Believe it or not, when it comes to the most common pregnancy myths -or truths?-, many of them have not 100% conclusive evidence debunking or proving them right yet!
Science is always evolving and changing our beliefs. Think about some ideas that hit the ground running back in the 1950s! Did you know that women back then were prompted to light a ciggy as a way to calm down? Or that breastfeeding wasn’t encouraged because formula milk was supposed to be better?
In this article, we’ll share with you some of the most common myths about pregnancy, and where science stands nowadays!
Hot Tub Pregnancy Myth
According to this study and other trusted sources, using a hot tub can increase the risk of miscarriage or birth defects. This is due to the rising body temperature hot water causes –hyperthermia-, not because of being submerged.
The American Pregnancy Association and the Organization of Teratology Information Services also advise that a pregnant woman’s body temperature should never rise above the 102F.
Most experts recommend setting the bath on a lower temperature and staying for 10 minutes or less. Keeping an eye on your body’s and water’s temperature is also a must!
For more information, read Bellefit’s guide about Pregnancy and Hot Tubs.
Pregnancy Glow Myth
Oh…this is a good one. For starters, don’t take it like pregnancy will make you incandescent! There are both supporters and detractors of the ‘magical’ pregnancy glow, which basically asserts that pregnant women’s skin looks radiant and replenished.
Some say this glow comes from the happiness of carrying a child. Others believe it can actually predict your bub’s gender even though there’s no proof for it.
At the end of the day, what doctors do know is that an increased blood flow running through your vessels and hard-working oil glands can cause shiny skin that looks flushed. It’s important to say that not all women experience this! Pregnancy can also cause flaky, dry skin.
There is a lot of shame around this topic though. Pregnant women are still ‘supposed’ to look fabulous and glowy when the truth is…that’s such an unrealistic expectation!
Hairy Baby And Heartburn During Pregnancy Myth
Is heartburn a sign of a hairy baby? This old wives’ myth had been debunked by professionals over and over. But, surprisingly, a 2006 study done on 64 pregnant women, actually found a relation between heartburn and babies born with a bit of an Elvis Presley style in their little heads.
What scientists have come to fully understand is that high levels of estrogen can increase the levels of heartburn. Heartburn is simply what happens when the sphincter at the base of the esophagus relaxes and lets stomach fluids back into the esophagus.
Funnily enough, the scientists that planned and carried this study, did it so to debunk this myth once and for all…so after the unexpected results, who knows?
Guessing Gender In Pregnancy Myths
“Girls’ heart rates are faster than boys’ heart rates.”
“Carrying low means it’s a girl, carrying high that’s a boy.”
“Cold feet mean it’s a boy.”
What about testing the electromagnetic field with a golden ring or a needle suspended above the belly?
“If you experience morning sickness it’s a girl…”
So many of the myths about pregnancy that we still hear nowadays are related to guessing the baby’s gender!
We are sorry to say, but there’s no conclusive information proving any of these myths! Pregnancy is such a complex process, and there are still many questions without answers. But in this case, it looks like the classic midwives’ tales about gender guessing have received a major blow!
Cat Litter Pregnancy Myth
There’s a difference between not being able to pat your cat and being mindful of how you change your cat’s litter.
The Toxoplasma Gondii is a parasite that lives in cat litter and poo, and can potentially cause an unborn child to get sick and show symptoms of the illness during growth.
But, what are the chances of getting Toxoplasmosis while pregnant? First of all, this parasite doesn’t live only in your kitten’s poo. It can also be found in uncooked meat -more on that below!
Many people around the world carry the parasite without developing any symptoms, but the underlying worry can be if a woman gets infected while pregnant.
As experts from Harvard University recommend, you should avoid eating raw or rare meat. Also, try to avoid changing your cat’s litter box on your own. If you don’t have anyone to help you do this, wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly. Keep your cat indoors, and avoid feeding him raw meat -stick to canned or dried cat food!.
With all these precautions in place, you are still free to pat your kitten!
Full Moon Myth On Pregnancy
Nowadays, we have some answers about the effect of the moon and its gravitational pull moving tides across the world. But when it comes to the moon’s effect on humans, there are still many questions without certain answers.
As this study explains, our biology is related to seasonal, lunar and circadian rhythms -the sleep-wake natural rhythms and cycles we go through every day.
But what about the old wives’ pregnancy myth that says a full moon can send you into labor? By the looks of it, it’s definitely a myth!
Research published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology concluded there were no noticeable differences in the frequency of births across the different phases of the moon.
The study compared the birth certificates of over 500.000 babies born over 62 lunar cycles.
Pregnancy Myths About Food
There’s so much information out there! It can be just-so-easy to get confused or paranoid without really understanding the logic behind some of the most common pregnancy myths around food…
“Eating spicy food can harm the baby”
Spicy food won’t hurt your child. It can cause heartburn and make you feel uncomfortable, so you may want to skip it, but it’s not going to harm your baby!
“You should be eating for 2”
It’s not that you should ‘eat for 2.’ It’s true that your body needs as many nutrients as it can get to grow your baby, but eating for 2 it’s not a free card to give in to sugar cravings every day -that’s a tough one, right?
“It’s not safe to eat fish”
Raw fish and high-Mercury fish can lead to complications during pregnancy. For starters, raw fish is a common cause of food poisoning -so you should avoid it whenever possible. The same goes for uncooked and rear meats, and fish with high levels of Mercury.
For more information on this, check out Bellefit’s guides:
Foods you should avoid during pregnancy
Beyond myths, truths, and facts, getting clear on the best pregnancy nutrition you can get is the most important thing!
A Final Word On Pregnancy Myths
We’ve walked you through some of the most common pregnancy myths and, as you can see, there’s some truth behind most of them. The problems start when beliefs and ideas are taken out of context or don’t have a proper explanation. In the end, it all comes down to learning over and over what’s best for you and your baby!
What’s NOT A MYTH after pregnancy? It’s the postpartum belly! Bellefit postpartum girdles were made especially for women after they’ve given birth, who need that extra boost of confidence which usually becomes “lost” after pregnancy.
Sources
https://www.healthxchange.sg/women/pregnancy/pregnancy-food-myths-busted
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32033409
https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/131/2/421S/4686960https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/is-it-safe/hot-tubs-during-pregnancy/
https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/is-it-safe-to-use-a-sauna-or-jacuzzi-if-i-am-pregnant/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/pregnancy-and-hot-tubs/faq-20057844
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/pregnancy-glow/faq-20115104
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/pregnancy-glow/faq-20115104
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5715231/
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https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/shows.php?shows=0_qtd1io6q
https://www.medicinenet.com/is_it_a_boy_or_girl__myths_and_facts/views.htm
https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/toxoplasmosis-a-to-z
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16407788
https://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/circadian-rhythms.aspx
https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(05)00005-0/abstract