Myths about pregnancy: What you should not believe!
There is no doubt that pregnancy is one of the most beautiful and complex stages that a woman can experience, but you must know the myths about pregnancy and avoid them. There are all kinds of stories about this stage and a lot of untruth hovers around them.
Certainly, there is also true advice that new mothers should learn from the experience of others, but you have to know how to differentiate between myths and reality. I invite you to discover what are those false practices that have spread over the years.
What are the most common myths about pregnancy?
There are different practices and fears depending on the culture and nationality in which you are, but in general the best known are the ones that I present below.
can't have sex
This is totally false, this myth has been spread on the basis that it can cause abortions or harm the fetus, but it is not. The baby's body is protected both by the cervix and by several layers that prevent any type of contact.
What is a logical and obvious truth is that as the pregnancy progresses, sexual intercourse will be much more uncomfortable and greater tact must be taken with this.
headstand
As strange as it sounds, there is a belief that if a woman stands on her head after intercourse, she is more likely to get pregnant. It is believed that this posture helps the sperm reach the egg better, but it is a lie.
There is no medical basis for this belief and it is a dangerous act that can cause accidents. On the other hand, experts suggest that lying down for 20 minutes after intercourse can help you conceive, as sperm stay in the body longer.
The mother must eat twice as much
There is a lot of confusion on this subject, since the idea is not that you eat in excess, but that you eat more regularly. During pregnancy you should eat a balanced diet that provides the greatest amount of nutrients possible, to her and the fetus.
But this does not mean that you should eat large amounts, what you should do is eat moderate portions, but throughout the day. Large portions on the contrary can cause stomach problems and weight problems.
you can't go to the pool
This sanitary measure has deprived many women of a good pool bath during pregnancy, which would be very pleasant to combat stress. And its restriction is based on the idea that it increases the risk of vaginal infection, but this is totally false.
The mucous buffer of the cervix completely protects the urinary tract from these types of infections, and the vaginal PH is another factor that keeps you safe when you are in a pool. So do not deprive yourself of taking a good bath if it provokes you.
Not satisfying the craving has consequences for the baby
There are those who claim that if a craving is not satisfied, the child will come out with spots or moles, and this is totally far from reality. It is true that cravings appear and are as strange as you can imagine, but this does not affect the fetus at all.
The cravings can be satisfied as long as they are not harmful foods, as some mothers give them things that are not at all healthy to eat and they cannot be allowed to eat them. In the same way, if the craving is not satisfied, nothing happens.
The size and shape of the belly determines the sex
If its shape is large, bulky and beaked it is a boy and if it is lower and rounded it is a girl. This is the popular diagnosis based on the shape and size of the pregnant woman's belly, but it is a matter of gambling, since it is not true.
There is no basis to support this diagnosis, each baby is totally different and the shape and intensity of the belly cannot determine its sex. It is not healthy to rely on this prediction, only a medical examination can truly determine the sex of the fetus.
Spicy food speeds up labor
If you are about to give birth and want to speed up the process, some suggest that eating spicy foods helps, but it is not a good idea. To begin with, it is not at all healthy to try to speed up childbirth and there is also no basis that indicates that spicy food helps this.
What it can cause is intestinal discomfort or quite uncomfortable stomach reactions, especially if you are not getting used to consuming this type of food.
You shouldn't exercise
Unless your doctor is the one who forbids it, you should not fall for this myth that is nothing but a big lie, based on ancient customs. Exercise benefits pregnancy, it is clearly demonstrated, practices and routines should only be moderated.
Exercise helps reduce pain, control weight and strengthens your muscles, which is useful at the time of childbirth. The most recommended are yoga, pilates and low-impact aerobics.
The level of nausea determines the sex of the child
If you feel very nauseated in early pregnancy, this indicates that it will be a girl and if not, this indicates that it will be a boy. This is another very false belief, since the reactions regarding the symptoms can be very varied, each pregnancy expresses itself differently.
The intensity of nausea and its appearance is indifferent to the sex of the fetus, so you cannot use it as a reference.
Just like these, there are many other beliefs that are totally untrue, and are just stories spread over time. Do not get carried away by the opinion of anyone, in terms of pregnancies always seek the opinion of experts and do not take risks.