There are many myths surrounding pregnancy that are heard by those planning a pregnancy, or are already pregnant. There may be a very slight truth to some of these myths, but for the majority of them, there is no truth to what is heard.
Some of the more common pregnancy myths are:
The baby’s sex can be determined by the position used for sexual intercourse. There is no truth that a certain position will result in a specific sex – boy or girl. It is the father’s sperm carrying the X chromosome that fertilizes the egg that causes a daughter, or the Y chromosome that causes a son.
You can’t get pregnant the first time you have intercourse. Pregnancy can occur anytime that vaginal intercourse occurs without using a birth control method. The sperm and egg don’t know whether it’s the first time for intercourse or not.
I can’t get pregnant unless I sleep with someone. As above, pregnancy can occur anytime the egg and sperm connect. You can have sexual intercourse in a tub, shower, backseat of a car, sofa, or anywhere and still get pregnant.
The baby’s sex can be identified by the shape and size of your pregnant belly. The baby’s weight and positioning in the uterus determines how your belly will look to others. The common belief that a boy baby causes the mother to carry low or a girl baby causes the mother to carry high is absolutely false.
The baby’s heart rate is fast, so I am carrying a girl. The normal fetal heart rate is 120 – 160 beats per minute. Your baby’s heart rate will change periodically during your prenatal office visits without meaning it’s a girl or a boy. The baby’s gestational age and the mother’s activities will determine the baby’s heart rate.
I can’t hang my wash outside while I’m pregnant since it will cause my baby’s umbilical cord to wrap around his/her neck. The baby’s activity in mom’s uterus will determine where the cord goes, not what the mother does with her arms. Often, babies are born with a cord wrapped around his/her neck to varying degrees and there is nothing the mother can do to prevent this from happening.
My baby will have a lot of hair since I have unbelievable heartburn. As the baby grows, less room is available for food in mom’s stomach and pressure is moving upwards, increasing the possibility of stomach acid rising into the esophagus causing heartburn. Heartburn can be decreased by eating frequent smaller meals and not eating just before going to bed. If the heartburn is troublesome, speak with your healthcare provider about medication that may be used to provide you some comfort. It is not recommended to start taking any medications during pregnancy without discussing with your health care provider first.
It can feel overwhelming for many expectant mothers as they receive so much advice and information from well meaning friends, relatives and the internet. If you are unsure of anything that you hear or read, please speak with your health care provider.