Four myths about pregnancy

When you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant, you hear a lot of advice from different people. Your mom might say one thing, your friend who just had a baby might say another, and the internet can be full of different opinions. It’s all meant to help, but it can also be confusing. Let’s clear up some common myths about pregnancy:

Myth about pregnancy #1: Prenatal vitamins are not necessary

All women, regardless of their age, race, or number of pregnancies, should take prenatal vitamins to make sure their baby gets a healthy start.

To prevent severe birth defects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid for all women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Most prenatal multivitamins have the recommended dosage of folic acid and other essential vitamins and minerals for your baby’s development.

Myth about pregnancy #2: Prenatal care is too far away and expensive

Not true! If you live in Northeast Houston, you don’t have to travel far for excellent prenatal care. Maternity care services are onsite at Airline Children & Women’s Health Center and Denver Harbor Family Health Center; you can get care starting from when you first think about having a baby or find out you’re pregnant, all the way through delivery and even after with care for both you and your newborn. Regular checkups are important to make sure you and your baby stay healthy and strong during the pregnancy.

If you are worried about how much your care will cost, note that most insurance plans cover the cost of prenatal care. If you don’t have insurance, Vecino offers a financial assistance program to establish an amount you pay at each visit that is affordable for you. You won’t have to worry about unexpected charges for tests or procedures.

Myth about pregnancy #3: Pregnant women are happy all the time

Pregnancy is a time of physical and emotional changes, and somedays you are not going to feel like yourself. That’s okay! Pregnant women don’t have to be happy all the time.

There will be some days when you are going to miss the things that you did when you weren’t pregnant or feel cranky and sad for no reason at all. Let yourself feel all the emotions – both good and bad – and don’t feel guilty about feeling down or blue from time to time.

Myth about pregnancy #4: Pregnant women should avoid having sex

It is not true that pregnant women should avoid having sex. It is safe to have sex during all three trimesters of your pregnancy as long as you feel comfortable doing it and your doctor hasn’t advised against it.

However, you could still get a sexually transmitted infection (STI) when you are pregnant. An STI during pregnancy can be very dangerous for you and your baby. Even if you have been tested for STIs in the past, you should get tested again when you find out you are pregnant.

These are some ways you can reduce your risk of an STI:

• Have sex only with a long-term monogamous partner who has been tested for STIs
• Use condoms and dams regularly
• Don’t use drugs or alcohol – using drugs or alcohol during pregnancy can harm your baby and put you at a greater risk of engaging in unsafe sex.