Are you currently expecting your first child? Are you currently researching how to best care for yourself and your future baby? While you're waiting for your first prenatal care visit, here are some pregnancy myths and misconceptions that you may want to discuss with your doctor:
Myth: Pregnant women should avoid all sweets. Fact: Studies have shown that chocolate could be beneficial to the baby. Researchers found that babies smile and laugh more at six months if their mothers ate chocolate during pregnancy. While this doesn't mean that you should overindulge, your OB-GYN should have no problem if you decide to treat yourself to a chocolate bar every now and then.
Myth: The placenta will completely protect the baby from toxins. Fact: While the placenta may screen out some toxins, it doesn't remove all of them. This is commonly seen in fetal alcohol syndrome, in instances where the mother consumed substantial quantities of alcohol while pregnant. Unfortunately, virtually anything that is carried in the mother's blood can also have an effect on her developing child. This is why pregnant women also need to follow the prenatal care advice of their doctors and be careful about what prescriptions or over the counter medicines they take.
Myth: Pregnancy is difficult for everyone, don't complain. Fact: While relatively few pregnancies pass without any discomfort on the part of the mother, that doesn't always mean that the aches and pains that you experience are normal. As part of your prenatal care plan, your OB-GYN should give you a list of things to be watching for. Excessive weight gain or sudden fluid retention, along with other symptoms like a lack of urination and vision problems, could be signs of a potentially dangerous condition called preeclampsia.
If you experience anything that seems abnormal, you should report it to your healthcare provider right away. Not reporting these symptoms could result in potential harm to yourself or your baby and a lengthy hospital stay.
Myth: All stress is bad and should be avoided. Fact: Extreme levels of stress can be bad for a developing baby and the mother. However, mild levels of stress may actually help with fetal development. Low levels of stress during pregnancy may produce offspring that are better able to focus and deal with stress than those that were exposed to no stress at all. This can lead to children who are developmentally ahead of their similarly-aged peers. Instead of completely avoiding all stress, the key is to avoid chronic or extreme stress.
For more information on prenatal care, contact a professional like those at Spring Mountain Women's Health.
