Washing your hair postpartum only after 40 days? And is heartburn during pregnancy a sign the baby will be born with a full head of hair? I don’t know if you’ve heard about these pregnancy myths and truths, but the fact is that these myths or truths inevitably pop up whenever a new pregnancy appears in the family. How about we debunk some of these pregnancy myths and truths?
Does craving certain foods during pregnancy make the baby resemble what you desire?
In reality, pregnant women can indeed have cravings, but these cravings are due to a lack of certain vitamins found in those foods. If a pregnant woman craves meat, she may need protein and iron since red meat is rich in iron.
If you crave orange with salt, it could be a sign of vitamin C deficiency, so we can consider that the idea of the baby being born looking like an orange or with a birthmark is just folklore or even an urban legend.
No, your baby will not be born looking like a nice steak! Partners, fulfill the pregnant woman’s cravings because the truth is that these desires are caused by vitamin deficiencies.
Does washing your hair after childbirth harm the mother’s recovery?
This is a story that comes from ancient times, pregnancy myths and truths that have always existed, but this particular story has no basis. In the past, menstruating women were not allowed to cook because of the risk of burning or oversalting the food, and this myth extended to the postpartum period, suggesting that washing your hair would delay postpartum recovery. A new mother can indeed wash her hair after giving birth.
A pointy belly means a boy, a round belly means a girl
Although this is one of the most well-known superstitions, let’s try to clarify it among pregnancy myths and truths. Have you noticed that this combination doesn’t always work?
The shape of the belly does not determine the baby’s sex. In fact, you only truly know the baby’s sex when an ultrasound is performed, and even then, there is a margin of error. Absolute certainty about the baby’s sex is only at birth! Round bellies can yield handsome boys, and pointy bellies can yield beautiful girls.
Is a lot of heartburn during pregnancy a sign of a hairy baby?
In fact, heartburn in pregnancy results from stomach acidity, which can change during pregnancy. Sometimes, excess hormones can also increase this stomach acidity, which increases nausea and causes the famous pregnancy sickness. There is no connection to the baby’s hair.
Myths and truths in pregnancy – Once a C-section, always a C-section?
At first, there is nothing preventing a woman from having a vaginal birth after a C-section. A woman can indeed have a normal, vaginal delivery after a C-section. However, some isolated cases have factors that prevent vaginal delivery, such as serious conditions like placenta previa, an extremely narrow pelvis with a large baby, or fetal distress, and these situations should be evaluated by a doctor.
A woman who has had a C-section can have a vaginal delivery if she has a healthy pregnancy; even with high blood pressure (DHEG), if she is receiving proper prenatal care, there’s no reason she can’t.
Does having a lot of sex during pregnancy make the baby uncomfortable?
There’s no way that sex bothers the baby—in fact, this is one of the pregnancy myths and truths that raises the most doubts because it’s directly related to the baby. Parents don’t need to worry because the baby is protected inside the uterus, surrounded by the amniotic sac, which cushions any movements1.
When a baby moves during sex, it’s because the baby is stimulated by the mother—due to a hormonal surge—and even the mother’s movements during sex can wake the baby from a nap, but discomfort or pain will not happen because the penis only touches the cervix.
Pregnant women who have a high-risk pregnancy should be advised by their doctor to abstain from sex. However, if it is a perfectly healthy pregnancy, then sex is completely fine!
Does hair loss after childbirth happen?
Yes, hair loss happens to most women after childbirth2. This is due to hormones readjusting in the body, and the hair loss tends to stop after the baby is 6 months old. It’s a hormonal issue, so don’t worry, but if it doesn’t improve in 6 months, talk to your dermatologist.
Can you dye your hair during pregnancy?
Yes, after the first trimester your doctor may approve the use of hair dyes that do not contain ammonia3. Chemical procedures should be discussed with your doctor before doing them.
Do dark beer and canjica (corn pudding) increase milk production?
This is actually an old myth about pregnancy. Increasing milk supply is really due to drinking fluids—water, natural juice, coconut water—and having daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Still, use it as an excuse to eat tasty things while breastfeeding; after all, who doesn’t love a warm canjica in winter?
Author’s Note: I remember when I was pregnant for the first time, there were so many pregnancy myths and truths that I couldn’t even keep track of them, from heartburn and nausea to sitting on a spoon or a fork… I confess that I still suspect there may be some basis for a few of them, but there’s always an explanation! The one that caught my attention most was the ring superstition.
You tie a ring to a strand of the pregnant woman’s hair and hold it above the palm of her hand. If the ring spins, it’s a girl; if it swings back and forth, it’s a boy. That was the only one that really caught my attention for being accurate, coincidentally or not… Do you have any pregnancy myths or truths you’d like to suggest? Leave them in the comments!
See also: Sexual Intercourse During Pregnancy: Is It Safe?
Photo credits: Ⅿeagan, Mr & Mrs Stickyfingers, Blake Facey
