Pregnancy Myths Exposed!

1. You can tell the gender of the baby by the way a pregnant woman is carrying. The equation goes...Pregnant women who carry low = boy whilst those ladies experiencing acne during pregnancy = girl.

False! How a woman carries depends on her body type and whether she has been pregnant before, so there really isn’t any evidence to back up this old wives tale!

Women tend to carry lower or higher depending on their body type. Taller, thinner women appear to carry higher. Shorter and fuller women appear to carry lower. Neither has any influence on the gender of the child.

On the other hand, the occurrence of acne during pregnancy has nothing to do with the gender of the baby; it’s just a result of natural hormonal changes.

2. Do women develop a better sense of smell whilst pregnant?
True! During the first trimester, women can develop a heightened sense of smell. Doctors justify this by reasoning that the pregnant woman's body is helping her determine what is healthy for her and her baby.

3. Pregnant women shouldn't take baths.

False! However pregnant women should not take hot baths (with the water temperature over body temperature 36oC).
There is some truth that taking hot baths is harmful, however there are a multitude of benefits to taking a warm bath including; stress release, alleviation of muscle tension, decrease in swelling, increased levels of amniotic fluid and even the prevention of premature contractions.
An important thing to remember is to have someone handy to help you get in and out of the tub safely!

4. Eating certain foods can cause you to go into labour prematurely.
TRUE! A recent study in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that large amounts of liquorice can cause premature delivery. Keep your intake below 100g a week to be safe.

5. You shouldn’t eat seafood when pregnant.
BOTH! Seafood can be a great source of protein and iron, and the omega-3 fatty acids in many fish can help promote your baby's brain development. In fact, research suggests that skimping on seafood during pregnancy may contribute to poor verbal skills, behavioural problems and other developmental issues during childhood. However pregnant women – or more specifically, their unborn babies - are at a higher risk of the negative effects of mercury. Babies developing in the uterus seem to be most vulnerable to the effects of mercury on their nervous systems. The mercury may slow their development in the early years. Research is updated constantly, but women should be selective about the kinds and amounts of fish they eat during pregnancy.
What to avoid?
Varieties such as swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tilefish, ray, barramundi, gemfish, orange roughy, ling and southern blue-fin tuna generally contain high levels of mercury and should be avoided.
What's safe?
Some types of seafood contain little mercury such as shrimp, canned light tuna (limit albacore tuna and tuna steak) salmon, pollock and cod.
Remember to avoid raw seafood and ensure that your seafood is prepared safely and cooked thoroughly and as always, consult your doctor for more information!

6. You can tell the sex of the baby by the rate of their heart beat.
FALSE! Some people believe that if your baby has a fast heart rate, near 170 beats per minute, it means you are having a girl, and that if your baby’s heart rate is closer to 150 beats per minute then you are having a boy. Unfortunately, this is also false! Your baby’s heart rate will get faster and stronger during the first trimester as they grow. A baby’s heart beat fluctuates just like yours does, and depends on your activity – it slows during sleep and increases during active times but it cannot tell the gender of your baby.

7. If a pregnant woman experiences heartburn throughout the 9 months of pregnancy, the baby will be born will a full head of hair.
FALSE! The occurrence of heartburn does not have any bearing on the amount of hair a baby will have, however heartburn is a common problem in pregnant women for two reasons.
The first reason is hormonal. A surge in progesterone, a natural muscle relaxant, allows your body to begin preparation for child birth. This relaxation effect occurs in all muscles, including the valves at the entrance to your stomach. As this valve becomes more relaxed, food and acid find it much easier to escape back up into your oesophagus where they cause heartburn.

The second reason becomes more noticeable as your baby grows. It's a simple space issue! As your baby grows it begins to put pressure on your digestive tract. Understandably, it becomes easier for acid to escape from your stomach when under pressure.

8. Not drinking enough waters makes amniotic fluid “dirty”.
FALSE! An old wives tale states that that if pregnant women do not drink enough water daily, the amniotic fluid surrounding the baby would become dirty.  We all know that drinking plenty of water is important to staying hydrated and healthy, however it has no correlation with how clean or dirty the amniotic sac is.

9. If you have morning sickness, it must be a girl!
FALSE! If you had a smooth pregnancy with no morning sickness it’s often said that you’re having a boy.  If you were sick or felt really nauseous during your pregnancy, count on a girl. We all know that morning sickness is caused by the multitude of hormones coursing through your body!

 10. Wooden Spoon, Scissors, and Pink Bows...
Apparently if you put a wooden spoon and a pair of scissors under your bed and a pink bow under your pillow, you’ll have yourself a little baby girl. CRAZY! I can’t even say it’s false because I don’t anyone who would actually do it!

11. Is it more difficult for a woman to make a decision when pregnant?
Hey! It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, pregnant or not! That’s why when we designed our range of ISOKI baby bags, we made them reversible! Decide on the day whether you want to flaunt your bold printed side, or if you’re more of a neutral gal, it’s up to you!