look news india
If there is any most beautiful, sensitive and change-filled period of a woman’s life, then it is definitely the time of motherhood i.e. pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant, many major and profound changes are taking place both in her body and mind. During this period, to keep the mother-to-be physically and mentally healthy, various kinds of advice and advice start being given by the elders of the family, friends and relatives. For centuries, many types of folk tales, hidden beliefs and traditional things have been prevalent in our society regarding pregnancy, which people blindly accept as true without any scientific confirmation. Modern medical science and gynecologists believe that relying on these false things or myths in this journey of motherhood can prove dangerous for the health of both the future mother and her unborn child. Therefore, it is very important that instead of relying on hearsay, we follow scientific facts and doctor’s advice.
The first and biggest myth: A pregnant woman should always eat the equivalent of two people.
The most commonly heard thing in our society during pregnancy is that from now on, the mother-to-be should eat food equal to two people i.e. twice the normal amount, so that the baby in the womb can get proper nutrition. This is the biggest and most popular myth which people believe to be the most true. Doctors and dieticians clearly say that the body definitely needs more calories and nutrients during pregnancy, but it does not mean that you start eating more and heavy food than required. Eating excessively can cause a woman’s weight to increase rapidly, due to which the risk of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and complications in normal delivery increases manifold. Instead of doubling the quantity of food, attention should be paid to the quality of food, which should include balanced items rich in protein, iron, calcium, vitamins and folic acid.
Second Myth: Doing exercise or physical activities during pregnancy is harmful
Another very common misconception is that pregnant women should take complete rest for nine months and should not get up from bed and do any kind of physical labor or exercise. People believe that moving or exercising can cause injury to the baby in the womb or there can be a risk of miscarriage. Whereas gynecologists argue that if the pregnancy is completely normal and healthy, then doing light exercises, walks and yoga poses prove to be a boon for both mother and child. Regularly doing light physical activity improves blood circulation in the body, removes muscle stiffness, increases the ability to bear pain during delivery and reduces mental stress. Yes, before lifting any kind of heavy weight or doing rigorous exercise, it is mandatory to consult your doctor and do yoga only under his supervision.
Third Myth: Traveling during pregnancy is completely unsafe
Often the elders in the family advise women that from the time of conception till the birth of the child, they should not step out of the house and should completely avoid any kind of travel. There is a widespread fear that shocks from a car, bus or train can have a negative impact on the fetus. There may be some truth in this only for the first three months and a few weeks of the last phase when the body is extremely sensitive, but traveling is not prohibited during the entire pregnancy. Doctors believe that the second trimester of pregnancy i.e. the time between the fourth and sixth months is considered the safest to travel. During this time, women can travel comfortably by taking precautions and taking doctor’s permission, provided they do not have any serious medical complication or problem like bleeding.
Fourth and fifth myth: Eating ghee leads to normal delivery and the shape of the stomach determines gender.
In the last months of pregnancy, pregnant women are strongly advised to eat ghee, with the superstition that it makes the stomach smooth and the delivery becomes very easy i.e. normal. According to medical science, eating ghee has no scientific connection whatsoever with the path of birth or the process of normal delivery. Eating excessive ghee only increases a woman’s weight and cholesterol. Apart from this, another strange myth is that by looking at the shape of a woman’s stomach, one can guess whether she is carrying a son or a daughter. This is completely baseless, because the size of the stomach depends on the structure of the woman’s spine, the position of the baby and the amount of amniotic fluid in the uterus. So stay away from all these myths and enjoy a healthy motherhood.
