Pregnancy is a time of joy and happiness. The couple should be able to look forward to the arrival of the baby, with anticipation and exhilaration. It is a natural event in the life of a woman and therefore should be treated as such. Unfortunately, many couples are filled with anxiety and apprehension, engendered by myths and misconceptions generated by family and friends.

As soon as a woman becomes pregnant she starts being treated like a fragile being who might break if she does any work! This is unnecessary and turns a lovely time into one filled with unwarranted restrictions.

Myths in the first trimester

• If the foetus has a lot of hair, vomiting will increase- false!
• If you don’t eat well in the first three months of pregnancy, the baby will be affected- false

It is difficult to eat well in the first few months of pregnancy. The sudden surge of estrogen in the body causes nausea. It is best to eat whatever you are able to keep down. You need not worry about nutritious value at this time. Eat small quantities frequently and avoid oily, highly spiced food. Somewomen cannot stand the smell of dairy products in the first few months of pregnancy. It is not harmful to avoid milk and curds at this time. Once your appetite returns to normal, you can start eating nutritiously.

• You should be under complete bed rest in the first three months of pregnancy- false!

This is absolutely untrue. If the pregnancy has formed normally, strenuous activity cannot lead to a miscarriage. On the other hand, if the pregnancy is abnormal and is destined to miscarry, no amount of bed rest can keep it safe. Of course, you will feel very sleepy and exhausted in the first two or three months of pregnancy. You can keep up your usual work schedule and rest whenever you get the time. Complete bed rest, however, leaves the woman feeling unwell and actually leads to weakening of the leg muscles. There is no scientific basis for a pregnant woman to be advised complete bed rest in early pregnancy unless she has had some bleeding. In that case she will be asked to rest for a few days.

• You should not climb stairs in the first three months of pregnancy- false!
• Travelling in an autorickshaw or on bumpy roads can lead to a miscarriage- not true!
• You should avoid intercourse in the first three months because it may lead to a miscarriage. This is not true.