As a society, we have countless myths surrounding the no-longer misunderstood process of pregnancy

and birth. Some of those myths are fun, while others lead to confusion and misunderstanding about our
biology. Here are the most common pregnancy myths and the science behind the truth.

Myth: Morning sickness only happens in the morning

Truth: Nausea (and/or vomiting) during pregnancy can occur at any time of day, due to changes in your
hormones. For most women, it's more common in the morning and begins to improve after 3 months.
But for some women, it's different

Myth: You Shouldn’t Exercise While Pregnant.

Exercise is good for you and your baby. But you may need to make a few modifications. Aerobic and
strength-training exercises are recommended as long as you don’t have any complications or health
issues.

Exercise helps you stay in shape. It can also help ease pain and prepare you for childbirth.

Myth: You have to eat for two

Sorry to break this one to you, but eating for two during pregnancy is a myth. In fact, there’s no
evidence to prove this myth and overeating can result in maternal weight gain and child obesity. Your
baby will get everything they need from you for the first six months without you needing any extra
calories. Once you get to the last trimester, you may need about 200 extra calories (on top of the 2,000
daily recommendation), per day.

Myth: If you want to have twins, eat twin bananas!

Many of the elderly believe that if you eat twin bananas, it increases your chances of having multiples.
However, thanks to modern medicine, parents nowadays know that multiples are the result of genetic
issues:

(a) One egg is released but splits into two, thus identical twins are made. This can occur with or without
fertility drugs.

(b) Multiple eggs are released or there is more than one ovulation. Both (or more) eggs are fertilized and
you have fraternal twins. This can happen with or without fertility drugs.

Myth: If you're tummy is pointed, you have a boy. If it's round, you have a girl.
Contrary to popular belief, the shape of your baby bump does NOT determine the sex of your baby.
Instead, your stomach taking on the shape it has is determined by several factors such as muscle tone,
uterine tone and the position the baby is in.

If you think you're carrying a boy because your stomach is low, than hate to break it to you, but it's
actually because your baby dropped lower into the delivery because you're closer to delivery. If you
want an accurate means of knowing the gender of your baby, then ask your doctor about having an
ultrasound.

Myth: Don’t eat adobo or dark chocolate or else your baby will inherit the color

Comparable to the "if you see something ugly, your baby will be ugly too!" myth, the things that you see
or eat do NOT necessarily determine your child's physical features. Going back to your high school
Biology class, your baby's physical features will be greatly determined by genetics.

The biological parents give their unborn child a total of 46 chromosomes. 23 from the mother and the
other set of 23 chromosomes are from the father. In Biology (if you still remember), we studied about
chromosomes, and that dominant gene always beats out the recessive one. Therefore, the baby's looks
depend on the dominant gene.

Myths and practices during labor and delivery

Common Myths About Labor And Delivery

Birth- the thing that brings everyone into this world yet remains something few like to get into great
detail about. Stories of labor and delivery may be told among close friends and family, but there are still
several misconceptions that surround one of the most magical functions of a woman’s body.

While giving birth is a very personal and deeply emotional process, the truth about the process is out
there for anyone to discover. Here are the list of common myths about labor and delivery to help you
better understand fact versus fiction.

Myth: Wide Hips Make For An Easier Birth

Have you ever heard of the term “childbearing hips?” Essentially, this term was coined for women with
wider hips, as it is thought to make childbirth easier. However, having wide hips does not always equate
to seamless labor and delivery. Factors that can affect your birth experience regardless of hip width
include the baby’s size, the baby’s position, your overall health, and the strength of your contractions.
So, can wide hips make for an easy birth? In some cases, yes! Yet, the width of a woman’s hips is not the
sole determinant of an easy or less painful birth.

Myth: Your Second Delivery Will Be Less Painful

When having a second child, some women experience a similar labor experience, while others may
experience something very different. The good news is that the cervix, pelvic floor muscles, and birth
canal all have been stretched by the first baby the second time around. However, this does not mean
that your contractions before and after are not as painful or that you’re less likely to experience
complications. In fact, you may experience more pain with your second pregnancy due to your uterus
losing so much muscle tone with your first labor and delivery.
Myth: Once you have a caesarean, you can’t give birth vaginally
Truth: Many women will have the option of having a vaginal birth after a previous caesarean. It can
depend on the reasons for your previous caesarean, and your health during this pregnancy.

Myth: Mums instantly bond with their baby

Truth: Skin to skin contact between mum and baby soon after birth can help the bonding process, but
not all women feel bonded to their baby straight away. It can take time and you shouldn’t try to rush or
feel like you are doing anything wrong.

Last message: Thank you for that interesting information. This helps me better understand myths versus
truth.

Ways to Stay Healthy During Pregnancy

1. Eat healthy foods.

Eating healthy foods is especially important for pregnant women. Your baby needs nutrients to grow
healthy and strong in the womb. Eat plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, calcium-rich
foods and foods low in saturated fat.

2. Take a daily prenatal vitamin.

Taking a daily prenatal multivitamin can help ensure you get the right amount of the key nutrients you
and your baby need during pregnancy. These include folic acid, iron and calcium.

3. Stay hydrated.

A pregnant woman’s body needs more water than it did before pregnancy. Aim for eight or more cups
each day.

4. Go to your prenatal care checkups.

Women should get regular prenatal care from a health care provider. Moms who don’t get regular
prenatal care are much more likely to have a baby with low birth weight or other complications. If
available, consider group prenatal care.

5. Get moving.

Daily exercise or staying active in other ways can help you stay healthy during pregnancy. Check with
your doctor to find out how much physical activity is right for you.
10. Get plenty of sleep.

Ample sleep (7 to 9 hours) is important for you and your baby. Try to sleep on your left side to improve
blood flow.

11. Reduce stress.

Reducing stress is crucial for improving birth outcomes. Pregnant women should avoid, as much as they
can, stressful situations. Recruit your loved ones to help you manage stress in your life.

Stay clean

Frequent hand washing can protect you from infections

Birth- the thing that brings everyone into this world yet remains something few like to get into great
detail about. Stories of labor and delivery may be told among close friends and family, but there are still
several misconceptions that surround one of the most magical functions of a woman’s body.