12 popular myths about pregnancy
Pregnancy is often shrouded in mystery. Millions of women have experienced pregnancy but it is still difficult to predict what the pregnancy will be like. That is probably why many misconceptions and beliefs have arisen over the centuries, most of which predict the future. Books from the “For the Uninitiated” series are known for their accuracy and informative content. These books are easy to read. Authors Dr. Joan Stown, Dr. Kate Edlhman and Mary Duenwald are the authors of the book “Pregnancy for Dummies”. The aim of the writers was to write a comprehensive guide to pregnancy – which is considered an unforgettable life experience for every woman. The book contains 5 parts, starting with the preparation for pregnancy, childbirth, and the nutrition of newborns. Even uninformed people will find valuable advice and a handful of information useful during the 9 months of pregnancy and the postpartum period.

1. A pregnant woman often has heartburn, so the baby will have a lot of hair – this misconception is not true. Some babies have hair and some don’t have hair. Most babies’ hair falls out during the first few weeks of life anyway.
2. Misconception about the umbilical cord – if a pregnant woman raises her hands above her head then she can suffocate the baby. And this myth is true. People used to believe that after such a movement of the hands, the baby can really get entangled in the umbilical cord, which is absolutely not true.
3. The delusion of the curse – people who deny pregnant women the food they crave will get a lump in their eye. And this is incorrect. A pregnant woman really wants a certain food and persistently asks to get that food, perhaps by a threat (after all, pregnancy is actually a “second state” of a woman), but the person will not get a lump in the eye.
4. Misconception about the heartbeat – a baby will be a girl if the heart beats fast and a baby will be a boy if the heart beats slower. Researchers have indeed investigated this phenomenon. They found a slight difference between the average heart rate of boys and the heart rate of girls, although this difference is not large enough to accurately determine the sex of the child.
5. Misconception about ugliness – the baby will be ugly if the pregnant woman sees something creepy or ugly. No baby is ugly but on the contrary every baby is wonderful and beautiful.
6. Misconception about coffee – Mom drank a lot of coffee or her wishes were not fulfilled during pregnancy if the baby was born with light brown young. And this is one of the well-known misconceptions.
7. Misconceptions about spicy foods – Many people believe that foods with a lot of spices cause contractions. This is a misconception although it can be a great marketing ploy (some restaurants advertise a chicken dish that is a sure means of causing contractions). The food may be delicious but there will be no contraction.
8. Misconception about sexual intercourse – passionate and unusual sexual intercourse causes contractions. And this is a fallacy.
9. Misconception about a round face – a baby will be a girl if a pregnant woman has a round and thickened face. There is a similar belief that a woman will give birth to a boy if she gets fat in the back of her hips. This is obviously not true because the sex of the child does not affect the mother’s obesity.
10. Misconception about the full moon – it is believed that more women give birth during the full moon. Although many doctors and staff at maternity hospitals say it is more crowded during the full moon — the same is the case with the police station — there is no scientific evidence for both assumptions.
11. Misconception about the shape of the abdomen – the baby will be a girl if the pregnant woman has a round belly and the baby will be a boy if the pregnant woman has a pointed belly. And this is a fallacy. The shape of the abdomen is different in all pregnant women, but the sex of the child is not related to the shape of the abdomen.
12. Misconception about ultrasound-ultrasound shows the sex of the child. Not always. The genital organs of the fetus are often seen on ultrasound in the period from 18 to 20 gestations. The ability to determine the sex of the child, however, depends on the position of the baby. Sometimes the doctor can’t see anything because the baby’s little legs are clenched. There is also a doctor’s mistake, especially during the examination during early pregnancy. 100% accuracy is not guaranteed, although in most cases, the sex of the baby can be seen on the ultrasound.