When pregnant, you are likely to believe
even myths for the sake of your baby’s health. Many a times, wrong beliefs and
practices which have been passed on from one generation to the next become the
norm and are often forced upon on pregnant women by the elders of the house.
These do not really have any scientific basis but are based on hearsay.
Myth 1: Hanging pictures of beautiful babies on the wall
result in cute babies.
Fact: Looks and features of the newborn depend on
genetics. Hanging photos of cute babies does not ensure any particular features
in your baby. However, having good looking or positive pictures on the wall can
surely make the would-be mother feel good which is great for overall pregnancy
and well being.
Myth 2: Drinking coconut water after the seventh month
of pregnancy makes the baby’s head as large as the coconut.
Fact: This is completely false. Coconut water is a
good source of potassium and should be consumed in moderation for optimum gut
health. It will have no impact on the size of the baby’s head.
Myth 3: Drinking coconut water will result in the baby
having a lot of hair and the mother getting acidity.
Fact: Again, not true! The baby generally lies head
down in the third trimester and the acidity that the mother feels as a result of
her growing belly is actually in the upper abdomen and it is not due to coconut
or its water.
Myth 4: Eating something white first thing in the
morning will result in a fair-skinned baby.
Fact: No way! This is sheer myth. The colour of the
food you eat has no bearing on the complexion of your newborn. Like looks, it
too depends on your genetics.
Myth 5: One should not indulge in any activity during an
eclipse else the baby will be born with some deformity.
Fact: An eclipse is a natural phenomenon. It will
definitely not cause any defects or deformities in the baby. This does not mean
you look at one with the naked eye. General precautions need to be taken by
everyone, not just by pregnant women.
Myth 6: The shape of the stomach can help determine the
sex of the baby.
Fact: The stomach is shaped on how the baby lays in
the womb. Whether it is a girl or boy cannot be deciphered based on the shape.
Myth 7: The type of cravings a pregnant woman has can
determine the sex of the baby.
Fact: Pregnancy cravings are essentially due to
nutritional deficiencies in the body and not because it is a girl or boy. There
is no concrete proof that craving for a certain food means the woman is
expecting a girl and vice versa.
Myth 8: The mother’s complexion determines the sex of
the baby.
Fact: It’s actually hormones which cause skin changes
during pregnancy like patches on the neck, dark underarms and at times even
darkening of skin on the face which is called the pregnancy mask.
Myth 9: Eating ghee or oil will help the baby slide out
from the vagina during labour.
Fact: Ghee or oil does not help the baby slide out
easily in any way. All they do is add a whole lot of calories in your body
which becomes difficult to shed once the baby is born. Refrain from eating
piles of fatty food and eat a healthy, balanced meal.
Myth 10: Pregnant women need to double their diet
quantity as they are eating for two people.
Fact: This is quite common but is untrue. Though you
are eating for two people, you do not have to double the quantity of food. All
you need to add is 300 extra calories. The healthier options you choose, the
better it is. Pregnant women need extra nutrition from all food groups and not
just fat.
Thanks: Sonali
Shivlani
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