Pregnancy is a transformative and exciting time in a person's life that brings about many physical, emotional, and social changes. It is the state of being in which a woman carries a developing embryo or fetus within her uterus, usually for about 9 months. During pregnancy, the body undergoes many changes as it prepares for childbirth and motherhood, such as hormonal shifts, weight gain, and changes in appetite, sleep, and energy levels. Pregnancy can also be a time of great joy, anticipation, and bonding with the growing baby, as well as a time of challenges and adjustments for both the pregnant person and their partner or support system. Understanding the basics of pregnancy is crucial for anyone planning to start a family or support someone who is pregnant, and can help ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy for both the mother and baby.
- Myth: The shape of the woman’s belly indicates the gender of the baby. If the belly is lying low it’s a boy and if it is elevated or high it’s a girl.
Fact: The shape of the belly depends on the woman’s physiological
attributes such as muscle tone, the strength of abdominal muscles, the number of
childbirths, the structure of uterine muscles, etc., and has nothing to do with the
baby’s gender.
- Myth: Drinking saffron milk and eating oranges makes the complexion of the baby fair.
Fact: The complexion of the child has nothing to do with what the
mother eats and everything to do with the baby’s genetics.
- Myth: It is okay to drink a glass of wine every now and then.
Fact: No concrete study has yet been conducted to establish a
safe level of alcohol consumption for a pregnant woman. Alcohol can be very
harmful to the fetus and thus one must avoid it at all costs.
- Myth: Sex during pregnancy can cause miscarriage.
Fact: A pregnant woman can have an active sexual life as long as
she is comfortable with it, it would not harm the baby.
- Myth: If an expecting woman watches a lunar eclipse, the baby may be born with a cleft lip.
Fact: A cleft lip may occur due to some medications or genetic
factors, but what the mother sees or does not see certainly does not have any
role to play.
- Myth: All pregnant women’s skin glows during pregnancy aka the “pregnancy glow”.
Fact: While it is true that most women have much healthier and
brighter-looking skin during pregnancy due to increased blood circulation, it
is not true for everyone. Many pregnant women often experience acne breakouts
and other skin problems.
- Myth: Pregnant women should not be in contact with cats.
Fact: While you will not be required to avoid cats completely,
this is partially accurate. An infection called toxoplasmosis may get
transmitted from a virus that cat feces carry. As a result, it's advisable not
to clean your cat's litter box to avoid contracting the infection.
- Myth: It is a common belief that if the pregnant woman experiences regular heartburn, the baby will have a lot of hair on its scalp.
Fact: The volume and type of hair a child is born with are
completely dependent on the genetic makeup of the baby and this claim has no
scientific basis.
- Myth: Consuming copious amounts of ghee or butter during the last months of pregnancy makes the delivery smoother as the ghee would contract the uterus and make the pelvis softer.
Fact: How smooth a delivery goes is affected by a number of
factors such as the size of the fetus and its position, however, the amount of
ghee and butter consumed is not one of them and has no effect whatsoever.
- Myth: Exercise during pregnancy can be harmful to the baby.
Fact: Light or moderate exercise is often recommended as it has
many health benefits, including preparing your body for delivery. However,
it is true that overworking yourself or exercising against your doctor’s advice
can prove to be harmful. Therefore, consult your doctor before beginning any
sort of exercise.
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