The Most Common Pregnancy Myths

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One of the greatest moments of my life was finding out that I was pregnant with my son. The joy and overwhelming emotion I felt was unlike any other experience in my life. While unexpected, the idea of starting a family was not foreign to me, and I immediately began doing some research as to how I could have a healthy pregnancy and delivery. As you can imagine, friends and loved ones shared my joy, and everyone seemed to offer an opinion about what I should and shouldn’t do. Some of these pearls of wisdom were common pregnancy myths, while others were extremely valuable.

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Prematurity in the United States

November is National Prematurity Awareness Month, a time for families nationwide to think about the health of expectant mothers and babies, and how to have a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery. As an NICU nurse and a mother of two children, this topic is close to my heart. I was on bedrest for premature contractions with both of my pregnancies, and the fear and uncertainty took an emotional toll on me.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year, one out of 10 babies born prematurely nationwide. While preterm births represent a small percentage of all births, these infants represent a large proportion of all infant deaths, according to United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings®: The Health of Women and Children Report.

Pregnancy is often a time of excitement and joy. There is a lot of information for expectant moms to consider, as well as common pregnancy myths that, when taken as fact, could affect new mothers’ health and their pregnancy, and even prevent babies from having the best possible start in life.

Common Pregnancy Myths

Pregnancy lasts nine months
Many people associate pregnancy with nine months, or 36 weeks. But the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) defines full-term deliveries as at least 39 weeks, or nearly 10 months. Babies born before 39 weeks are more likely to have respiratory problems and developmental delays, according to published studies.
Early, elective inductions or cesarean deliveries carry no risk
About one in three U.S. births happen by C-section, with researchers deeming almost half of those as unnecessary. Thirty-one percent of women said early, elective C-sections would have no impact on a baby’s health, according to the UnitedHealthcare survey. Yet ACOG notes that early, non-medically required C-sections have a higher risk of complications and admissions to neonatal delivery units.

Babies have to be delivered in hospitals
More than 98 percent of deliveries are at hospitals, yet the growing popularity of birth centers are providing an alternative setting for people seeking a midwifery model of care. The number of independent birth centers has grown 62 percent since 2010, due in part to increased demand among millennials.
There’s no difference between breastfeeding and formula
Many studies have shown the health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies. While this practice is not possible for some women, guidelines set by ACOG recommend breastfeeding exclusively for six months and continuing as complementary foods are introduced through the first year of life, or longer if desired. Yet more than half of women (57 percent) said new mothers should breastfeed for fewer than 12 months.
A little alcohol is OK
Some people believe a small amount of alcohol will have no impact on a baby, especially during the first trimester. According to the March of Dimes, no amount of alcohol at any point during pregnancy is proven to be safe for the baby, with potential issues including premature birth, developmental issues and birth defects.

Emerging technology, including mobile apps that enable access to 24/7 nurse support, can help expectant parents track and manage their prenatal visits and review appointments and guidelines before and after delivery. By accessing available information and resources, women can help dispel these pregnancy myths and make more informed decisions for themselves and their babies as they take steps toward a healthier pregnancy and delivery.

What common pregnancy myths have you encountered? I would love to share them below.

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Caryn Bailey

Caryn is a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night and mom 24/7. She savors the warm Southern California sun and loves to travel, shopping, baking, reading and frequenting her local tea room. Caryn created the column Lavishly Green for Peekaboo Picks Magazine to share her best tips for going green in style, she is the Former editor for Family Review Network, former OC Family Magazine online contributor, former Orange County Moms Blog contributor, former Evenflo Savvy Parent contributor, former member of the Totsy Advisory Board and former freelance writer for CBS Los Angeles.