When people find out about someone's pregnancy, they begin not only to violently express their joy and wish the expectant mother and baby health, but also, often, to give unsolicited advice. Some of them will be trite, some will be useful, but most of these recommendations are simply harmful.
A pregnant woman should eat for two
The physical condition of each pregnant woman and her fetus is unique, and only she herself and her attending physician know exactly what she should do. This applies to most of the bad advice, but primarily to the recommendation to increase the diet. Usually, the expectant mother only needs to add 300 extra calories to support the normal growth and development of the fetus.
Get rid of pets
Usually we are talking about cats, but it is often suggested to expel all living creatures from the house in general. This advice is not harmful because it is unethical, but because it misrepresents the danger from pets. Toxoplasmosis, namely, it is feared by all the advisers, a really dangerous infection, but you can also get infected by using:
- raw or undercooked meat;
- raw eggs;
- unpasteurized goat milk and products from it.
It is impossible to get toxoplasmosis by stroking a cat. The infection is transmitted through cat feces, that is, it can be infected both by removing the tray after the cat, and by digging in the soil where the neighbor's animal is in the habit of walking.
If a pregnant woman wants something, then her body needs it
No, indulging the little whims of pregnant women is cute and caring, but it's wild to build guesses about the deficiency of any substances in her body based on the food preferences of the expectant mother. Even if a pregnant woman began to chew chalk (and this also happens), this does not mean that her body lacks it. Rather, we are talking about a lack of iron or calcium. And in general, civilized people, in order to find out if everything is normal with vitamins and minerals, take a blood test.
You should give up chocolate
Quite the opposite - modern studies have shown that pregnant women who ate a bar of dark chocolate per week during the third trimester had a 40% lower risk of developing preeclampsia. Newborn babies with such a sweet tooth are more smiling and laugh more often.
A pregnant woman should avoid exercise
In fact, pregnant women who get moderate exercise are less likely to have an oversized baby. In addition, their babies often have more developed brains. It was also noted that the fetal heart rate in exercising mothers is healthier.
Pregnant women should not eat seafood
Studies have shown that those mothers who ate at least 200 grams of seafood rich in healthy omega-3 fats during pregnancy had a higher speech IQ, and they developed motor and communication skills faster. Only raw fish and fish with a high mercury content should be excluded.
Enjoy - the happiest time has come
Pregnancy is different for everyone. Some pregnant women may suffer from depression and anxiety. These conditions do not have the best effect on the health of the fetus. It is better to become aware of them and seek therapy than to try to make yourself feel happy.
Play classical music for him
The nine-month process of fetal formation is much more serious and requires more attention than listening to Mozart. The fruit is an active and dynamic creature, it is able to react and even adapt to environmental conditions. He is preparing to live in the world that awaits him. The prenatal period is in many ways the source of his health and well-being.
Avoid any stress
The point is not even that in the modern world it is impossible to avoid any stress, and this advice can only cause a pregnant woman to feel guilty. The latest research suggests that occasional moderate stress levels are beneficial for the fetus. Women who have experienced it give birth to babies whose brains, already at two weeks of age, are working at a faster rate than the brains of babies whose mothers avoided the slightest excitement. At the age of two, such children show a higher level of motor and mental development.
Don't buy anything in advance
If you agree that buying a dowry for a baby can attract evil spirits, then you can follow this advice. But reasonable modern people prefer to choose things in advance, without haste, enjoy this process, and then, after birth, devote as much time as possible to the baby.
Only take a shower, not a bath
There is no evidence that bathing is harmful to pregnant women. It is only important to avoid overheating, but this also applies to the shower. During pregnancy, hormonal changes can lead to impaired perception of heat, so it is better to trust a thermometer rather than your own feelings.
It's time to start using the cream for stretch marks
The myth that the use of remedies for stretch marks during pregnancy affects their appearance later is very beneficial for cosmetic companies. But there is no scientific evidence that oil, gel or cream can in any way affect this process.
You need to give birth to a hero
The idea that the bigger the child the better is harmful. The newborn should be of normal weight, about 3.5 kilograms. A large baby will not only have a hard time passing through the birth canal and may be injured, but in the future may also have problems with being overweight, such children are more likely to develop diabetes.
If you want to give birth faster - start cleaning
Having a baby should be a natural process. Stimulating it with strong physical exertion, you can harm the long-awaited baby, and not bring the time of childbirth closer.
It's time to forget about sex
To begin with, your sex has nothing to do with counselors. And yes, in most cases, it is completely safe for the fetus. However, there are exceptions related to the location of the placenta, uterine tone, and other medical indications. In any case, this is a topic for conversation with a doctor who monitors pregnancy, and not with well-wishers.
