If you’re expecting, you may have a lot of questions, especially if you’re a first-time parent. It seems like everyone has opinions, from what you can eat to whether or not you should travel.
While some caution is warranted, pregnancy isn’t the minefield people make it out to be. Before you toss out that cup of coffee or cancel your gym membership, you should read the following.
MYTH: Exercise Is Bad For the Baby
Unless you have pre-existing conditions or known pregnancy complications, doctors actually recommend exercise when you’re pregnant.
You shouldn’t take up something strenuous like marathon running, but staying active will help keep your strength up for labor.
Low-impact activities such as swimming and tai chi are gentle ways to get moving. Ask your doctor for exercise guidelines specific to you and your pregnancy.
MYTH: You Have to Double Your Food Intake
Saying “eating for two” makes it sound like you need to start doubling your caloric intake, but that just simply isn’t so. Yes, you are eating for two, but not two adults. The quality of the food you eat should increase, but the quantity shouldn’t sky-rocket.
During the first three months of pregnancy, your caloric intake can stay the same. In the second trimester, increasing your diet by 300-350 calories is recommended, and in the third trimester, the recommendation is an additional increase of 100 calories.
MYTH: Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Travel
So you booked a flight months before your free pregnancy testing in Illinois and are now wondering if you need to cancel. While you should talk to your doctor about your specific pregnancy and risks, if you take the regular precautions associated with long flights or trips, you shouldn’t have a problem.
Getting up every half-hour to an hour and walking will help with circulation, as will calf-lifts. Staying hydrated and wearing compression stockings will also give you a leg up on staying ahead of issues.
MYTH: You Can Find Out the Baby’s Sex By…
There are SO MANY old wive’s tales associated with finding out the sex of your baby; which way a pendulum swings, what foods you’re craving, how active your baby is, your areola color, and on and on. The only sure way to find out the baby’s sex is with an ultrasound.
MYTH: Spicy Foods and Caffeine Can Hurt A Pregnancy But A Little Wine Is Fine
People get this backward. If you have a predisposition for irritable bowel, heartburn, or indigestion you may want to pass on the jalapeños.
But if those aren’t problems for you, there’s no reason you have to go light on the seasoning! And pregnancy doesn’t have to mean you go without caffeine, you just need to keep your intake under 200 milligrams.
But wine and other alcohol should be avoided at all costs, as even a little bit can have long-term effects, no matter how far along you are.
Worried about something else not covered here? Be sure to talk to your doctor, as they can give you the facts you need for a healthy and happy pregnancy.