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. But how much do you know about modern-day pregnancy myths? Take our quiz and find out!

True or False

False! In fact, the opposite is true, although good research showing the benefits of exercise during pregnancy is relatively recent. Dr. Parul Gupta, an OB/GYN at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare in Illinois, 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.

True or False

According to Dr. Parul 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!

True or False

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.

True or False

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.

True or False

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.

"Eating for two is a myth that I think everyone understands isn't in their best interests because that weight has to come back off," says Dr. Gupta. "The problem now is seeing so many perfect pregnant women who don't look pregnant. Real women think they shouldn't gain weight and try not to eat any more than they have to. That's not a safe approach to diet during pregnancy."

True or False

If you've already had a baby and submitted unquestioningly to this procedure, this may make you squirm – it probably wasn't really necessary at all. Dr. Gupta says in the past, even the fairly recent past, an episiotomy was considered to be simply part of the routine of delivery. After being under fire from those who felt it had just become a habit, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists came out with a statement saying it doesn't recommend routine episiotomies unless there's some fetal distress or to avoid a C-section.

True or False

This is an ongoing argument in the obstetrics world, but many doctors, such as Dr. Gupta, feel there are patients who are good candidates for a vaginal birth after a C-section (VBAC) and it is appropriate and reasonable to attempt a VBAC on these patients. Having said that, she also acknowledges it's not a choice in some hospitals, which sometimes have rules against VBAC births. Whether or not you have a choice depends on where you live and your doctor's comfort level.

True or False

Dr. Gupta finds this makes a lot of women who need inductions unnecessarily nervous. She says this is a complete myth; contractions hurt whether they're induced by Pitocin or come on naturally.

True or Falase

This myth is based on a flawed study a few years ago and persists in spite of all evidence to the contrary. In fact, normal caffeine intake – a couple of cups of coffee a day, for example – is perfectly safe. However, if you're drinking six or seven cups a day, you should certainly cut back on caffeine.

True or False

Like the induction/pain myth, this is one which causes women an unnecessary amount of fear and anxiety. In her years of practice, Dr. Gupta has never heard of anyone who became paralyzed from an epidural. There are some risks, but paralysis is not common enough for anyone to worry about.

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