Is it an amusing old wives’ tale, or is there any truth to what you’ve heard? Myths about childbirth are as ancient as humans, but knowing what to believe and what to laugh about can make a big difference in your stress levels and birth plan.
At Holistic OB/GYN & Midwifery in Passaic Park and Ridgewood, New Jersey, our caring team provides attentive, personalized care, so you can focus on delivering your baby. In this blog on childbirth, we dispel some of the myths and provide the facts you need.
This is a very popular myth, so you might be surprised to find out there isn’t any truth to it. In fact, according to WebMD, women only need an extra 300 calories per day to encourage a baby’s healthy growth.
That adds up to about an extra cup of cereal or two scrambled eggs. Even though eating for two is a myth, you still want to make sure you eat a healthy, balanced, and wholesome diet. The average woman should gain about 25-35 pounds during pregnancy.
If you’ve heard that caffeine can cause low birth weight, a preterm birth, or even a miscarriage, you can rest assured that it’s a myth. Caffeine causes no damage in moderate amounts. Experts agree that 200 milligrams or less of caffeine each day won’t increase the risk of miscarriage or anything else. You can still enjoy your coffee or tea without worry.
Having sex while pregnant can’t hurt your baby, because the baby is well-protected in the amniotic sac. Sex and intimacy between you and your partner are good for your physical and mental health throughout pregnancy. Many studies show that sex can relieve stress and help you bond with your partner. Its physical benefits can’t be understated, either. Sex can help boost your immune system, improve your heart health, and boost your fitness.
You’ve probably heard the myth that carrying high means you’re having a girl, and if your baby bump is lower, you’re having a boy. While it can be fun to speculate based on physical attributes, your bump isn’t actually a crystal ball.
However, there is one fact you might be able to detect based on the location of a pregnant belly. If a woman carries high, it might mean that it’s her first pregnancy. Abdominal muscles stretch with each pregnancy, so a high baby bump is probably only an indication that a woman is a first-time mother.
This is another myth. It’s said that if you experience a lot of heartburn during pregnancy, your baby will enter the world with a head full of hair. Heartburn originates in your stomach and not your uterus, so this one is mostly a fairy tale.
However, it may have a grain of truth. According to a very small study in 2006, researchers found a connection between heartburn during pregnancy and newborn hair. This is still classified as a myth, though, because much more research is needed to prove this claim.
Giving birth is an adventure, and our experts at Holistic OB/GYN & Midwifery want to guide you on this exciting journey from beginning to end. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone today.
