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Along with well-meaning advice from all the pregnancy experts in your life — including strangers on the street who touch your belly — you’ve most likely heard the “facts,” stories and predictions about pregnancy for years. Stated with authority, no doubt. When they sometimes actually turn out to be true, is it just coincidence — or are they backed by science? Here is the lowdown on what you may
have heard.
You Should Be Eating for Two Although the growing fetus is a unique and separate person, she is only a few pounds. Most weight gain occurs in the second half of pregnancy, and the recommended gain for a woman of normal weight is 25 to 35 pounds. This equates to just 300 extra calories per day, the amount found in half of a PB&J sandwich and a glass of milk. Remember that eating for two people is sure to make the postpartum weight loss a real challenge!
Don’t Color Your Hair Haircoloring is safe, if done properly. Chemicals used to color hair are absorbed in small amounts only, and are thought to be safe. More worrisome are the harsh fumes, especially arising from ammonia-based products, so haircoloring should be done in a well-ventilated space to avoid nausea and other symptoms.
Having Sex Will Hurt Your Baby Intercourse will not hurt your baby. The thick growing pregnancy. In certain situations — including placenta previa, preterm labor and be avoided, which your healthcare provider will discuss with you. But in a normal, healthy pregnancy, intercourse is not discouraged and may function as a stress reliever and as a
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way to maintain intimacy during the long nine months. It may also help get you into labor as you approach your due date!
Spicy Foods Will Cause Colic Colic — long periods of unexplained crying - ents. However, there is no evidence to show that maternal consumption of spicy or exotic foods will contribute to colic in newborns. Although the mother may experience heart- burn or gastrointestinal upset, the baby’s digestive system is completely separate.
Heartburn Leads to Lots of Hair Heartburn is exceedingly common in preg- nancy, tends to be worse in the third trimes- ter, and is related to the effects of estrogen causing the lower esophageal sphincter to tends to correlate with a full head of hair on your newborn. Although the science behind it is not understood, a recent study published out of Johns Hopkins may suggest some truth to the myth of association (but not necessarily causation). While the jury is still out, the prevalence of heartburn is indisputable, and pregnant women should not hesitate to discuss symptoms with their healthcare provider, as there are many medi- cations that can relieve symptoms.
Eating Peanut Butter During Preg- nancy Will Lead to a Peanut Allergy in Your Child - lies, along with other allergic conditions such as asthma and eczema. There is no reason to think that peanut butter consumption will cause an allergy in your child, and reasonable amounts of peanut butter may contribute to a healthy, high-protein diet.
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