Pregnancy seems to come with an endless supply of advice.
As soon as you share your news, friends, family and sometimes complete strangers may start telling you what you should eat, how much you should exercise and whether the shape of your bump means you’re having a boy or a girl.
Some pregnancy traditions have been passed through families and communities for generations and can be a lovely part of sharing a pregnancy. Others can leave you wondering whether there is actually any truth behind them.
As midwives, we hear plenty of them, so we’ve taken five of the most common pregnancy myths and looked at what we actually know.
Myth 1: Eating spicy food can harm your baby
You may have been told that spicy food can harm your baby, affect their eyes, cause miscarriage or even bring on labour.
There is no evidence that eating spicy food in pregnancy will harm your baby’s eyes, cause miscarriage or determine how much hair they will have.
If spicy food is normally part of your diet and you still enjoy it, there is no reason to stop eating it simply because you are pregnant.
What it can do is make heartburn and indigestion worse, particularly later in pregnancy. If your favourite curry suddenly doesn’t agree with you, try a smaller portion or something a little milder.
If it isn’t causing you any problems, enjoy it.
Verdict: Myth
Myth 2: Lots of morning sickness means you’re having a girl
This one is slightly more complicated.
Some research has found that severe pregnancy sickness, including hyperemesis gravidarum, is more common in pregnancies where the baby is female. Hormonal differences may play a part.
That doesn’t mean pregnancy sickness can predict your baby’s sex.
You can have very little sickness and be having a girl, or have severe sickness and be having a boy. Pregnancy symptoms vary hugely from person to person and from one pregnancy to another.
If nausea or vomiting is making it difficult to eat, drink or manage everyday life, speak to your midwife or GP. You do not need to simply put up with severe pregnancy sickness and there are treatments that can help.
Verdict: Mostly myth, although there is some interesting research behind it
Myth 3: A low bump means you’re having a boy
Someone will almost certainly look at your bump at some point and confidently announce whether they think you are having a boy or a girl.
Unfortunately, your bump is not giving the secret away.
The shape and position of your bump can be affected by lots of things, including:
- your height and body shape
- your abdominal muscles
- whether you have been pregnant before
- your baby’s position
- your baby’s size
- how many babies you are carrying
- how far through your pregnancy you are.
Your bump may even look different from one day to the next as your baby changes position.
Verdict: Myth
You can still let everyone have a guess though.
Myth 4: You shouldn’t exercise during pregnancy
For most people with an uncomplicated pregnancy, being physically active is safe and beneficial.
Current UK recommendations encourage around 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week during pregnancy, depending on your health, pregnancy and previous activity levels.
Staying active can support your:
- heart and lung health
- strength and fitness
- sleep
- mood and emotional wellbeing
- ability to adapt to the physical changes of pregnancy.
Regular activity may also help reduce the chance of developing conditions such as gestational diabetes and pregnancy-related high blood pressure.
Walking, swimming, pregnancy yoga and strength exercises can all be good options.
If you were active before pregnancy, you can usually continue with many of the things you were already doing, although you may need to make adjustments as your pregnancy progresses.
If you have a medical condition, pregnancy complication or are unsure what exercise is right for you, talk to your midwife or doctor.
Verdict: Myth
Pregnancy is usually about adapting how you exercise rather than stopping altogether.
Myth 5: You can’t dye your hair during pregnancy
There is no evidence that cutting your hair during pregnancy has any effect on your baby.
What about colouring it?
The NHS advises that most research suggests it is safe to colour your hair during pregnancy. The amount of chemicals absorbed through the scalp from permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes is thought to be very small.
Some people prefer to wait until after the first 12 weeks before colouring their hair, but this is a personal choice rather than something everyone needs to do.
Pregnancy can sometimes change how your hair or skin reacts to products, so it is sensible to:
- follow the manufacturer’s instructions
- carry out any recommended strand or patch test
- wear gloves if applying colour yourself
- leave the product on for the minimum recommended time
- use hair dye in a well-ventilated room.
Highlights may be another option as the dye usually has less contact with your scalp.
There is no general NHS advice saying that hair dyes containing peroxide must be avoided during pregnancy when they are being used correctly.
Verdict: Myth
So yes, you can still have that pregnancy haircut or colour change if you fancy one.
Bonus Myth: You’re eating for two
This is probably one of the best-known pregnancy sayings.
Being pregnant does not mean you need to eat twice as much.
You do not generally need extra calories during the first six months of pregnancy. During the final three months, NHS advice is that you need around 200 additional calories a day.
What matters more is having a varied diet that gives you and your baby the nutrients you need.
Of course, pregnancy does not always make eating straightforward. Nausea, vomiting, heartburn, food aversions and changing appetite can all affect what you feel able to eat.
Try not to put pressure on yourself to achieve a perfect pregnancy diet. If you are struggling with food or have particular dietary or cultural needs, talk to your midwife for support.
Verdict: Myth
What about cultural pregnancy traditions?
Pregnancy traditions are found in families and cultures all over the world.
You may be encouraged to eat certain foods, avoid others, follow particular practices, change your activities or observe religious or cultural traditions during pregnancy.
These can be an important part of your family, faith or cultural identity.
If there is a tradition or practice that matters to you, talk to your midwife about it. Rather than automatically dismissing it, they should be able to discuss any health or safety considerations with you and, where possible, support your choices as part of your maternity care.
There’s no such thing as a silly pregnancy question
Pregnancy comes with plenty of advice and opinions, especially online.
If something you have heard makes you worried or you simply want to know whether it is true, ask your midwife. You will not be the first person to ask, and you definitely will not be the last.
Our Complete Antenatal Course covers pregnancy, antenatal care, labour and birth, feeding, caring for your new baby and the postnatal period using clear, evidence-based information.
The course is self-directed, so you can work through it at your own pace.
If you have heard a pregnancy myth and are not quite sure what to believe, you can ask us.
References
- NHS. Foods to avoid in pregnancy.
- NHS. Exercise in pregnancy.
- NHS. Can I dye my hair when pregnant or breastfeeding?
- NHS. Have a healthy diet in pregnancy.
- NHS. Vomiting and morning sickness in pregnancy.
- NICE Guideline NG201. Antenatal care.
- NICE Guideline NG247. Maternal and child nutrition: nutrition and weight management in pregnancy.
- UK Chief Medical Officers. Physical Activity Guidelines: Pregnancy and after childbirth.
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). Pregnancy sickness (nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum).
- World Health Organization (WHO). Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour.
- PIF TICK. Criteria for trustworthy health information.