Pregnancy and Birth Myths and Facts Longridge

Becoming a parent is a life changing experience, and it can sometimes feel like you need a degree in parenthood to get to grips with all the new information you have to take on board as you prepare for your new arrival.  

From old wives' tales to new medical research, many mums-to-be find themselves overloaded with information and advice about what they should and shouldn’t do during pregnancy, and it can be hard to know exactly which advice to follow and which to take with a pinch of salt!

Obviously it is important to follow the right advice both for your health and that of your unborn baby. Maternity expert Dr Gwyneth Lewis sorts the myths from the facts to help you make the right choices to ensure your pregnancy and birth go as smoothly as possible giving your baby the best start in life.
 
You can’t drink ANY alcohol throughout your pregnancy
When you’re pregnant, it’s best to stop drinking alcohol altogether. But if you do drink, have no more than one or two units of alcohol, once or twice a week, and don’t get drunk.

A unit is half a pint of standard strength beer, lager or cider, or a pub measure of spirit. A glass of wine is about two units and alcopops are about 1.5 units.

You shouldn’t lift anything mildly heavy
True - you should not do any heavy lifting while you are pregnant. The pregnancy hormone relaxin makes your ligaments more pliable, so they are more prone to strains. If you have to lift something, keep your back straight and bend your hips and knees. When you go shopping, divide what you buy into two equal loads and carry one bag in each hand.

You cannot take Paracetamol during pregnancy
False - Paracetamol has been used routinely during all stages of pregnancy to reduce high temperatures and for pain relief for mild symptoms such as headaches. Overall, there is no clear evidence of harmful effects on the baby, but, as with any medicine taken during pregnancy, Paracetamol should be taken at the lowest effective dose, for the shortest possible time.

If you are unwell during pregnancy, or want further advice about which medicines are safe, you should always talk to your midwife or GP before taking anything. You can also get advice from your local pharmacy, or by calling NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

You can’t eat fish during pregnancy
False - fish is good for your health and therefore good for your growing baby so try to eat at least two portions a week, including one portion of oily fish. It is safe to eat most types of fish while pregnant, however you should avoid eating any swordfish and marlin and make sure you limit the amount of tuna you eat to no more than two tuna steaks a week. This is because of the levels of mercury in these fish, which can, at high levels, harm a baby's developing nervous system.

You should also avoid eating raw shellfish when you are pregnant. This is purely because there is a high risk of food poisoning whi...

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