Pregnancy is vastly different for every mama, but we still seem to encounter funny myths and wives’ tales regarding those nine months. Here are five common myths about pregnancy, busted!
You can tell what you’re having by the shape of your belly
False! Some say you’re having a boy if you carry wide. Some say the same if you carry forward. Some argue that how high or low your belly looks is an indicator of the baby’s sex. Again, there’s no science to these guesses at all.
And while we’re on the topic of pregnancy gender myths, I’m afraid you won’t get very reliable information by dangling jewelry over your belly, either. Anyone’s guess is as good as 50%.
If your mom or sister had difficult pregnancies/labors, so will you
False! This was a hard one for me to reconcile, since genetic patterns are actually scientific. Unfortunately, just because your mom had super easy pregnancies, or went into labor early/late, struggled to get pregnant or suffered multiple miscarriages, or had really long or fast labors doesn’t mean you will too. In fact, I’ve had births and pregnancies more similar to my husband’s mother than to my own mom.
Your body and your baby are unique, so your fertility, pregnancy, and birth will be, too.
If you had morning sickness with one gender, you won’t with the other
False! Many people think that if they had morning sickness with one gender, they either won’t have any with the other gender, or it will be much worse. There isn’t always rhyme or reason to why we feel like nauseous garbage cans with some babies, super tired with some, and are perfectly energetic with others. It has nothing to do with baby’s gender.
I had terrible morning sickness the whole first trimester with my first baby (a boy), and absolutely abominable morning sickness for the first trimester (followed by extreme fatigue for the rest of gestation) with my second baby(also a boy). Many women experience worse symptoms with their daughters. There’s no sense in any of it!
You’re eating for two now
False! Well, true. But you’re eating for one adult woman and one tiny fetus/baby, not two grown adults. Don’t use pregnancy as an excuse to binge, or you’ll risk health problems like gestational diabetes and could have a tough time shedding the weight after birth. Eat several small meals throughout the day to quell nausea, eat healthy calories in balance (protein, produce, carbohydrates, fats, sugars), and remember that feeling hungry between meals won’t cause pregnancy complications. You don’t need to be full 100% of the time.
You’ll have outrageous cravings like the old classic, pickles and ice cream
Maybe. I guess I should say you won’t necessarily have odd cravings, but you might. When I’m pregnant, I go for really strong flavors. Stinky cheeses, extra mustard on sandwiches, vinegary salad dressings, briny pickles, and the like. Some women gravitate toward bland foods, and some crave sugar. Some want weird combinations (like whipped cream on roast beef), and some center themselves with a particular food group (like meats and proteins).
Lots of women (and even some medical professionals) believe that pregnancy cravings are often a sign of a deficiency, and that if your body is telling you to eat something, it’s because there’s something in that food that will benefit you and your growing baby. Of course, it’s important to use common sense and moderation, but if you want to eat a whole jar of spicy green beans, this mama won’t judge.
While most myths regarding pregnancy are relatively harmless, it’s important to do your research and learn to discern between myth and fact. If you ever have a question, you can ask your doctor or midwife for guidance.
Featured Image Credit: 100 Layer Cakelet