Pregnant women may be among the most common recipients of misguided advice, however well-meaning. (Parents are there too!) Sometimes the things people say are relatively innocuous, but there are plenty of assumptions that can lead to poor or at least unhelpful decisions about food choices, delivery, and more. Here are some myths that continue to be pervasive – let’s stop handing out these tropes and stick to good wishes instead!
Myth #1: You can determine your baby’s gender by the way you carry him.
The truth: The size, shape and position of the baby bump have nothing to do with the sex of the baby, no matter how grandma definitely sounds. Instead, how you carry is based on factors like your height, weight and abdominal muscle tone as well as baby’s size and position, says Kecia Gaither, MD, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. The number of pregnancies you’ve had also plays an important role: during a first pregnancy, your abdominal muscles are more tense and therefore often keep the belly more inward, explains Jennifer Lew, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital. In future pregnancies, however, you may show earlier and look bigger. Either way, the appearance of your belly is usually nothing to worry about. If your doctor is worried about the baby’s size, they’ll probably order an ultrasound to check that your pregnancy is going well.
Myth #2: You are more likely to have a caesarean section if you receive an epidural.
The truth: “Having an epidural does not mean a woman is more likely to have an operative delivery,” said Dr. Gaither. It has been established in several studies that the risk of cesarean section does not increase with epidural use, according to a report in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. Instead, “the epidural allows for a more restful labor that isn’t overwhelmed by pain,” says Dr. Lew. This myth could be related to the fact that epidurals may shorten the first stage of labor and lengthen the second stage, which may prompt medical personnel to intervene (depending on your doctor or the policies of the hospital where you are giving birth). The important thing is to choose a doctor to talk to, regardless of your epidural preference. “Your birth may not turn out the way you planned, but being able to trust and build the team you want around you is really critical in these situations,” says Kathryn Schubert, President and CEO. of the Women’s Health Research Society.
Myth #3: If you eat certain foods during pregnancy, your baby may develop food allergies or asthma.
The truth: There is no evidence that eating foods high in allergens like nuts, dairy, or eggs during pregnancyant or breastfeeding causes food allergies in children, THE National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases reports. In fact, many of them are part of a healthy diet and don’t need to be avoided, says Dr. Lew. Aim for “a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of foods…focusing on grains, fruits, vegetables, proteins, fats, and dairy products to ensure all macronutrient and micronutrient needs are met,” says Myranda Vig, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at UC Davis Health. However, you may be able to have a positive effect: Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, chia seeds, mackerel) during pregnancy may help reduce your child’s risk of allergies and asthma later in life, some research suggests.
Myth #4: You cannot eat meat or hot dogs when you are pregnant.
The truth: Hot dogs and deli meats aren’t automatically off the menu when you’re pregnant, but they should be heated to 165°F. or boiling, depending on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is because of the risk of listeria, a germ that can sometimes be found in deli meats and (more often these days) in unpasteurized dairy products. Listeria is the reason you shouldn’t eat soft cheeses like brie or feta made with unpasteurized milk—especially during pregnancy– and why you should wash your products no matter what. And although listeria infections are not common, pregnant women are 10 times more likely to contract listeriosis than other healthy adults due to changes in their immune system. Listeriosis may not even make a pregnant woman sick, but it can cause early labor, birth defects, and fetal death. So if you don’t want to reheat your deli meats in the microwave, go your way.
Myth #5: If you had a caesarean with your first delivery, you should have caesareans with your future ones..
The truth: Thinking about it has changed. “Previously, if you had a C-section before, you were automatically scheduled for a C-section for subsequent pregnancies,” Schubert says. But in 2021, 14.2% of all births were Vaginal births after caesarean section (VBAC), reports the CDC. That may not seem like a lot, but VBAC rates have been steadily rising. Certain factors determine whether you will have a VBAC or other surgical delivery, including whether you had a vertical or horizontal incision the first time (a horizontal incision in the uterus has a less than 1% risk of rupture if you give birth vaginally). However, you may be advised to have another C-section if the reason you had one in the first place (such as a very large fetus) comes into play again, says Dr. Lew. You and your doctor will discuss your options throughout your pregnancy to determine what’s best for you and the baby, she adds.
Kate Rockwood is a freelance writer based in New York.