1- The position or heart beat of the baby can predict its gender.
Upon researching this one I came across the legend that boys were carried low on the pelvis. Five minutes later I found another claiming that boys were carried high. The truth is there are only 3 proven methods of predicting a baby’s gender. Ultrasound is often accurate however if the baby is blocking the scan, amniocentesis and chorionic villi sampling are very accurate.
The shape of your bump depends on how far along your pregnancy is, how the baby is sitting in the womb and the mum’s body shape. As for heart beat, this will also alter depending on how developed it is and how active the baby has been at the time the reading was taken.
2- You can’t eat cheese.
This one is accurate of some cheeses. Brie, Feta and any other soft surface ripened cheeses can contain bacteria called listeria which can severely harm or kill your developing fetus if transmitted from an infected mother. Hard cheeses do not contain these bacteria and should be safe to eat. Other foods to avoid – chilled seafood, prepackaged salad, cold meats and cooked chicken. Fresh and canned food are usually safe.
3- Lying on your back can harm an unborn baby.
Lying on your back is only harmful if you are in labor. During labor, a major artery that runs under your uterus can be squashed and add stress to the baby as it is being born. A healthy baby can usually endure this without any lasting effects however if the baby is pre-term, overdue or otherwise stressed it can compromise its health. If you are able during labor, try to stand, sit or walk around.
It’s not wise to purposefully sleep on your back towards the end of the pregnancy however if you roll onto your back and you do somehow manage you compress an artery, don’t fret, even asleep your body would feel uncomfortable and shift around until the feeling went away.
4- Exercise during pregnancy can harm your baby.
Although it is wise to forgo activities like horse-riding or boxing, light exercise does wonders for your body during pregnancy. Walking is an excellent way to go as is aquaerobics and swimming as it supports your weight in the water which means less strain on joints that might already be stressed. Yoga or pilates is also a good option. Studies have shown that exercise during pregnancy can ease labour, reduce post-natal depression as well as help lose that post pregnancy baby belly.
It is, however, wise to consult a doctor before making any big changes to your exercise routine.
5- You have to eat for two.
Untrue. When the pregnancy begins the fetus is very small, hardly needing anything. Towards the end of the pregnancy you should aim to consume around 300 extra calories a day, hardly a whole other persons worth!
6- Holding your hands above your head will strangle your child with its umbilical cord.
Believe it or not, it is very common that a baby is birthed with a cord wrapped around its neck or other part of the body. If your fetus is particularly active, it can even be tied into a knot. Most of the time, the baby will have no lasting problems.
There is nothing that a mother does that can directly affect whether the cord is wrapped or not. One of the contributing factors is how long the cord is, which, is usually longer the more active your baby is while inside the womb.
This tale is thought to originate from back when the woman of the house would have many taxing chores to do, and resting during the pregnancy would ensure a healthier baby however these days, with the convenience of modern day appliances, heavy chores are rarely needed.
7- You can’t be around cats while you’re pregnant.
This myth actually has some truth to it. Cat feces can contain bacteria called toxoplasmosis which can cause serious illness in adults and deformities in unborn children. So it should be safe to pet you cat, but get the hubby to clean the litter tray!
8- You can’t have sex during pregnancy.
Unless you have a high-risk pregnancy, there is no reason why you should not have sex during pregnancy. In fact a heightened blood flow to the pelvic region may make it more pleasurable!
9- It’s ok to have a glass of wine if you’re pregnant.
Anything you put into your blood stream will also go into your baby (who is a lot smaller than you) and at the moment it is not known how small amounts of alcohol affect a developing fetus. Most doctors recommend no more than two standard drinks a day however some women prefer to be safe and drink nothing.
10- Putting your legs in the air after sex can help you conceive.
There is absolutely no evidence to support this fact. Other things like healthy eating and quitting smoking (if you do) will help when trying to conceive and will look a lot less silly too!
Read more about parenting australia and pregnancy preparation
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