Pregnancy Myths
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Pregnancy is a great joy, not only for parents but also for the society, which is suffering from a low birthrate. Mothers and fathers-to-be often hear myths about myths about pregnancy, which often makes them anxious. So, which myths are true?
1. Eating legumes can increase the intelligence of a baby:
Highly likely so. Nuts contain unsaturated fatty acid, calcium and vitamin B that stabilize the brain’s movement. Eating beans, bean oil and eggs, cold help your baby become bright and clever.
2. Using their hands a lot can make a baby cleverer:
True. Using your hands stimulates the muscles in your hands as well as the brain’s nerves.
3. Reading books or listening to music enhances the baby’s intelligence:
Partly true. These activities do stimulate the brain. However, if you do not particularly enjoy these activities it is best not to do them as this would result in added stress, which in turn would not be good for the baby.
4. Swimming is good for the baby:
Swimming is a wonderful form of exercise. It places vigorous demand on your heart and lungs, allowing a good amount of oxygen to the brain of a baby. During the last period of pregnancy, you may feel swollen, and swimming can help this. However, swimming in water that is too cold is not advisable.
5. Having babies at an older age is risky: True. A 35-year old woman is three and a half times more likely to give birth to a child with Down’s Syndrome than a woman in her twenties. Additionally, the risk of complications during pregnancy increases, as does the risk of having an emergency Caesarean section during labor. However, if the mother is in good health, then both the mother and the baby will be okay.
6. Taking medication during pregnancy is bad:
Partly true, partly false. Generally, overthe- counter medicines should not be taken without discussing such with a doctor.