In Africa, it is very common for people to give advice or inference which mostly stems from their cultural backgrounds and beliefs. If you are pregnant, you might be getting a lot of advice from well-meaning people and thinking about whether what they say is true or untrue. 

This article looks at some common African pregnancy myths you might have heard;

 

 

 

Myth 1: Taking cold water while pregnant can cause the unborn baby's skin to shrink and cause pneumonia 

 

Fact: This myth is untrue. Many mothers have shared stories of how they continually took ice while pregnant, and their children turned out fine. However, everything should be taken in moderation

 

 

 

Myth 2: Morning sickness only occurs in the morning.

 

Fact: Nausea (and/or vomiting) during pregnancy can occur at any time of day, due to changes in hormones. For most women, it's more common in the morning and begins to improve after 3 months. But for some women, it's different.

 

 

 

Myth 3: Experiencing heartburn in pregnancy means the baby has a lot of hair

 

Fact: There has been no conclusive study to show there is a connection between having heartburn in pregnancy and the thickness of the baby's hair. However, heartburn is quite common in pregnancy.

 

 

 

Myth 4: Eating spicy food in pregnancy can make your baby go bald

 

Fact: There is no scientific evidence for this. Whether you consume food containing pepper while pregnant or not, there is no proven effect on the child after birth.

 

 

 

Myth 5: Having a big abdomen in pregnancy means you are having a baby girl while having a small abdomen means you are having a boy.

 

Fact: According to experts, there is no scientific reason for this assumption. The shape and size of a woman’s abdomen depend on the position of the fetus, posture, muscle size, and the amount of fat deposited.

 

 

 

Myth 6: Eating oranges can make your baby fairer

 

Fact: This will mean that all fair babies' mothers took a lot of oranges throughout their pregnancies. This is absolutely untrue.

 

 

 

Myth 7: Eating Ogbono or okra will make your baby droll

 

Fact: Okra is a good source of folate, which is part of a woman’s daily needs during pregnancy. This myth is false. 

 

 

 

Myth 8: Crossing over the leg of a pregnant woman would make the baby look like you.

 

Fact: Except you have a genetic linkage to the baby, there's no way the baby can look like you just because you crossed over the mother's leg.

 

 

Knowledge is power and getting informed is one of the most strategic weapons in helping you make well-informed decisions. Most of these myths have caused fear, restricted, and deprived many pregnant women from enjoying their pregnancy journey.

 

 

 

 

Are you an expecting/pregnant mum?

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