If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, there are a lot of myths and old wives tales out there you may have to deal with. Many people will tell you tall stories and myths regarding your baby and it's development, and sometimes it can be hard to extract the fact from the fiction. Below is the 4 biggest pregnancy myths out there, with the scientific research answering the myth.
1. An ultrasound is the only way to determine the sex of your baby - There are a few different pregnancy myths regarding how to determine the sex of your baby. They range from whether you are carrying high or low, performing a home urine test or what cravings you have. None of these myths though have any substance to them. The only way to determine the sex of your new baby is to have an ultrasound performed by your doctor.
2. The myth of eating for two - Many women use this as an excuse to eat as much food as they can. In reality you are not eating for two adults, and some health professionals claim that a pregnant women may only need to increase her calories by between 300-400 calories per day. This means that if you are pregnant, it doesn't necessarily mean you will gain heaps of weight during pregnancy. It has also been noted that overweight women can actually stay the same or even lose weight during pregnancy.
3. No level of alcohol when pregnant is safe - Some myths surround the fact that a little bit of alcohol is ok when pregnant. The reality is no alcohol should be consumed whilst pregnant as it can damage your growing baby in many ways. But don't panic if you have had a big night and find you are pregnant a few weeks later, as the majority of damage occurs from regular binge drinking.
4. Danger of household appliances - An old wives tale has surrounded the danger of televisions, microwaves and computers around a pregnant mother. Science has shown however that the radiation produced from these devices is extremely miniscule and highly unlikely to harm your developing baby.
With these tips in mind, you will now be able to set people straight when they hand out pregnancy advice. If you are at all concerned however with your babies development, please visit your doctor to obtain professional advice.
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