Pregnancy is a beautiful roller coaster ride for mothers to be as it is filled with excitement, new experiences and some pain as well. But during these nine months of pregnancy, many people including friends, relatives, and even google at times will throw dos and don’t at you most of which are myths. These myths can be regarding food, exercise, travelling and so on. Let’s discuss some of these common myths and bust them with the help of a doctor.
To understand some common myths around pregnancy, OnlyMyHealth team interacted with Dr Pooja C Thukral, Consultant - Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Faridabad.
Myth 1: Pregnant women should eat for two.
Fact: No, it’s not true. A pregnant woman has to just eat a bit more. Dr Thukral said, “While it's true that pregnant women require additional nutrients to support the growth and development of their baby, they do not need to double their caloric intake. Instead, they should focus on consuming a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. In general, pregnant women only need to consume an additional 300-500 calories per day during the second and third trimesters.”
Dr Thukral listed down foods that women should avoid during pregnancy.
- Raw eggs, raw meat and Chinese food containing Ajinomoto.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol intake completely.
- Always use pasteurised milk and
- In seafood, fish containing mercury is to be avoided because all these food items are not good for the growth of the foetus.
Also, always wash raw fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
Myth 2: Pregnant women should avoid exercise.
Fact: Pregnant women are recommended at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise in pregnancy per week. As per Dr Thukral special exercises like squatting or pelvic tilts can be done in the third trimester which can help you prepare for labour and delivery. These exercises are beneficial to reduce the risk of obesity, gestational diabetes or hypertension.
“So, in short, pregnancy is a normal physiological process, it is not a disease so she should continue to be as physically active as she was before pregnancy. Hence, basic household work and office work is to be continued. Only if she has any complications, her doctor will put her on some restrictions on physical movement or activity in pregnancy,” Dr Thukral said. Exercise is beneficial for pregnant women to reduce back pain and insomnia. Exercise is generally safe and beneficial for most pregnant women, however, they should avoid high-impact activities, as well as activities with a high risk of falling or abdominal trauma.
Also read: Prenatal Yoga For Pregnant Women: Asanas To Prepare For Labour
Myth 3: Pregnant women should avoid all nuts and peanuts to prevent allergies in their baby.
Fact: As per Dr Thukral, there is no evidence to support the idea that avoiding nuts or peanuts during pregnancy reduces the risk of allergies in babies. In fact, some research suggests that consuming nuts during pregnancy may actually reduce the risk of peanut allergy in children. “Unless you have a known allergy to nuts or peanuts, they can be included as part of a healthy diet during pregnancy, providing essential nutrients such as protein, fibre, and healthy fats,” Dr Thukral said.
Myth 4: Taking ghee helps in normal delivery.
Talking about the most common myth of consuming ghee for normal delivery, Dr Thukral said, “Ghee will not make her baby slip through the birth canal. She needs exercise and an active lifestyle for that. Also, it depends on the size of the baby and pelvis.”
Also read: Expert Lists Down Top 5 Nutrient-Packed Dals for a Healthy Pregnancy
Myth 5 : Vaginal delivery is not possible after caesarean section.
In reality, she may be able to. According to Dr Thukral, it depends on how the current pregnancy is progressing, the woman’s labour and the risk of any potential complications. “There is a good 50-60% chance of vaginal birth after caesarean. Factors which are favourable for VBAC are Spontaneous labour, average size baby foetal weight, roomy pelvis, tertiary level care for delivery,” Dr Thukral said.
Conclusion
Do not trust the things that people around you tell and go. Listen only and only to your doctor regarding dos and don’ts during pregnancy. As these are the most precious months of your life, live it to the fullest without worrying about these unreliable myths.