Myths about Pregnancy in India Busted

Pregnancy is a unique period in a woman’s life, and first timers are caught between the elders giving them various instructions and “well wishers” filling one’s mind with all sorts of superstitions about what will help give birth to a healthy baby. Have you ever questioned these myths about pregnancy in India?

Top 5 Pregnancy Myths Debunked

Even for things that don’t have a known answer in science, you can be sure to find a pregnancy myth about it in India. Here are the truths behind some of the most widespread myths in the country:

“You can determine your baby's gender by the position in which you are carrying.”

The size and position of the baby determines how the foetus is being carried in the womb. A particular position cannot be characteristic of a gender. During late pregnancy, the baby’s head, be it boy or girl, “drops” into the pelvis, preparing for delivery, making it seem like the mother is carrying “low”. A mother “carrying high” simply means that the baby is large.

 “If you get a lot of heartburn during pregnancy, your baby will have a lot of hair.”

Heartburn is actually common during pregnancy because the stomach is pushed to a high position by the expanding uterus and the growing baby, irrespective of whether the baby has hair or not. This causes an acid reflux, since it becomes easier for acid to move backwards into the oesophagus.

 “You should not touch a cat while pregnant.”

Toxoplasmosis parasites can cause deformities in the developing foetus. This parasite can be found in the stool of cats, so pregnant women are advised not to handle cat litter. However, feeding or petting your cat and allowing it to sit in your lap are considered perfectly acceptable; this is most definitely a myth about pregnancy in India that needs to be challenged.

“If the weather is stormy or the moon is full, you are likely to go into labour, even if you are weeks away from your due date.”

The fact is that labour pain is triggered by a complex series of hormonal signals, with no evident connection to atmospheric conditions, weather changes and phases of the moon.

“If your mother had an easy pregnancy and delivery, so will you.”

Hereditary factors are not related to how easy or difficult your pregnancy and delivery will be. The size of the baby, your diet and lifestyle will determine your experience.

So make sure you clarify things with your doctor before blindly following myths about pregnancy in India. Invest time in practical things like baby proofing your house or cord blood banking; follow a healthy lifestyle and diet and most important, stay happy and stress-free.