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Home › Articles › Health and Physical Changes › Modern Pregnancy

Modern Pregnancy

Debunking the "New" Myths

By Kelly Burgess

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Pretty much everyone knows that pregnancy myths of old are false. The many old wives tales about how to predict a baby's sex, the weird connection between heartburn and your baby's hair and the idea a bath is unsafe have long since been put to rest by the increased emphasis on pregnancy education through books and the Internet.

In fact, you would think this wealth of information would make most women almost as well informed as their own doctors, but, instead, it's given rise to a host of modern myths that seem to flourish in spite of everything.

Dr. Parul Gupta, an OB/GYN at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare in Illinois, wryly notes that myths are probably as much a part of pregnancy as morning sickness. Here is her take on the top 10 modern myths of pregnancy:

1. You shouldn't exercise while pregnant.
In fact, the opposite is true, although good research showing the benefits of exercise during pregnancy is relatively recent. Dr. Gupta recommends active women continue exercising for both their mental and physical health. However, do stick to safe exercises. Riding a bike or running a triathlon is too high-risk for pregnancy. If the exercise is not high-risk, a fit pregnant woman can even participate in relatively strenuous exercise if she feels well enough. But the old recommendations of using a target heart rate of 130 to 140 as your guide no longer apply. What Dr. Gupta tells her patients is to exercise only to the point where they can still carry on a conversation. The reason for this is because it can take a great deal of effort for a woman in great shape to get to a target heart rate of 140. Also, be sure you're always well hydrated and never exercise alone.

2. Using a computer will cause you to give birth prematurely.

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