5 Myths About Pregnancy

Stress during pregnancy is bad for the fetus.

Research shows that stress is not bad for the fetus.  A mild to moderate level of stress can actually accelerate the development of the fetus along with its nervous system.  A study was done with women who experienced moderate stress levels during their pregnancy and women who experienced no stress, the two-week old infants from the mother who experienced the moderate level had brains that worked at a faster speed than the infants of the mothers without the same stress. 

Pregnant women should refrain from eating seafood while pregnant.

Eating lots of seafood high in Omega-3 fatty acids and low in mercury during pregnancy will in fact produce smarter kids.  Studies have shown that children whose mothers ate at least twelve ounces of seafood a week during their pregnancy had a higher verbal IQ level, better social and communication skills, and superior motor skills.

  Bed rest can prevent a miscarriage.

20 percent of pregnancies will naturally end in miscarriage with the most common cause being from a genetic abnormality.  These pregnancies are doomed from the moment of conception.  Bed rest will not change a woman’s chances of having a miscarriage. 

  I can determine my baby’s gender by the heart rate.

Many people think that the fetal heart rate are gender indicators and determinants.  Some people think that if the heart rate is faster, it is a girl, and if it is slower, it is a boy.  There are only two ways to confirm the baby’s gender; ultrasound and amniocentesis.

 Avoid exercise during pregnancy.

When a pregnant woman exercises, her fetus is benefiting too.  Babies that were born from women who exercised regularly had heart rates that were slower and more variable, lower birth weights, and even become more intelligent adults because of their bigger brains.