Myths or creation stories or old wives’ tales, call them whatever you like to, are centuries’ old beliefs passed arduously from mother to daughter; the majority of which revolve around the idea of the relationship between dietary intake and physical features of the child to be born, and hardly have any logic in them. Nevertheless if we consider the tones they are delivered in, many especially the first time mothers-to-be are bound to believe them. In our society where talk on the subject of pregnancy and reproductive health are considered taboo, such myths and misconceptions tend to create unnecessary stress for the mother and hence the baby.

Pregnancy myths may vary from generation to generation and from region to region. Described here are a few of the most common.

'Don't exercise, it will adversely affect your baby'
Like most myths, this one has some basis in fact. It is meant to protect the newly pregnant women from injury as some are more prone to injury than others. Light exercises such as walking, yoga and stretching could be chosen. While activities involving physical labor like weight lifting, moves causing jerks to the body etc., ought to be strictly avoided. Remember to always consult your care provider or midwife prior to starting any regimen.

'Eat as much as you like, your food is supporting two people now'
You will surely hear this advice during pregnancy. In reality you should eat as much as you like and whatever you feel like having. Eating for two will only result in poor health for you and do nothing for the well being of the baby. Moreover, eating the right food at the right time is better than over-eating.

'Eating ghee will help during child birth!'
Science hasn’t yet proved that there exists a connection between the digestion canal and the delivery canal. A natural lubricant in the birth canal does the job of slipping the baby out easily. A mother-to-be must go for healthier food plans rather than consuming foods that merely increase body fat.

‘Sleeping on your back can hurt the unborn baby’
It is believed that sleeping on your back during pregnancy can cause harm to the unborn baby. Hypertension, severe water retention, maternal kidney malfunction or fetal compromise is suspected, hence resting on the left side is mostly recommended. A normal pregnant woman however may assume the most comfortable position to sleep during pregnancy.

Morning sickness is a sign that a foetus is healthy’
Morning sickness has nothing to do with the health (or gender) of a foetus. The increased nausea and vomiting are associated with higher levels of hormones produced during pregnancy.

'Having coconut water will make your baby fair'
Yet another myth believed very much. The complexion of a baby has got more to do with the parent’s genes than with having coconut water! Can we explain the dark complexion of the people in Africa who have an abundant coconut plantation and yet they all have a dark complexion.

'Don't take any medicine'
One should not be taking any medicine without the doctor’s permission. The medicines taken by one pregnant woman might not be suitable for the other pregnant woman therefore one must not go for taking such risks of having word-of-mouth medication. Some medicines can be harmful for expectant mothers so it is advised to always consult the doctor first.

‘Don’t raise your arms above your head, you can tangle the umbilical cord by doing so’
This myth have often been heard from grandmothers who ask the mothers-to-be not to raise their hands as this wouldcause the umbilical cord to go around the baby’s neck and strangle her/him. Nevertheless, some pregnant women may find it beneficial to abstain to cause less stress, hence more rest and possibly a healthier baby.

‘The shape and fullness of your face during pregnancy can indicate your baby's sex’
Every woman gains weight differently during pregnancy, and every woman experiences different skin changes. If people tell you that because your face is round and rosy you're having a girl, they might be right — but it's just as likely that they're wrong! In fact there has been, till date no other method found for determining the sex of the baby you are carrying, except for an ultrasound and even that could be mistaken.

‘Fetal heart rate can indicate your baby’s sex’
There have been no studies that conclusively show that heart rate is a predictor for a baby's gender. People take it as an indicator only because a woman’s heart beats faster than that of a man, and had it been the case with unborn babies, all girls would be born as females and then try to turn into boys! In fact a baby’s heart beat, whether a boy or a girl, is double than that of an adult human being. 

‘Pregnant women should not take baths’
 This is false. Baths are very good for pregnant women and the baby is not in danger of getting germs from bathing. But hot baths are to be avoided which can cause the body temperature of the mother to rise, and cause problems for a developing baby.

‘Sea food is harmful during pregnancy’
 There's a lot of confusion regarding seafood and pregnancy, causing many women to simply say no to fish for all nine months. While it is true that you should avoid certain fish that are loaded with mercury -- tilefish, swordfish, shark, and king mackerel -- it's actually smart to eat seafood for your baby's health.

‘Natural birth is better than a Caesarean section’
Most mothers would probably like to have a natural birth but if this is not possible, Caesarean should not be viewed as a failure. While recovery after an operation is much slower, the best way of birth is the safest way for the baby and mother.

‘Breastfeeding helps you to lose weight’
Contrary to popular belief, breastfeeding doesn’t necessarily help new mothers to shed weight any faster.

These and many more myths have been around for centuries. After you have heard them all, for medical advice pertaining to pregnancy you should always consult your doctor first.

About the Writer:
Mr. Muhammad Sameed Hussain has worked at the Sindh Education Foundation during 2010. He is currently studying Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences (External System) and is a CFA level 1 candidate.