Pregnancy Tales: Hit or Myth

The Umbilical Cord

To put to rest one of the more alarming myths out there: NO you can't strangle your baby with its umbilical cord by reaching over your head for that coveted jar of pickles in the cabinet! Standing on a chair or ladder during pregnancy isn't a great idea, though, since during pregnancy a woman's balance tends to be less than perfect.

Computer Screens

According to the most recent studies, there's no evidence that using a computer during the workday increases the incidence of low birth weight babies, preterm labor, or other deficiencies in newborns.

Lifting Heavy Objects

Lifting a child under 40 pounds or lugging a few bags of groceries from car to kitchen will not cause an otherwise healthy pregnancy to miscarry. Just make sure to protect your back by using your knees whenever possible, and never strain.

Sex

Unless you have low-lying placenta, are experiencing bleeding, or are in danger of early delivery, sex is perfectly safe throughout pregnancy. Of course, if your partner shows any signs of having a sexually transmitted disease, refrain from intercourse.

Caffeine

A moderate level of caffeine is considered safe during pregnancy. Just try to keep your java intake to under three cups a day and make sure to drink eight glasses of water daily, since caffeine is considered a diuretic and contributes to dehydration.

Seafood

The US Food and Drug Administration recommends that pregnant women restrict their consumption of some seafood, such as swordfish, shark, King mackerel, white tuna, and tilefish—as well as fish caught in most fresh waters—due to high levels of mercury and other contaminants that can be found in these fish. While eating up to 12 ounces of seafood a week can be beneficial to a developing fetus, pregnant women should refrain from eating more than this amount. Because it is not cooked and can harbor listeria, sushi is not recommended during pregnancy. For a list of safe fish, call 1-800-SAFEFOOD.