In her years of teaching pregnancy classes at HonorHealth, prenatal educator Danyelle Malvick, RN, has heard it all. Check out five myths she has heard about pregnancy, childbirth and beyond.
Myth No. 1: You should eat for two when you're pregnant
If you find out you're pregnant, should you immediately begin eating for two? “That's not necessary,” Malvick says. “In fact, on average, you only need to eat an additional 300 calories per day when you're pregnant — a far cry from doubling your food intake.”
Of course, if you're overweight at the onset of pregnancy, you may need fewer calories. If you're underweight or carrying multiples, you may require more. Talk to your doctor to learn about your specific nutritional needs during pregnancy. It’s essential to strike the balance between nourishing yourself and your growing baby, and avoiding unnecessary weight gain.
Myth No. 2: You can predict the baby's gender by physical signs
You may have heard that you can predict a baby's gender by the fetal heart rate, or even how high or low the mother-to-be is carrying her pregnancy. Neither is true. Malvick says that fetal heart rate is a sign of the baby's well-being — and nothing else. The range of a normal fetal heart rate is 120 to 160 beats per minute, and both male and female babies can fall anywhere within that span.
Also, carrying a pregnancy higher or lower within your abdomen has nothing to do with gender. Instead, it has to do with a range of factors, such as how tall or short you are, and how long your torso is, among other things.
Myth No. 3: If you have heartburn during pregnancy, your baby will be born with lots of hair
"There's no connection," Malvick says. “If you experience heartburn during pregnancy, it's most likely because the baby is taking up lots of space inside your abdominal area — and not because your baby is growing hair”. In turn, your organs don't have as much room as they usually do. This can cause pressure on the muscle that connects your stomach to your esophagus. As a result, acid may creep from your stomach into your throat causing that trademark burning sensation of acid reflux or heartburn.
Myth No. 4: You can jump-start labor through diet and activity
False again. You can't start labor by eating spicy foods, going for long walks or even having sex, as some believe. "There are two absolute signs of labor: regular contractions and your water breaking," Malvick says. Neither can be triggered by diet and activity in a healthy pregnancy. Your body will begin labor when it's ready — or when medically induced by your obstetrician.
Myth No. 5: At the end of your pregnancy, your baby will move less
While some pregnancy myths may sound silly, this one is very serious. Malvick cautions that decreased movement at any time during your pregnancy is cause for concern, and a call to your doctor. At the end of your pregnancy, your baby is larger, meaning it has less space to move around than it did during your first and second trimesters.
However, your baby should still be moving up to delivery. If you believe your baby has either stopped moving or is moving less than before, call your doctor immediately for an evaluation.