When I was pregnant with my daughter, I heard and read so much information that it was hard to know fact from fiction.
“Helpful” friends and relatives told me it wasn’t safe to eat any seafood or drink caffeine, for example.
As any new mom would be, I was worried about consuming or doing anything that might harm my growing baby.
Having heard or read each of these common myths when I was pregnant with my daughter, I thought it would be fun to share the facts provided by local professionals. The following myths are “busted” by the Via Christi Clinic OBs who deliver at Via Christi NewLife Center in Wichita.
Teresa Craddock, MD
Myth: You shouldn’t eat fish or seafood.
Fact: Most cooked fish and seafood including canned light tuna, shrimp, salmon, pollock, cod, haddock and catfish are safe. Omega-3 fatty acids in fish help baby’s brain development. Unless cooked, sushi isn’t safe because it may contain illness-inducing parasites.
Andrea Fullerton, MD
Myth: You can tell if you are having a boy or girl by how you carry the baby during your pregnancy. Example: Carrying low = boy and carrying high = girl.
Fact: The best way to predict the sex of your baby is with ultrasound or amniocentesis.
Janey Maki, MD
Myth: You shouldn’t consume caffeinated beverages.
Fact: Generally, pregnant women should avoid consuming large quantities of caffeine, but some is fine in small amounts. Guidelines suggest no more than 200-300 milligrams per day, roughly the amount found in one or two cups of coffee.
Elda Perales, MD
Myth: You shouldn’t travel.
Fact: Because the incidence of miscarriage is highest during the first trimester, unless you’re considered high risk by your doctor, the second trimester is prime for travel. It’s best not to travel in the last month of pregnancy because of the unpredictability of labor.
Matthew Voth, MD
Myth: You should avoid exercise.
Fact: Research indicates that fetuses of pregnant women who are physically active show signs of good cardiovascular health. Babies of exercisers have healthier birth weights and may even become more intelligent adults because of their bigger brains.
To get to know the Via Christi Clinic OBs, visit viachristiclinic.com/obgyn
