Discovering the Truth Behind Ten Common Myths About Conceiving

Pregnancy can evoke endless excitement and endless fear--often simultaneously. In a reckless frenzy to learn more about pregnancy, getting pregnant, and learning how to protect the unborn child, we ask our mothers, friends, etc. and they bombard us with massive amounts of information. Well, fear not! Here is a list of common old wives tales, myths and superstitions about conceiving:

Getting Pregnant:

Eating certain foods will help you become pregnant faster. Sorry ladies! There is no magic food that you can eat to ensure better efforts. Only hard work and dedication (wink-wink!) will ensure that you get preggo.You cannot get pregnant while on birth control. This is perhaps the most common myth for those who do NOT wish to get pregnant. You certainly can get pregnant, especially if you occasionally miss pills. So please ladies, make sure he wears a condom if you are not ready to be a mother.

You cannot get pregnant while on your period. Take heart would-be mommies, you can in fact become pregnant during your period if the timing is right! If sperm meets the egg before it leaves the uterus, pregnant you'll be! The pregnancy hormones will stop the bleeding.

You can reduce pregnancy rates by urinating after sex. For those of you trying to get pregnant, feel free to use the bathroom after sex. For those trying to prevent pregnancy, holding it won't help. Sperm swim up the cervix whereas urine exits the urethra. They don't affect each other.

You cannot become pregnant the first time you have sex. My older sister is evidence that this is, in fact, one of the most common myths.
While Pregnant:

With a boy, you only show in the stomach. With a girl, you show everywhere. This is absolutely not true. My friend had a girl, and she only showed in her stomach. My cousin had a boy, and she showed all over. Yes, the exact opposite of the myth. It depends on the person.

You return to your pre-pregnancy state faster if you have a boy than if you have a girl. Wrong! Ladies, the only way you can get your shape back is through exercise and eating right. Break out the treadmill!

Your nose spreads when you are having a girl. Again, I have seen the opposite of this. This is 100% myth.

Female babies steal a woman's beauty. Now if this is not the most male chauvinistic myth I've ever heard! Ladies rest assured that your daughter will not steal your beauty.

Babies are smarter if you play classical music while they are in the womb. I believed this one until I spoke to my psychologist friend. Babies can hear sounds outside the womb, but they are muffled at best. On the bright side, babies can hear their mother's voice completely while in the womb. As a result, they come to prefer hearing the sound of their mother's voice over all other people. Congrats, mommies! Your baby already wants to listen to you, and only you.
Best place to go for true advice: your doctor! Whether trying to conceive or already pregnant, your doctor is a valuable source of information. And he/she has years of certification and training. So, when in doubt, ask your doctor!

Sources:
Family and Friends