5 Pregnancy Myths

Thursday 17th of October 2013 | Category: Opinion | Written by: Siobhan Thomas

1) The radiance of a pregnant woman

Alas, we don’t all display the pregnancy-induced fresh faced glow that is supposed to bring to mind the buds of spring. Some of us do, some of the time, but it is neither guaranteed, nor permanent. I generally don’t feel too bad during pregnancy but I do remember someone actually uttering the words ‘I thought you pregnant women were supposed to look blooming or something, but you look exhausted’. It was my due date, I had an 18 month old daughter and I was feeling rotten!

2) We can only drink kids’ drinks

We might well be off the booze but there are better alternatives than orange squash, how about the G&T without the gin? Some non-alcoholic beer? But a Capri-sun is better than nothing I suppose. I was once skipped out of in a round of drinks at a party by a family member. As the trays of beer & wine glasses were delivered to the table I questioned the whereabouts of my drink, he looked at me puzzled and said ‘but you’re pregnant’.

3) Practice makes perfect

It simply isn’t the case that 1 pregnancy qualifies you as an expert on all of them. All the pregnancy-related problems I have in this pregnancy are new to me, and it’s my third! Still, a dear friend occasionally reminds me of the advice she received from a family member once ‘pregnancy is not an illness you know’. (Actually that nugget brings a smile to my face each time I hear it)

4) Pregnancy goes so fast

There really is only one speed that 9 months can go at, and I suppose that’s about the normal speed of, well, time. As fans of pregnancy go, I would describe myself as a ‘fair weather’ one. I enjoy watching the bump grow, feeling it move and knowing I’m growing the next addition to our family. But it’s a lot more fun when it’s problem-free, and once various associated health problems or complications start to rear their head, it really isn’t the party it’s touted as being. I think it goes fast for everyone else, but no, not for me. And it’s always around this time that I hear myself uttering (probably foolishly) ‘OK I’m ready to just get on with this now’ (feel free to remind me of this come November).

5) Third labours are always easier

Many well-meaning folk have informed me that this is the case. Ignoring the fact that actual real life, scientific, tried, tested, proven and agreed upon research says that this is codswallop… please please please let this one be true.