8 myths and truths about pregnancy

With the joy of being a mother, there are also many doubts, fears, curiosities and even superstitions. Therefore, we interviewed several health professionals to clarify the main myths and truths about pregnancy. Check out!

1. Is drinking coffee bad for the baby?

True. Excess caffeine can be harmful to the baby. It is also important to avoid drinking coffee after meals. meals, as it can reduce the division of nutrients – resulting in reduced fetal growth, prematurity, intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weight, spontaneous abortion and malformations. The recommendation is not to exceed 200 mg (1 cup of coffee = 92 mg). Don’t forget that tea, energy drinks and colas also contain caffeine.

2. If the pregnant woman wants to eat something and does not satiate the desire, could the child be born with spots similar to the food?

Myth. There is no biological theory that confirms this superstition. In the past, because most births happen by normal delivery, even more complicated cases, many babies were born with red spots – caused by the birth process itself in the act of expulsion that forces the baby’s head –, leaving marks when passing through the uterine cervix. Perhaps, for this reason, this “belief” about desire and stain was born.

3. Can pregnant women crave strange things like dirt and soap?

True. The practice of pica among the pregnant women it may be associated, among other things, with anemia, intestinal obstruction, dental problems, parasitic infections, toxoplasmosis and hypertensive syndromes in pregnancy. It may also be associated with the deficiency of some nutrients from the soil, such as iron, zinc, calcium and selenium.

4. Is sex during pregnancy harmful?

Myth. Sex during pregnancy is good for everyone. But there are some specific situations, such as the threat of premature birth and placenta previa, in which sexual intercourse can be harmful. It is interesting to point out that the couple’s libido can change more or less during the gestational period.

5. Is the shape of the belly related to the baby’s sex?

Myth. The shape of the belly is due to the uterine anatomy and the body of the pregnant woman, regardless of the gender of the baby. baby. Uterus with fibroids or malformations may have different shapes than usual.

6. After a cesarean section, can you no longer have a normal delivery?

Myth. Vaginal delivery after a cesarean section is possible, but a 2-year interval is recommended to be on the safe side. When the patient has already undergone a cesarean section, it is more difficult to induce labor with some medications due to the risk of rupture of the uterus at the healing site.

7. Does the pregnant woman need to eat twice as much?

Myth. Pregnant women should reduce the interval between meals – reaching two-hour intervals. You should always prioritize foods with great nutritional value, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and cereals. There is a greater caloric requirement in the gestational period of about 300 Kcal, that is, the pregnant woman does not need to eat for two. Ideally, you should start increasing your caloric intake after the first trimester, in the fourth month of pregnancy. At first, the weight gain is only the mother’s, and after that, the baby needs to gain weight as it is growing.

8. Can’t pregnant women eat raw fish?

True. Raw meat and fish are potentially dangerous when it comes to parasites and can cause serious risks to the baby (blindness and brain damage) and to the mother’s health (vomiting, abdominal pain, hives…). If there was complete certainty that the fish is not contaminated, there would be no problem. The fact is: we prefer not to take chances.

Professionals who collaborated with the answers:

Sandra Maria – functional nutritionist;

Ana Beatriz Cintra – psychologist and author of the book “Changing your story – Obesity Never Again”;

Myrla Merlo – nutritionist;

Fábio Passos – gynecologist.