Pregnancy health centre

This article is from the Boots Feature Archive

10 pregnancy health myths exposed

When you're pregnant, you hear a lot about how to act, eat and predict your baby's sex. Here we expose the myths and give great advice that can help you have a healthy pregnancy.

Boots Feature

1. You must take special supplements

TRUE

Experts recommend taking 0.4mg of folic acid daily as it may protect your baby from spinal cord defects. ”Always eat your five-a-day, plus oily fish, other lean protein and high-quality carbohydrates, and start taking folic acid at least four weeks before trying to conceive and until week 12 of your pregnancy,” says pharmacist Angela Chalmers.

Recommended Related to Pregnancy

Childbirth options: What’s best?

If celebrity headlines are any indication, the quiet and relaxation of alternative childbirth methods are slowly replacing the bright lights of the delivery room. Susan Stapleton, a nurse-midwife, says, “If you are a normal, healthy woman with a normal, healthy pregnancy, and you have qualified people to assist you, there is no longer any reason you have to give birth in a hospital.” If you're looking to be a bit creative in handling either your labourpain or the childbirth experience itself,...

Read the Childbirth options: What’s best? article > >

”If your diet isn’t always top-notch, you may also benefit from an all-in-one pregnancy supplement, which will give you the nutrients you and your baby need.” Ask your local pharmacy team for advice if you're concerned.

2. Peanuts are out

FALSE

Many pregnant women shun peanuts to avoid triggering an allergy in their unborn baby. ”Government advice is that you only need to avoid peanuts if you or an immediate family member has asthma, eczema, hayfever or a food allergy,” says family GP, Dr Lowri Kew.

3. You forget more

TRUE

Scientists at Australia’s University of New South Wales report that pregnant women undergo memory problems, for example, finding it harder to remember new phone numbers. Many women still suffer from memory problems up to a year after the birth. Researchers don’t know why this happens, but suspect that lack of sleep plays a role.

4. You should give up coffee

FALSE

Actually, you can enjoy a brew, but you need to watch quantity. ”Recent studies show that too much caffeine (also found in tea, cola and chocolate) can increase your risk of miscarriage,” says Dr Kew. “Our government advises a maximum of 300mg (about three mugs) of coffee a day. But in the US, they recommend a daily limit of 150mg of coffee, so one and a half mugs. If you’re worried, it’s worth having this smaller amount, or switching to decaf.”

5. You can double your portions

FALSE

Your body only needs an extra 200 extra calories a day for the growing baby, and only in the last trimester, but that's difficult advice if you have a big appetite from day one. ”Stay active as much as possible, keep well hydrated, and eat three meals a day with the odd “treat” in between,” says Dr Kew.

6. It’s safe to exercise

TRUE

If you were active before and your pregnancy is considered low-risk, there is probably no reason why you can’t keep it up. Just be sensible and work within your comfort level without getting dehydrated. Otherwise, you can keep running until the end if you are comfortable doing it. However, avoid rigorous sport once pregnant if you haven’t been doing it regularly before. If you’re concerned, check with your GP.

7. Sex is a no-no

FALSE

”Sex is safe in a low-risk pregnancy,” says Dr Kew. ”The baby is well cushioned and no harm will come to it. It’s thought that sex can do the baby some good by increasing pelvic blood flow. For higher-risk pregnancies (women with multiple babies, repeated miscarriages or undiagnosed vaginal bleeding) ask your doctor.”

1 | 2

Next Page >