Myths and Facts About Pregnancy Every Woman Should Know

Pregnancy is a tremendous experience for many women. After all, you’re creating a new human being. That is an impressive level of strength and power on your body’s part! Pregnancy can also be a delightful and exciting time. Your loved ones and friends will shower you with joys and blessings while you happily dream of the bright future your little one will have when it is born. But for all of its joyfulness, pregnancy is also tricky and complex as it can dramatically change one physically and mentally.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed while reading a pregnancy guide on what you should and shouldn’t do to ensure good pregnancy. Everyone appears to have their tips and methods for taking care of yourself and your growing baby. Whether it’s from well-meaning family members or friends, all too often they will feed you with inaccurate information unintentionally, leaving you to distinguish reality from fiction.

Facts and myths can be difficult to decipher as a myth is a widely held but false belief or idea while a fact is something that is known or proven to be true. But how do you separate myth from fact? Let’s debunk some of the most common myths around pregnancy today!

1. Myth: It is not safe for a pregnant woman to exercise.
   This popular misconception claims that if you get pregnant, you should avoid exercises such as running, stretching, and other similar activities. However, the misconception that exercising might harm your baby is mainly untrue.

   Fact: Exercise is helpful during pregnancy.
   While high-contact sports and intense exercise should be avoided during pregnancy, low to moderate activity provides several health advantages. Staying active throughout pregnancy benefits both you and your little one – assisting with weight growth and contributing to better labour and delivery. Women who were active before getting pregnant can generally keep doing what they were doing, with some adaptations to accommodate a developing belly. If you haven’t been exercising before, walking is a great way to start with. Engaging in light-to-moderate exercise during pregnancy is ideal.



2. Myth: Morning sickness is just a morning thing.
   During pregnancy, more than 70% of women suffer nausea and/or vomiting. The phrase “morning sickness” comes from the fact that symptoms such as exhaustion, nausea, and vomiting are more likely to appear early in the day. However, because it is caused by periodic hormonal shifts, this sick feeling is not restricted to the early hours and can occur at any time of day.

   Fact: It’s not uncommon to feel nauseous all day.
   Morning sickness can develop at any moment throughout the first several weeks of pregnancy. In more severe cases, nausea can last all day – but don’t worry – morning sickness usually goes away after the first trimester. There are some basic things you can do to take care of yourself during those first three months. Make sure you get plenty of rest and take deep breaths when needed to reduce nausea.



3. Myth: A woman cannot drink coffee during pregnancy.
   When you announce that you’re pregnant, many friends and family care too much that they point out all the foods and drinks that you should avoid. However, many assume that caffeine is dangerous too.

   Fact: Caffeine can be consumed in moderation by pregnant women.
   Women can still consume a cup of coffee each day, but their caffeine intake should be kept to 200mg or less. Go ahead and enjoy a cup of coffee if you’re feeling it, but remember, moderation is key!



4. Myth: You can’t be around cats while pregnant.
   Some say cats are off-limits. Many try to avoid coming into contact with cats because of a myth saying that cats cause an infection. However, there is no need to give away your pets when you become pregnant.

   Fact: Cats are safe, just avoid cat faeces.
   There is a disease called toxoplasmosis, a potentially fatal illness, that can be transmitted by cat faeces which can be harmful to your unborn baby and be infected. As a precaution, a pregnant lady should either change the litter herself or have someone else do it for her. Avoid stray cats, get your litter box replaced on a regular basis, keep your pets indoors, and avoid getting additional cats while you’re pregnant. During pregnancy, women do not need to avoid cats if they take this precaution.



5. Myth: You can’t be around cats while pregnant.
   You’ve been told a myth if you were advised to examine the position of the baby in your stomach, hold a wedding ring over your abdomen and see which way it rotates, or assess the sex based on how active the baby is. None of these methods can predict your child’s sex. An ultrasound, on the other hand, can provide you with actual images of the baby to aid you and your doctor in determining the gender.

   Fact: Voice change during pregnancy.
   It’s understandable that there might be some alterations with all the hormones rushing through a pregnant woman’s body. Hormones have long been recognized to affect the pitch of a woman’s voice. The increase in estrogen and progesterone can cause swelling of the vocal folds, resulting in the loss of certain higher notes and the appearance of lower ones.



6. Myth: You’re eating for two!
   Eating for two during pregnancy is a myth as it is a common expression that should not be taken literally; a pregnant lady does not require double the amount of food! In fact, tripling your calorie consumption might result in excessive weight gain, which can lead to complications later in the pregnancy. For the first six months, your kid will obtain all they require from you without you having to consume any more calories. A pregnant lady should consume only 200 more calories per day and concentrate on creating good eating habits.

   Fact: The uterus gets bigger when pregnant.
   A woman’s uterus is usually the size of orange before she gets pregnant. It can grow to be the size of a watermelon by the third trimester. During pregnancy, it can grow up to 500 times its original size.

The moral of the story is that pregnancy is difficult. For various people, it’s difficult in different ways. Some of the signs and symptoms are universal. You will experience bodily discomfort. You’ll be irritated. However, how you address these symptoms is entirely up to you and your body. There are many myths about pregnancy, some of which are based on false information or advice that can be detrimental. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. They can assist you in taking appropriate actions for a safe pregnancy and birth, as well as answer any concerns you may have regarding symptoms, problems, and what to anticipate.

While eating a well-balanced diet is still vital during pregnancy, it puts EXTRA demands on a few nutrients that can help in the growth of both you and your little one. Our EQUIMUM Pregnancy Formula is a convenient way to get the nutrients you need during your pregnancy, including folic acid, iron and calcium! Enjoy the pure organic richness with no artificial flavours and colours. Learn more about the nutritional information of our EQUIMUM Pregnancy Formula here.

Last but not least, congratulations on being a parent! 💙

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