5 Common Pregnancy Myths Debunked How to Avoid Pregnancy Pitfalls and Birth on Your Own Terms – Have you ever noticed that common pregnancy myths rarely start with women who have given birth? It often feels like experts, rather than women, are the definers of truth when it comes to fertility, pregnancy, and birth. From proper nutrition to exercise habits, women don’t rely on traditional wisdom as much as they turn to books and medical websites for guidance on how to get pregnant, carry a baby, and give birth.
What gives me pause is the conflicts of interest that many experts have in today’s world of paid studies and backroom perks. If we can’t trust the experts, where does that leave us? Though there’s a long list of pregnancy myths that I would love to see debunked, today I’ll examine five of the most common myths that mislead women and create problems where they don’t need to be.
Myth 1: “You’re eating for two!”
This myth gets me riled up. It feels manipulative to me – I’ll tell you why. During pregnancy, a woman’s body is going through natural changes. These changes may affect a woman’s appetite, libido, energy levels, immune system, etc. Women often have to establish new trust with their bodies amidst these changes.
When someone tells a woman, “You’re eating for two! Don’t overthink what you’re eating or how much!” it encourages women to enter into a fraught relationship with food that almost inevitably follows them into postpartum. When a pregnant woman feels drawn to eating a pint or more of ice cream, is her body really signaling a need for this high-fat, sweetened food, or does she indulge simply because she was encouraged to eat whatever whenever and worry about getting healthy again later?
Pregnancy is not a free license to eat junk food or to overeat. The female body is perfectly capable of signaling hunger during pregnancy, just as it does when a woman is not pregnant. You may increase your calorie intake slightly, but only by a little. A few extra healthy snacks per day will fill in the gap.
Myth 2: Coffee, chocolate, and alcohol are safe “in moderation.”
If you ask me, we have allowed ourselves to be convinced that small amounts of toxic substances are safe and even healthy. Pregnancy is no different. I think I know how it happened. Corporate interests don’t want their profits to plummet every time a woman gets pregnant, so they pay for “studies” that just so happen to show that their products are perfectly safe in moderation while a woman is creating life. This is false.
Alcohol in all forms and all amounts is hard on the liver, brain, and body. Sure, one glass of wine contains less alcohol than five bottles of beer or a martini. Does that make it healthy? Absolutely not!
Caffeine is no different whether consumed in a cup of coffee or as a handful of dark chocolate. Caffeine amps up and weakens the adrenal glands, making the body acidic. The adrenal glands are the primary engine of birth – you want them as strong as possible when it’s time for birth to avoid prolonged birth and medical intervention.
Myth 3: Sex during pregnancy is harmful for your baby
Sex during pregnancy can be some of the most pleasurable and fun you and your partner have ever had. Increased estrogen levels and blood flow to your reproductive system and genitalia mean that you may be more sensitive than ever in ways that surprise and delight.
Penetration will not harm the baby. The uterus is a well-protected, self-contained unit during pregnancy, and the body has several measures of protection to keep a fetus safe, including during intercourse.
One precaution for non-committed pregnant moms is to protect against any potential for sexually transmitted diseases during pregnancy, as these can cause serious birth complications. Don’t engage with any sexual partners whose status is unknown.
Myth 4: Avoid exercise during pregnancy
I can’t help but wonder whose idea this myth was or how it became mainstream because it feels like a theory an authoritative male expert would come up with to sound smart. Why would exercise be harmful to a normal, developing baby? Exercise is phenomenally supportive for the health of mothers, and it only serves a baby’s health.
It’s important to avoid high-impact activities during pregnancy and anything that creates a risk of falling or serious physical injury (no horseback riding or skiing, ladies!), but 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise daily is a wonderful routine to maintain during pregnancy. Yoga, light rebounding in the first and second trimesters, walking, biking in safe open spaces, rowing, swimming, and dancing are all beautiful ways to exercise your body during pregnancy.
I know women who worked full-time jobs on their feet for 40 hours a week up until days before giving birth to phenomenally healthy babies. Don’t let this misguided pregnancy myth hold you back from moving your body in ways that feel good for you.
Myth 5: Routine tests are necessary for peace of mind and healthy pregnancy
I don’t believe birth should be viewed as just another medical procedure alongside outpatient surgery and emergency room visits. Pregnancy and birth are natural processes that the female body is designed to carry out without medical intervention.
While we are fortunate to have the tools of modern medicine available to us, we have been encouraged to see regular medical checkups and testing as the only reliable way to gauge the health of our pregnancy and our developing babies. In many cases, doctors appear to downplay the risks in favor of getting ahead of potential congenital issues.
There are exposures like radiation that women should consider with procedures like ultrasounds. Tests like an amniocentesis carry serious health risks to a growing fetus. Diagnostic tests should not be treated lightly just because they are common. I don’t encourage anyone to rush into regular testing just for the sake of it.
RECLAIMING OUR VOICE AS WOMEN
I’d like to see more conversations among women and birthing practitioners who acknowledge that the experts don’t always have the answers. Some of what we accept as true is often myths and theories.
As a woman determined to empower other women, I encourage you to look to your greatest teachers: God, your intuition, your body, and the women you trust. As you tap into eternal wisdom innate in your being, you will become more attuned to what’s true and able to navigate around myths and misconceptions. I’m honored to help you find your voice in any way I can.
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