Birth is one of life’s great miracles. Although we now have plenty of modern science to help us through pregnancy and the recovery period, for most of human history women were on their own when it came to giving birth. In general, we would sneak away to somewhere private with a few helpers and eventually a baby would come out. As part of the community approach to birth, a lot of “folk wisdom” has spread about pregnancy and health—basically a lot of pregnancy myths that are still around today.
Here are 14 of the most common pregnancy myths that we’re here to debunk.
1. It’s easier to give birth if you have “birthing hips” (wide hips).
This myth is usually just based on gossip, namely that if a woman seems to have curves or wide hips then she must also be good at having children. This is incorrect because exterior hip size doesn’t necessarily correlate with the size of the hole in one’s pelvis (which a baby must pass through). On top of this, a baby can be smaller or larger depending on many factors so even the size of the pelvic inlet isn’t the only variable here.
2. You can tell from belly shape if it’s going to be a girl or a boy.
Where this one came from is uncertain, but many people claim to have a sixth sense when it comes to a woman’s belly which just isn’t possible to have. The only things that affect the exterior look of a pregnant woman’s belly are the size of the baby and how it is positioned in her womb.
3. Too many ultrasounds are bad for the baby.
Unlike other medical imaging technologies, ultrasounds rely on high-frequency sound waves rather than radiation to see what the baby looks like. So far, there is no medical evidence to show that prenatal ultrasounds harm the baby or the mother.
4. You can’t lie on your stomach while you’re pregnant because it will hurt the baby.
Although this one is well-intentioned, it’s mostly not true. The main thing to pay attention to is personal comfort—if the mother is comfortable lying on her stomach, the baby is likely also comfortable. The baby is secured deep in the uterus behind lots of muscle, so lying on one’s stomach is ok, within reason.
5. You can’t run during pregnancy.
This is also untrue. Assuming there are no complications in the pregnancy, it’s perfectly safe for a woman to run during all three trimesters of her pregnancy. Still, those with medical complications or who have no experience running should consult with a doctor.
6. Morning sickness only happens in the morning and in the first trimester.
Of all the pregnancy symptoms, so-called “morning sickness” is one of the most common. Still, it’s also a bit of a misnomer—morning sickness can last beyond the first trimester in some cases. Moreover, it can happen at virtually any point throughout the day.
7. Pregnant women shouldn’t lift their arms above their head or they will risk strangling the baby.
Again, this one is well-intentioned but completely false. The truth is that your exterior movements have very little to no effect on the movement of the umbilical cord. In fact, the case of babies being born with the cord around their neck are not uncommon and are only rarely a danger to the mother or fetus. In any event, the main cause of umbilical cord movement is how the baby moves around in the womb.
8. Pregnant women shouldn’t have cats.
The origin of this myth comes from the fact that some cats can carry toxoplasmosis, a rare ailment that can cause birth defects in children. Getting rid of your cat is a little extreme—on the other hand, though, you may want to avoid cleaning kitty litter and stay away from raw or undercooked meat (all of which are toxoplasmosis risks).
9. The fetus isn’t affected by what happens outside.
Interestingly enough, this one is not true! Your baby is still very sensitive to things going on in the outside world. They can sense light coming in, they can hear sounds, they can taste the food you taste through the placenta. They can even have their own dreams! While there are no hard guidelines here, remember to be mindful of this throughout your pregnancy.
10. Pregnant women shouldn’t eat any sweets.
Although the general idea that pregnant women should eat healthily is true, there is an exception to the no sweets rule: chocolate. Studies have shown that women who ate chocolate every day throughout pregnancy had much happier, less fearful babies. They also had a 40% lower risk of developing preeclampsia, a high blood pressure condition. Of course, quality of chocolate matters and dark is best!
11. Women feel happy during pregnancy.
Although women can be grateful or happy to be pregnant, this is obviously false: pregnant women can have the full range of human emotions which can sometimes mean depression or anxiety. Anyone who isn’t feeling their best should not be alarmed as these symptoms are sometimes normal! For best results, talk to your doctor about how you’re feeling.
12. Children become overweight because of genetic dispositions or family eating habits, not because of anything during pregnancy.
This one is startling because it’s also not true. As it turns out, women who gain more than the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy have four times the normal risk of having an overweight child. Unfortunately, this trend can continue into adolescence and adulthood as well. Be sure to be as healthy as possible!
13. It’s ok to have the occasional drink during pregnancy.
The main fear here is that a child will develop Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). FASD is a severe disorder which can cause physical, mental and neurological defects that last a lifetime—and doctors don’t know exactly how much alcohol is necessary to cause it. For that reason, it’s probably best to avoid alcohol altogether.
14. A C-section is an easy way to avoid the hassle of a natural birth.
Although women may request that doctors give them a Caesarian section rather than go through with a full birth, a C-section also has risks of its own. Although it may be less painful in the short-term, it can cause more pain later and can also lead to further complications and increased risk to the mother in the short-term as well. This procedure was originally only used when the baby or mother’s life was at risk and doctors want it to stay that way.
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