In today’s day and age, information is right at our fingertips. Whenever we’re curious about anything, we just enter a quick search which yields a quick answer. This can be extremely helpful but also very overwhelming—like when you’re newly expecting and doing your best to safely grow your baby over the next several months. With a search, you’ll find numerous do’s and don’ts online but soon see guidance varies from source to source. Then there are the experienced moms and grandmas that mean well but may have outdated information or hold onto myths they swore by when they were pregnant. To help clear up some of the cloudiness of things you may hear during your pregnancy, we have debunked a few pregnancy myths for you.
#1 Limit exercise
This is a trickier one thanks to the various fitness levels women begin with as they begin their pregnancy, but exercise really does your pregnant body and growing baby good! With my first, I loved going to my prenatal Pilates class and walking our new puppy. With my last two pregnancies, I kept up running until my last trimesters. According to WhatToExpect.com, mothers as well as their babies enjoy significant benefits when expectant mothers make exercise a priority, including reducing the risks of complications during both pregnancy and birth, speeding up your recovery period after delivery, keeping constipation at bay, lowering your blood pressure and easing any back and pelvic pain you may experience. Benefits also include boosting your mood, fighting fatigue and experiencing better sleep. If you’re new to an exercise routine, start slowly and talk with your doctor to make a plan but remember that anything that raises your heartrate and engages your muscles counts. That includes walking, jogging, yoga and dance—but it’s best to avoid contact sports or activities where you could fall while pregnant, such as biking, skiing, or horseback riding.
#2 Deli meat … should I eat?
This one requires a little more sifting of information before you decide what to lunch on. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Pregnant women are 10 times more likely to get Listeriosis than the general population.” This bacteria-caused illness afflicts with vomiting and diarrhea and can lead to serious dehydration. Listeriosis also can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or preterm labor. Clearly, you’ll want to evaluate your food options carefully while you’re pregnant! To help prevent getting Listeria, the ACOG offers this guidance: “Avoid eating the following items while you are pregnant: unpasteurized milk and foods made with unpasteurized milk, including soft cheeses; hot dogs and luncheon meats, unless they are heated until steaming hot just before serving; refrigerated pâté and meat spreads; refrigerated smoked seafood; unwashed raw produce such as fruits and vegetables. It’s also wise to avoid all raw and undercooked seafood, eggs, meat, and poultry while you are pregnant. Do not eat sushi made with raw fish (cooked sushi is safe). Cooking and pasteurization are the only ways to kill Listeria.” So if you’re craving a sub sandwich, it’s best to order a grilled chicken or meatball sub instead.
#3 I get to eat for two!
Your belly may be growing, but that doesn’t mean you throw restraint to the wind and pad on the pounds. In fact, you may need to rein in your eating habits and change your mindset. According to AmericanCollegofObstetriciansandGynecologists.org, “The popular saying is that pregnant women ‘eat for two,’ but now we know that it’s dangerous to eat twice your usual amount of food during pregnancy. Instead of ‘eating for two,’ think of it as eating twice as healthy. If you are pregnant with one fetus, you need an extra 340 calories per day starting in the second trimester (and a bit more in the third trimester). That's roughly the calorie count of a glass of skim milk and half a sandwich. Women carrying twins should consume about 600 extra calories a day, and women carrying triplets should take in 900 extra calories a day.” So feel free to reward yourself occasionally with those fries or ice cream for growing a whole human with your body—but all in moderation for the health of both you and your baby.
#4 Can I clean the litter box or do I get to assign that chore to someone else?
Let someone else take this chore off your list! If the chore still falls on you, take extra safety precautions and you should be fine. The ACOG gives the scoop on why litter boxes can be a threat and how to protect yourself and your baby: “If you do have a cat who goes outdoors or eats prey, have someone else take over daily cleaning the litter box. This will keep you away from any cat feces. If you have an indoor cat who only eats cat food and doesn’t have contact with outside animals, your risk of toxoplasmosis is very low. Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a parasite that lives in soil. You can become infected by eating raw or undercooked meat or unwashed vegetables or by coming into contact with animal feces, especially from cats that go outdoors. If you are infected for the first time while you are pregnant, you can pass the disease on to your baby. Toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects, including hearing loss, vision problems, and intellectual disability. Make sure that you eat well-cooked meat and wear gloves while gardening or handling unwashed vegetables. If you have an outdoor cat that uses a litter box, have someone else empty it. If you must empty the litter box, use gloves and wash your hands well after doing so.”
#5 Heartburn means your baby will have luscious locks!
According to WhatToExpect.com, “Implausible as it sounds, it seems that the hormones responsible for heartburn are the same ones that cause fetal hair to sprout. Early in pregnancy, your body produces large amounts of the hormones progesterone and relaxin, which tend to relax smooth muscle tissues throughout your body, including those in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. As a result, food sometimes moves more slowly through your system, resulting in indigestion issues of all kinds, from that bloated, gassy feeling to heartburn. This may be uncomfortable for you, but it's actually beneficial for your baby. This digestive slowdown allows for better absorption of nutrients into your bloodstream and subsequently through the placenta and into your baby.” Personally, this myth was debunked by all three of my babies! My heartburn progressively worsened with each of my three pregnancies to where I was finally prescribed some medicine for relief, and all three of my babies had very little to no hair at all! If you experience uncomfortable heartburn, try some foods like milk, almonds and papaya while avoiding triggering foods like anything spicy. Keep some over-the-counter antacids on hand to relieve symptoms, too.
You have a lot of things to keep in mind while your baby continues to grow inside your body, but taking your health seriously and having great communication with your health care providers should ensure the best outcome for both you and your baby. And, as with all things in motherhood, trust your gut as well!
Stephanie Loux is the mother of Layla, 11, Mason, 9, and Slade, 6, and remembers feeling overwhelmed with all of the do’s and don’ts during her pregnancies and referring often to her copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting.
As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.