fair.

Myth 2

Drinking coconut water will make the baby hairy and cause acidity to the mother.

Myth 3

Drinking coconut water will make the baby’s head large like a coconut.

Fact:

Coconut is good for the mom and baby. Coconut water is a rich source of potassium and fresh coconut contains vital nutrients. The white part in the coconut has got nothing to do with the baby being fair skinned. A baby does not turn out hairy because of coconut water intake. That would be genetic in nature. Also drinking coconut water does not increase the size of the baby’s head in any way.

Dark Link on the stomach means its a boy

Myth 1

The dark line on the stomach means that it is a boy.

Myth 2

If the dark line on the stomach is straight it means you are having a girl and if its wavy it means you’re having a boy

Fact:

Both the statements are totally untrue. A pregnant woman’s body undergoes a lot of change during pregnancy. One of the more common skin changes is the line that shows up on the stomach. Some women experience it, others don’t. The line that shows up on the stomach is called the linea niagra and it is hormonal in nature. Pregnant moms also have other skin issues like acne, stretch marks etc. All these skin changes are completely normal and have no bearing to the gender of the baby.

Dates in Pregnancy

Myth

Avoid eating dates as they are hot and will cause a miscarriage.

Fact:

This statement is totally untrue. Dates actually have a lot of benefits.
Dates are infact a rich source of fibre and iron and must be consumed in moderation. They aid the process of digestion and are also considered good for your nerve and muscle function. They are a natural form of sugar, low in cholesterol levels and help you maintain a healthy weight level. If a mom eats dates it does not mean it will result in a miscarriage because there is no correlation between the two.

eating ghee will result in increased breast milk

Myth

Eating ghee and sugar post delivery will produce more milk.

Eating cold foods would result in cold breast milk

Eating food which is deemed gassy will cause the baby to have colic.

 

Fact:

This is totally untrue. Ghee is a saturated fat. On the contrary, the increased intake of ghee, results in an increase in weight. Contrary to popular belief, eating a lot of ghee and sugar does not lead to more production of milk and it also does not make you stronger. It is advisable to eat a healthy balanced diet.

Make sure all food groups are consumed in moderation. Eating cold foods does not mean you would produce cold breast milk or eating foods which are deemed gassy will not cause the baby to have colic. However, if you eat too much of any one food or do not balance your meals then digestion may be a concern. There are no magic foods which produce more milk but there are some traditional foods which have been known to have galactagogue properties. These include fenugreek leaves and seeds, cumin seeds, papaya, oats and edible gum

Eating something white will result in a fair baby

Myth 1

Eating something white in the morning will ensure you have a fair baby.

Myth 2

Adding saffron (kesar) to milk will result in a fair baby.

Fact:

Both the statements are totally untrue. The colour of a baby’s skin depends upon the content of melanin in the skin and this is purely genetic and does not depend upon the food that the mother eats. The consumption of Saffron does not make the baby fair skinned. Saffron is a spice and can enhance the flavour but not influence the colour of the skin.
It is important that one focuses on the health of the mom so that both the mom and baby are healthy and happy.

Exercising during Pregnancy

Exercise during pregnancy will make the delivery happen before time or the mother will have a miscarriage.

Fact:

If pregnancy is healthy then exercise will actually make the mom fitter and the baby also fitter which means the pregnancy will actually carry through till full term and the mom will have an easier birth experience. Make sure you contact a good qualified prenatal exercise expert so that the exercises can be customised for your depending upon your body’s needs. Contact Awww today and let us take care of this for you

Ghee consumption in pregnancy will make labour easy

Myth

Consuming Ghee in the 9th month of your pregnancy will help the baby slip through the birth canal easily.

Fact:

This is totally untrue. Ghee is a saturated fat. On the contrary, the increased intake of ghee, results in an increase in weight. There is no correlation of ghee and the labour process. It definitely does not make the baby slip through the birth canal and intake does not ease the labour process. Preparing your mind and body during pregnancy through a good exercise regime and the right kind of diet and nutrition plan will help prepare your body for the process of labour.

Having the girls mother in the delivery room at the time of delivery is bad luck.

Myth

Having the girl’s mother in the delivery room at the time of delivery is bad luck.

Fact:

This statement is totally untrue. When it’s time for the baby to be born, in most cases there is one person that is allowed to accompany the mom into the delivery room. This could either be the husband, a sibling, mother, friend, a pre natal and post natal expert or anyone that the mother would count upon for support and strength. The actual process of giving birth is very personal to each mum and the procedures carried out by the gynaecologist totally depend upon the current situation at hand. The mum and baby’s well being is top priority for the doctor conducting the procedure and he/she will take necessary actions to ensure that both the mum and baby are doing fine. This has got no co relation whatsoever with whom the mum chooses as her support structure in the delivery room. Infact most to be mums are happy to have their mothers in the delivery room with them during this moment and they can do so without any inhibitions.

If the girls mother knows that her daughter is in labor then it is bad luck

Myth

If the girl’s mother knows that her daughter is in labor then it is bad luck

Fact:

This statement is totally untrue. Labour and contractions are nature’s way of starting the actual process of childbirth. Every human pregnant female body goes through this process and at the end of it there is wonderful small life that enters the world spreading immense joy and happiness. During the process or labour and delivery, the mum and baby’s well being is top priority for the doctor conducting the procedure and he/she will take necessary actions to ensure that both the mum and baby are stable and doing well. There is no correlation with bad luck, if the to be grandmother’s knows that her daughter has gone into labour. Infact it is a happy phase for the grandparents to be and such a myth should not take away from their moment of happiness. A mother would always want her daughter to be safe and happy wherever she is in the world and her blessings would only further add to a smooth process of labour and delivery

if you crave sweet then its a girl

Myth

If you crave sweet then it’s a girl and if you crave spicy then it’s a boy.

Fact:

Some Pregnant Moms have cravings for sweet; some have cravings for something tangy in nature. Other moms crave junk food, cold desserts; yogurts so on and so forth. So why does this happen? Well there is reasoning to that and it definitely has got nothing to do with the mum either carrying a girl or a boy. All this generally happens when there is a deficiency in the mom’s nutrient levels. For eg: Some moms crave tangy food and these are foods which are high in vitamin C. Iron levels drop during pregnancy and vitamin C helps the body to absorb more iron and hence naturally asks for the mother to eat more of vitamin C foods. A good balanced diet should help the mom balance her nutrients level in the body. Hormones also play a huge part to create cravings in mums during pregnancy. Hence please be rest assured that the food cravings have got nothing to do with the baby’s gender

If you're pregnant, you should eat for 2

Myth

During pregnancy you must eat for two –
Yes you do have a small baby growing inside you. But a good well balanced diet is sufficient for you and your baby. You do not need to eat twice the proportions. You just need to eat right and increase of an additional of 500 calories a day through the right combination of food is enough for your body Think about it – The second person that you are eating for is so small. The foetus is less than 1/20th of our body weight.

You really don’t have to double your food intake.
This statement is totally untrue. Labour and contractions are nature’s way of starting the actual process of childbirth. Every human pregnant female body goes through this process and at the end of it there is wonderful small life that enters the world spreading immense joy and happiness. During the process or labour and delivery, the mum and baby’s well being is top priority for the doctor conducting the procedure and he/she will take necessary actions to ensure that both the mum and baby are stable and doing well. There is no correlation with bad luck, if the to be grandmother’s knows that her daughter has gone into labour. Infact it is a happy phase for the grandparents to be and such a myth should not take away from their moment of happiness. A mother would always want her daughter to be safe and happy wherever she is in the world and her blessings would only further add to a smooth process of labour and delivery

Follow the chart below to ensure you have a balanced diet

If your skin glows then you are carrying a boy and if your skin is dull then you are carrying a girl.

Myth

If your skin glows then you are carrying a boy and if your skin is dull then you are carrying a girl.

Fact:

This is absolutely untrue. The gender of the baby has got nothing to do with amount of glow on a pregnant woman’s face. When a woman is pregnant, the body produces 50 percent more blood. This causes an increase in blood circulation in the pregnant mum’s body thus giving her a brighter appearance.

During this phase a pregnant woman’s body produces a lot of hormones as well. This means that even your oil glands are working overtime thus making your face appear oiler and thus shinier. Hence people say that when a woman is pregnant she has a glow on her face.

Increasing size of buttocks

Myth

Many Indian myths state that if the buttocks are growing then the mom is carrying a girl and if the abdomen is growing then the mom is carrying a boy. However this is only a myth.

Fact:

One of the most normal body changes that a pregnant woman experiences in her 2nd trimester is that of the size of her buttocks increasing. The mom’s buttock size increases as the pelvis stretches to accommodate the growing baby and uterus and is a very natural phenomena because she is pregnant and has nothing to do with the gender of the baby. The shape of the stomach purely depends on how the baby is lying in the womb and again has got nothing to do with the gender of the baby.

Iron tablets will result in a dark baby

Myth

Iron tablets will make your baby dark.

Fact:

Most doctors advise pregnant moms to take iron supplements and other forms of iron intake through food which is considered important for the mom and baby’s health and growth. Iron does make the stool dark but it does not have any effect on the baby’s skin colour.
The colour of a baby’s skin depends upon the content of melanin in the skin and this is purely genetic and does not depend upon the food or the supplement that the mother eats.
It is important that one focuses on the health of the mom so that that the baby turns out healthy and happy

Papaya consumption during pregnancy

Myth

Pregnant moms are advised to avoid eating Papayas as it can cause a miscarriage.

Fact:

A mom to be would usually receive a lot of advice with regards to different topics in pregnancy and food seems to be a popular choice for all. You may have heard certain people talk about papayas being unsafe during pregnancy.
Usually the seeds of Papaya contain an element which can trigger contractions when consumed in large quantities.
Papain is dominant in raw papayas though and hence small portion of ripe papaya can be consumed safely during pregnancy.

Iron tablets will result in a dark baby

Myth

Pineapple during pregnancy causes a miscarriage

Fact:

A mom to be would usually receive a lot of advice with regards to different topics in pregnancy and food seems to be a popular choice for all. You may have heard certain people talk about pineapple being unsafe during pregnancy.

This is a complete myth. When you eat a pineapple the mouth generally feels a little itchy and raw and crunchy. In the olden times many people felt this would have a similar effect on the uterus as well and hence it was a food item that people thought should be avoided during pregnancy.

Sesame and mustard seeds in pregnancy

Myth

Sesame seeds and mustards seed will lead to a miscarriage because they are hot.

Fact:

We are sure you have heard so much by now regarding the intake of different types of food during pregnancy.
You are probably being advised on different things you should eat and do during your pregnancy.
Many believe that sesame and mustard seeds are considered hot for the body and will result in a miscarriage.
This is totally untrue. In fact sesame seeds are rich source of calcium and mustard seeds aid digestion.
So here’s another pregnancy myth busted.

Sleep a lot during pregnancy as that will help you be able to stay awake post delivery.

Myth

Sleep a lot during pregnancy as that will help you be able to stay awake post delivery.

Fact :

Sleeping well during pregnancy has no effect whatsoever on your sleeping pattern after delivery. Every individual needs a certain amount of sleep and rest hours every day. Post delivery your sleeping schedule maybe a little erratic. This happens because the baby would be used to being more awake at night and would sleep during the day as this is the cycle that the baby followed in the womb. It will take a while to change this around. New Moms would have to set a routine around the baby’s body clock cycle in order to make sure your baby is eating well and is settling down well. Hence in most cases your sleep schedule changes and you may find yourself not being able to get as much sleep. However this is a temporary phase and will get back to normal once the baby adapts to the life outside the womb. This however has got nothing to do with you adding on extra sleep hours during your pregnancy inorder to make up for sleep after delivery.

Spicy food will lead to a miscarriage

Myth

Intake of Spicy food will cause a miscarriage.

Fact:

A mom to be would usually receive a lot of advice with regards to different topics in pregnancy and food seems to be a popular choice for all. You may have heard certain people talk about how consumption of spicy food is unsafe during pregnancy.
Spicy foods will not cause a miscarriage contrary to popular belief.
Meals that are less oily and less spicy in nature should be preferred in order to avoid heartburns during Pregnancy. If a mom to be is comfortable with spicy foods, she can safely enjoy them in moderation.

Travelling during Pregnancy

Myth

I can’t travel by air during pregnancy

Fact:

Most people believe that once our pregnant travelling should be limited. There is also a lot of myth that surrounds air travel as well.

In our day to day lives we need to travel to get work or other tasks completed. We cannot sit at home all the time. We do have to travel.

Possibly to work, to the market, for an outing or even for a holiday.

You are pregnant and hence it may be wise to choose a mode of transport that is not very jarring, which means that avoid two and three wheelers during pregnancy as far as possible. You do not want to feel uncomfortable with the bumps and road irregularities and sudden breaks.

For road transport use cars and buses, Trains are safe as well and of course you can take a flight too.

Most airlines will ask you to carry a Fit to Fly letter from your doctor if you have crossed week 28 of your pregnancy.

When on the flight make sure you drink plenty of fluids,
move around frequently, perform stretching exercises on your seat and carry some home cooked snacks so that you do not have
to rely completely on airline food.

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