Have your family and friends been telling you about the taboos of
pregnancy? How much truth is there in hearsay?
Below are some of the most common myths on what pregnant mothers
should or should not do.
Myth: Eating crabs may cause the child to be hyperactive
Fact: There is no scientific basis for the association of this food
to a child being hyperactive. However, pregnant women are advised
to have a healthy balanced diet comprising the various kinds of
natural food without chemical ingredients and preservatives.
Myth: Painting during pregnancy may cause the baby to have
birthmarks
Fact: Birthmarks are usually caused by some form of pigmentation in
the baby's skin. It can also be due to an abnormal collection of
blood vessels at a particular area. Some of the birthmarks may
disappear as the child grows older while others do not.
Myth: Cutting cloth in bed may result in the baby having a
cleft lip and / or palate
Fact: Cleft lips and palates are congenital defects. This condition
tends to be hereditary and the risk increases with the number of
affected immediate family members. However, it may also occur in
babies without a family history of this condition.
Certain drugs are thought to cause this defect but findings are
not conclusive.
Myth: Eating twin bananas may lead to Siamese twins
Fact: Siamese twins are born with part of their bodies joined
together. It happens purely by chance and takes place during the
development of a single embryo.
In the majority of twin development, the embryo should separate
within 2 weeks after conception. For Siamese twins, this occurs
later and the embryo is not completely separated.
This condition is serious as the mortality rate for babies born
with this condition is high. Fortunately, Siamese twins may be
detected by ultrasound examination during pregnancy. When detected
at the early stage of pregnancy, the couple may decide whether to
continue with the pregnancy.
Treatment options vary with each case depending on which portions
of the babies' bodies are joined together and whether there are
associated deformities. In most cases, surgery is performed.
Myth: Mothers should avoid consuming "cooling food" such as
grass jelly, pineapple and green bananas as this may lead to
miscarriages
Fact: There is no conclusive evidence to associate specific foods
with miscarriages. Miscarriages usually occur during the first 3
months of pregnancy. About half of these cases are due to
abnormally formed fetuses. Other causes include infection and
medical conditions such as diabetes.
Pregnant women are advised to have a healthy and well-balanced
diet, consuming food from the 4 food groups (rice and alternatives,
fruits, vegetables, and meat and alternatives). Additional intake
of specific nutrients during pregnancy such as folic acid, Vitamin
C, calcium and iron are also important to meet the mother's and
baby's needs.
Myth: Sewing and patching holes during pregnancy may cause the
baby to be born with an imperforated (closed) anus
Fact: Imperforated anus is a congenital malformation. It is a
condition present at birth and is not inherited. It may be
associated with other deformity such as urinary or chromosomal
anomaly.
This condition occurs in every 1 in 5,000 births. Surgery is done
to correct this condition.
The information is provided by KK Hospital - Singapore's
leading Women and Children's Hospital. Please visit www.kkh.com.sg for more
information.
