Dispelling Some Common Myths About Pregnancy, Part II
In Part I of this article, we revealed the truth regarding certain common myths about pregnancy. Here are a few more.
We've all heard myths about pregnancy. For example, you can tell the gender of the baby by what the Mom craves, and how she carries the child. Or that the heart rate is another reliable indicator of gender. And a pregnant woman shouldn't raise her arms above her head, for fear of strangling the baby.
Well, all those things are old wives' tales. While old wives do tend to be wise, they're also sometimes wrong. Here are four more common pregnancy myths you should know the truth about.
Myth 4: Your baby will be born with a full head of hair if you have a lot of heartburn during pregnancy.
It's hard to say where this particular myth about pregnancy originates; maybe the idea is that the extra hair irritates the Mom's insides. But considering the fact that the uterus is nowhere near the stomach or the esophagus (hopefully), that's an unlikely possibility.
Any mother can tell you that all the changes that happen to the body during pregnancy -- from hormonal surges to structural rearrangements -- are going to result in a certain level of discomfort and illness. It's almost impossible to avoid; so if you're expecting, don't be surprised if you have to deal with acid reflux.
Myth 5: Vigorous sex will trigger labor.
Although some doctors say that anything's worth trying if the baby's running late, this myth about pregnancy has no basis in fact. Mad, passionate love may help you forget about your problem, though. And by the way -- spicy foods won't help induce labor either. So enjoy all the Mexican and Italian you like!
Myth 6: Don't touch your cat while you're pregnant if you want the baby to be healthy.
Well...There's a teensy grain of truth in this one, since cats do occasionally carry a parasite called toxoplasmosis, which can cause deformities in developing fetuses. But it's an internal parasite -- you can't get it from touching your cat. You get it from touching their litter with your bare hands.
So don't reject Fluffy just because you heard this irresponsible myth about pregnancy, and don't refrain from petting her, feeding her, or letting her sit in your lap when you're pregnant. Just make sure your significant other is in charge of changing the cat litter.
Myth 7: For heaven's sake, don't take a bath when you're pregnant!
The idea, of course, is that you should take showers -- not give up on cleanliness altogether for nine months. Interestingly enough, the basis behind this one isn't a superstition, and it's actually well meaning. But you can bathe safely, as long as you're not bleeding and your water hasn't broken.
The concern here is that bathing can cause infections to enter the vagina and spread through the cervix to the fetus. However, there are no known risks associated with bathing during pregnancy. Just follow the proper precautions, and this myth can join the numerous other myths about pregnancy that will remain moot.
