Dos and Dont around pregnancy
You are now embarking on a beautiful journey, full of ups and downs and all sorts of unwarranted advice and myths being whispered in your ears, as if talking out loud about it might be too scandalous for some. Let us help you out with busting some common myths and hopefully making the journey easier for you.
Don’t Exercise during pregnancy?
This statement is the biggest red flag at any point! Exercise is extremely vital to ensure good health of both mom and the baby. It helps you remain fit and active, and helps with labor and delivery, making it a smoother and easier process.
No caffeine while you’re pregnant: True or False?
Well, how are we supposed to survive then!? In the past women were advised against caffeine ( present in coffee). However experts have now said that consuming about 200mg of caffeine per day is perfectly fine, which is equivalent to about a 12 ounce cup of coffee. It is important to remember that certain sodas and chocolates contain caffeine too, so keep the total consumption during the day within the prescribed limits.
Morning sickness just occurs in the morning: A Myth
Now this can pose a nuisance at any point during the day, and it might be due to certain smells or food items. In most cases it occurs in the morning, hence the name, but that doesn’t mean you wont be sick at any other time. It usually wanes after the first trimester. Crackers and toast might help settle your stomach.
Guessing the baby’s sex during pregnancy
Well, a mother’s instinct while carrying the baby is almost always right but that doesn’t mean that it’s a hundred percent accurate. Some old wive’s tales suggest that if you are carrying high, it’s a boy, and if you’re carrying low it’s a girl. Trust us, that is not the case. Unless you get the sex determined by you gynaecologist, there is no sure way of knowing the gender of the baby.
Eating for two
Eating for two is not accurate at all. Yes you might need to increase your calorie intake but your regular consumption should not be doubled. Up until the first trimester you need to consume your regular diet, and then increase the calorie intake slowly and steadily.
Baby can develop allergies due to certain foods: Find out how?
Your baby will not develop an allergy to Dairy products or peanuts if you consume them. There is no evidence to prove that cutting out these foods will help your baby in not being allergic to them. If you avoid them you might miss out on some vital nutrients!
However there are some foods you need to avoid due to the presence of harmful bacteria, like raw meat/fish, soft cheeses and unpasteurised milk.
Creams and butter will prevent stretch marks
No sort of creams or products like shea or cocoa butter can prevent stretch marks if they are a part of your genetic makeup. These do help reduce them as they will keep the skin of your stomach moisturized, soft and supple, and might help the marks fade faster post birth.
Happy and glowing all the time: is it true motherhood helps with skin?
People usually comment that pregnant moms have a glow about them. This is usually true but it might not be so all the time. There are several hormonal changes going on in your body right now so you might go through several mood swings throughout the journey and it is perfectly fine to feel not so happy at times. You don’t need to overthink about why you are feeling sad, annoyed or anxious at times. Even getting support from a trained counselor can help create a happier pregnancy environment for you. So every time someone panics around you or you hear too much conflicting advice coming your way, know that it has nothing to do with you, is about people’s own experiences or things they’ve heard second hand. Your own connect with yourself, a sense of steadiness and calm within you and your own due diligence and research will take you all the way with confidence.
