Modern Pregnancy

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:

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.

According to Dr. Gupta, there's no association between computer use and preterm labor. Even laptops are safe. They do tend to get warm, but there's no harm to the baby. Regardless, you shouldn't be sedentary for long periods, whether it's in front of the computer, television or anywhere. Get up and move around!

This has taken hold even more strongly due to the increased security since 9/11, but there's no cause for alarm. The amount of X-rays in the airport security area is minimal, and there's so much dispersion of the rays there's virtually no exposure. Dr. Gupta also notes the payoff in security is worth the extra scrutiny.

Up until about 34 weeks feel free to travel just as if you're not pregnant. After that, it's best to stay grounded and no more than an hour from your hospital – but that has nothing to do with safety issues – it's for your convenience in case you go into labor. You don't want to end up having your baby in an unfamiliar location. And you probably aren't terribly keen on the idea of giving birth on a plane either.

While eating for two used to be one of the most anticipated aspects of pregnancy, it was never really a good idea to just pig out. However, with all the modern 20-something moms-to-be bearing their bellies, there seems to be an alarming trend of not changing eating habits at all. The truth about what to eat, or not, lies somewhere in the middle.

Dr. Gupta says a pregnant woman does need additional caloric intake. How much depends on the weight the person begins at. A slimmer woman, particularly one who is underweight, needs more calories per day than a woman who may have been obese at the beginning of the pregnancy. Nowadays, doctors will adjust their dietary recommendations based on these factors. However, regardless of your starting point, you do need to eat more than you were eating before pregnancy because now you're growing a fetus and your body has extra metabolic demands.

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