5 Misconceptions about Pregnancy

1. Pregnancy is all glow: The truth lies somewhere between “blissful belly” and “crummy conception.” Some women seem to suffer little to no nausea, minimal weight gain, maintain their normal exercise routine until the wee hours before labor begins and generally glow like a neon light throughout the duration of their pregnancy. Others, of course, experience the exact opposite: nausea and vomiting that persists well past the first trimester, overwhelming fatigue that supersedes the promised second trimester energy burst, skin rashes and acne, swollen feet and ankles, sleep-interrupting indigestion, backache, and depression or anxiety can all be pregnancy-related experiences for a large percentage of women.  Not only do these pregnancy-related experiences vary from woman to woman, pregnancy to pregnancy, they also vary in importance. While pregnancy manifestations like indigestion or mild backache can be handled with minimalist intervention, others require a greater level of attention. Prenatal depression, for example, which occurs in an estimated 10-12 percent of pregnancies, has been proven to increase a woman’s risk for pre-term delivery, among other complications, and requires prompt evaluation and treatment by a qualified care provider.

2. “Eating for Two” means eating as much as you want: Really, the increased caloric intake requirement for pregnancy is rather minimal. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends an increase of 300 calories per day for a woman of normal pre-pregnancy weight, carrying a singleton pregnancy, (600) for a woman with twins, (1,000- higher order multiples).  A 300 calorie addition to a woman’s diet is roughly equivalent to one fruit & cereal-based granola bar, or three large apples, or a cup of low-fat yogurt and a small banana or 2 pieces of whole wheat toast with 1 TBSP of peanut butter.  More drastic, the recommendation for water intake is 10-12 8 oz. glasses of fluid per day (which may represent a huge increase, depending upon a woman’s pre-pregnancy water intake) The important focus, here, is the quality of the calories a pregnant woman consumes, rather than the overall quantity.

3. Pregnancy lasts nine months: Nine months, depending on the date of conception is, give or take, about 275 days which is equivalent to about 39 weeks.  Many resources tell us pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. Others suggest 37 weeks is considered “full term,” and still others remind us that allowing a pregnancy to go to 41.5 or 42 weeks is acceptable. The point here? Nine months is an average. With the pre-term birth rate ever rising in our country (~12%) we certainly hope women will carry their babies to or beyond 37 completed weeks. But it is also wise to mentally prepare yourself for a longer duration: if you anticipate a due month for baby’s anticipated birth day, falling somewhere between 38 and 42 weeks past conception, you will find yourself feeling less antsy if you happen to be one of the ~10% of women whose pregnancies go beyond the fortieth week.

4. Pregnancy is a time to completely hand over the reins to your maternity care provider: Pregnancy is, in fact, a time of enormous growth in a woman’s life (no pun, intended). Physically, mentally and spiritually blossoming, a pregnant woman can maximize her experience of these metamorphoses by playing an integral role in the decision-making that occurs during her pregnancy (and birth). From deciding on which prenatal tests to opt into or out of, from whom she will receive her perinatal care, and where she will give birth, the confidence garnered through this type of initiative will not only encourage a greater level of informed decision making during pregnancy, but a an empowered approach to childbirth, as well.
 
5. Pregnancy and birth are risky and pose great danger to a woman: This, of course, depends on where, and under what circumstances, you live. Prior to the inception of basic hygiene measures like washing with soap and water, development and use of antibiotics, water sanitation, clean and efficient food transportation and preparation practices, and recognition of and development of treatment regimens for medical conditions like postpartum hemorrhage…pregnancy and birth did equate to the most dangerous time in a woman’s life. And in some places around the world, this is still the case. However, in developed nations, these issues are largely ameliorated—making pregnancy and birth a feasibly safe, healthy and normal experience in the lives of 90+ % of women.  Adequate prenatal care from a trained maternity care provider, good prenatal nutrition (including prenatal vitamin supplementation), healthy lifestyle maintenance and the practice of evidence-based maternity care by a woman’s provider can all ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy and birth experience.