Four Common Pregnancy Myths

Morning Sickness Happens Only During First Trimester

One of the most common misconceptions about pregnancy is that you will only experience morning sickness or nausea the first trimester. This, in reality, is just not true, because some women experience morning sickness throughout their entire pregnancy. It is true that after 12 weeks, the hormone levels of human chorionic gonadotropin begin to steady, but in some women the effects will last the entire nine months. I think that the reason women might underestimate the length of the morning sickness is because we always hear about first trimester nausea and vomiting, and that could be due to how pregnancy has been portrayed on television and media. If you want to combat nausea and morning sickness, you should be eating foods with a lot of carbohydrates, and also make sure to stay away from foods that may trigger the nausea. You can also talk to your doctor to see if it is safe to take an anti-nausea medication if you are really having trouble controlling the urges to vomit, especially if it is interfering with your life severely.

Seafood Is Bad

One thing I always remember hearing about pregnancy is that you can’t eat seafood, and this is not at all true. In fact, pregnant women are now advised to eat seafood such as salmon and sushi, because seafood is high in fatty acids like Omega-3. Seafood is one great way to get antioxidants and protein, which are vital for a healthy pregnancy. I think this misconception comes from the fact that seafood was always thought to contain high levels of mercury, which can be toxic, but the mercury levels are actually quite low. It is important to make sure you are eating fresh seafood, since fresh seafood contains the rich fatty acids and antioxidants, and not eating frozen or canned seafood products.

Coffee Is Out of the Picture

I was surprised to learn not too long ago that women can still drink coffee while pregnant, because the no coffee misconception is just about as old as time itself. It wasn’t until a niece of mine got pregnant that I learned you actually can have coffee, but should limit yourself to no more than two cups a day. Having coffee in the morning is something a lot of women just can’t give up, including myself, so it’s actually reassuring to know you really can have the best of both worlds. I grew up always hearing about no caffeine at all when you are pregnant, especially no coffee or soda, and I still hear people repeat that even today. I think that moderation is key with just about everything, so you need to choose your caffeine wisely, and go with caffeine-free most of the time.

You Need to Eat for Two

I always have heard the old saying you need to eat for two when you are pregnant, but in reality, you don’t have to go that far. When you are pregnant, you only need to take in about 300 more calories on a daily basis, which is a lot less than what most people think. I actually figured the number would be more like 1,000 extra calories a day, because that seems more logical considering you have a developing fetus inside your stomach. You need to be eating healthier food while pregnant, since the baby needs nutrients and vitamins, but you shouldn’t just eat because you can. If you actually do eat like you are eating for two people, not only will you gain a substantial amount of weight, but so will your baby. There is also the fact that gaining more weight makes it even harder to lose the weight after the birth, and it could lead to pregnancy complications during the third trimester. So while you might feel hungry and like you need to eat for two, your baby will be just fine if you increase your portions slightly, and make an effort to just eat healthier.