Do’s and don’ts for pregnant women! Expert busts 8 pregnancy myths

There are many misconceptions about pregnancy in the minds of people. It is very important to eliminate these myths and replace them with credible facts. Otherwise, many women tend to limit their life to a great extent during pregnancy. At the same time, many women make some mistakes which can be risky for their health and that of their child. Therefore, before planning a pregnancy, it is important to get the right information about some myths related to pregnancy and the questions related to them.

Keeping all this in mind, Dr Anjali Kumar, Senior Consultant Gynecologist and Obstetrician, spoke about the most commonly asked questions by women regarding pregnancy myths.

Let us find out what are some of these questions that usually linger in the mind of women and also know the truth behind them.

8 common pregnancy myths and facts:

1. Does eating ghee help in normal delivery?

According to Dr Anjali Kumar, this is a question that is asked by almost all pregnant women. She says, “Ghee and normal delivery have nothing to do with each other.” A normal delivery completely depends on the size of the baby, the size of your pelvis and your physical activity during pregnancy. On the other hand, if you consume ghee in excess, it can increase you and your baby’s weight, due to which the chances of problems during delivery increases. That is why it is important to focus on healthy eating during pregnancy and consume a moderate amount of ghee.

2. Does the use of Vitamin E and cocoa butter prevent stretch marks?

As per Dr Kumar, women often keep looking for different ways to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. People usually recommend them to apply vitamin E and cocoa butter. However, stretch marks cannot be prevented by applying any cream or home remedy on the stomach during pregnancy. Some people have more stretch marks and some people have less. It completely depends on your skin type and the size of the baby.

3. Is it safe to exercise during pregnancy?

According to doctors, it is completely safe to exercise during pregnancy. This helps you with smooth delivery. However, it is necessary to consult your fitness expert or doctor about the intensity of exercise to be done and when to do which exercise. But it is not that there are any disadvantages of exercising during pregnancy.

Also read: Alia Bhatt does inversion post-pregnancy: How soon can you start exercising after childbirth

4. Should seafood be consumed during pregnancy?

The doctor says that there are many pregnant women who are confused about the consumption of seafood during pregnancy. So let us tell you that consumption of seafood during pregnancy is completely safe. Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered very beneficial for the brain development of the child.

Keep in mind that high amounts of mercury should not be present in the fish you are consuming. Along with this, whatever type of seafood you consume, it is necessary to cook it well before eating.

5. Do we need to eat more food during pregnancy?

According to the doctor, most of her pregnant clients have asked this question. However, it is absolutely true that you have to eat food keeping in mind the health of you and the baby. But this does not mean that you need to eat food equal to 2 people. There is absolutely no need to eat more than 450 to 500 calories during pregnancy.

6. Does eating spicy food induce labour?

On this, the doctor says that if it was so easy to go into labour, then everyone could have got normal delivery done according to their wish! So, this is a big myth. Consuming spicy food can make you suffer from problems like acidity, gas and heartburn. So, avoid getting trapped in such concepts.

7. Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy?

If you have a fairly normal pregnancy, you can have sex in the first few months. But one must abstain from sex in the last trimester. If there is any complication in pregnancy, it is best to consult a doctor. If you choose to have sex during pregnancy, it is necessary to take some precautions. For example, avoid having rough sex, while keeping the penetration normal, it is also very important to take care of the position.

8. Can sitting for long periods of time during pregnancy turn the baby into breech position?

Normally the baby’s head is downwards – towards the vagina, but in some pregnancy cases, the baby’s head is upwards, that is, towards the mother’s chest. That is known as breech position. However, this does not happen just because of sitting. It also depends on many other factors. such as the size of the baby and the pelvis of the mother