Busting 5 Common Pregnancy Myths

Pregnancy is undeniably a miraculous process. So miraculous, in fact, that over time it has become shrouded in mystery and untruths. As the baby bump grows, so too does the willingness of complete strangers to offer up their unsolicited pregnancy advice, predictions, and warnings.

In reality, all women carry babies differently and experience different symptoms at different points in their pregnancy. A list of 5 popular pregnancy myths follows:

1. “Morning sickness” only happens in the morning. Someone really ought to rename the common pregnancy symptom, “morning sickness,” to something a little less deceiving, like “all day, any time, anywhere sickness.” Luckily, most women only experience “morning sickness” during the first trimester, but again, every pregnancy and every pregnant woman is different.

2. Pregnancy cravings are indicative of the unborn baby’s taste in food. While odd pregnancy cravings—often contrary to the pregnant woman’s regular tastes—are very real, however, they are in no way related to the baby’s preferences. Pregnancy cravings are caused by elevated hormone levels in the saliva that make different foods taste differently.

3. There are ways to control or predict the gender of the child. Many pregnancy myths surround the gender of the unborn child. Some say the mother’s diet at the time of conception determines the gender. Others think a high bump is a boy, while a low bump is a girl. The baby’s heart rate—higher or lower than 135 beats/seconds is a predictor, as is the nature and frequency of “morning sickness.” In fact, there is no way, except ultrasound and amniocentesis, to predict the gender of the child. And outside of highly controversial genetic engineering, you can’t control the gender of the unborn child.

4. You’ll be bedridden in the third trimester. Again, everyone and every pregnancy is different, and first and foremost, abide by the advice of a medical professional. But for the most part, pregnant women in the third trimester can be relatively active. Of course, the belly and the baby inside are becoming bigger and heavier, but use of a maternity support band alleviates lower back pain, enhance circulation, and helps the mom-to-be get around easier. As mentioned, consult a doctor before use.

 5. You will never lose the baby weight. With the right diet and an active lifestyle, losing the baby weight is very possible. The use of a postpartum compression band, under the guidance of a doctor, is also helpful to retighten the abdominal muscles.

 

The Band Specialist makes the Atlas 2-in-1 Transitional Band for during and after pregnancy, while the Cinch Tummy Wrap is solely for postpartum mothers. The Band Specialist also offers the Cirqulate Activewear line, made to support postpartum women who want to get back in the gym faster. Learn more at thebandspecialist.com.

What is your favorite pregnancy myth? Did you find any of the myths turn out true for you? Share your experiences in the comments below.