20 Pregnancy Myths Busted

Must know facts.

- Pushpa Bhatia

Pregnancy is a fulfilling life affirming experience, until you are approached by advisers who misguide you. Here are some myths people spread and beware –

1. Pregnant woman must eat for two –  Yes, but that doesn’t mean two adult-sized servings are necessary. As a guide you are looking at between an extra 200 and 300 calories a day. Overeating and wrong food can lead to complications – such as gestational diabetes and excessive weight gain, both of which can be harmful and make labour more difficult. Also, a woman who gains more than 50 pounds, when she is carrying just one child has a higher risk of Caesarean section or a difficult child birth.

2. Pregnant woman should drink ghee in the ninth month of pregnancy –

There is little or no concrete evidence to back this belief. Although ghee has many good properties, it is high in unsaturated fat and should be consumed moderately. If not, it will accelerate weight gain which could make the delivery difficult.

3. No hair colouring –  While experts warn women to avoid colouring their hair as a simple measure of precaution, several studies claim that the chemicals from hair dye get very minutely absorbed through the skin which pose no threat. Therefore, it is best to avoid hair colour during the first trimester. During the latter period of pregnancy, it may not be that risky. Still, natural and herbal preparations should be preferred and colours containing ammonia should be avoided.

4.Heart burn indicates that the baby will have lots of hair –

No, the fact is that the muscle at the top of the pregnant woman’s stomach (the one that usually prevents digestive acids from splashing into the oesophagus) relaxes.