Pregnancy Myths In India

Pregnancy is a wonderful time in any woman’s life. In these nine months, she creates a unique loving bond between her and her unborn baby and makes heaps of future dreams about her little one. As soon as the news of the pregnancy spreads, the mother-to-be is surrounded by a hoard of relatives, colleagues, friends and well wishers who seem to be equally excited with the good news and have several advices for the lady. There are several do’s and don’ts which might be piled upon a woman from her elders and family members in Indian pregnancy.

Some of such advices are based on scientific principles, while many others are purely misconceptions. There are several pregnancy myths which vary from country to country which can also be based upon determining the gender of the unborn baby. The following section will cover the most common pregnancy myths in India.

Gender prediction during pregnancy in India : many Indians believe that the shape of the pregnant lady’s stomach gives away the gender of the baby she is carrying. If the stomach is carrying the baby high, it is a girl and otherwise it is a boy. This is a myth and has no scientific basis as the shape of the belly is hugely dependent on the original shape and features of the mother’s uterus, abdominal muscles, and the history of previous pregnancies as well. Pregnancy in India is a huge issue with several myths, and this is just one of them.

A pregnant woman must eat for two : during pregnancy, India can surely get on one’s nerves. Elders constantly advise the mother to make her diet manifold, but only 300 to 400 calories extra are sufficient to provide all the nutrition to the growing fetus. Having a nutrient rich diet is important rather than just doubling up on the calories, as the baby is not a grown adult like the mother.

Skin tone and facial structure determines gender of baby : one may have their aunties and grandmothers saying that they are carrying a girl because of the sudden glow on the face. However, the pregnancy glow is due to hormonal changes during this period and is same for everyone, regardless of carrying a boy or a girl. Read More…