Pregnancy is a magical time, full of anticipation, joy and — let’s face it — plenty of unsolicited advice from well-meaning friends, family members and even strangers. Some pieces of advice are helpful; others are downright bizarre. Pregnancy myths are as old as time, from eating for two to predicting your baby’s future based on your cravings.
So, let’s tackle some of the most common misconceptions, and let’s bust them with science! 1. "You’re eating for two!" Ah, the classic myth! Many people believe that pregnant women should double their food intake to "feed the baby." The truth? Not quite! While you are eating for your baby, you don’t need to double your calories.
During the first trimester, most women don’t need any extra calories. In the second and third trimesters, you’ll only need about 300 extra calories a day, which is roughly the amount in a healthy snack like an apple with peanut butter or a small yogurt. So, no need to overeat or indulge in those extra servings of cake—you’re pampering your body, not the baby! 2.
"Heartburn Means You’re Having a Hairy Baby" If you’ve heard that heartburn during pregnancy means your baby will be born with a full head of hair, time to set the record straight. True, pregnancy does tend to give you heartburn, especially when a baby pushes against your stomach, but that it’s a sign of your baby’s hair growth is anecdotal, at best. Heartburn occurs because the hormone progesterone relaxes the valve betwe.
