By Dr. Elochukwu Onyia

Working in the maternity ward of a large hospital, I get to meet a lot of people who have many things in common. The first of course, being that they are female and pregnant.

Another thing they happen to share, on the grounds of the maternity wards and off it, is a long list of pregnancy do’s and don’ts, some of which have been carefully and painstakingly passed on from generation to generation.

Many times, I wonder about the history of how these myths, how they came to be: while some of them are sometimes based on facts, albeit in a roundabout route, others are simply imaginative and not useful at all, while most others are, or could be, potentially dangerous.

‘Doctor, I heard that...’, is usually the beginning of a chance to begin such a conversation.

I have indeed heard things that have both astounded and alarmed me, but even so, it would be fool hardy of me to assume that I have heard all of what women in Nigeria exchange as pregnancy advice.

I will be spending time discussing, dissecting and where necessary, debunking, some of these myths.

I also hope that I will be able to reiterate the fact that sharing myths could be dangerous and non-productive. The best person to discuss a pregnancy with is a professional trained to give the best possible information and advice about pregnancy.

Because of this, all that you hear, should be taken with some salt, a very little pinch, until you speak with you doctor, someone like me.

1. Drinking cold water in pregnancy is dangerous to the baby

Very interesting. There are wide variations in the definition of ‘cold’ and the ‘danger’ to the unborn child.

From this same myth, some also say that avoiding cold water in the period immediately after childbirth is recommended, as “cold water” whether one drinks it or to bathes with it, prevents adequate ‘clearing of the womb’.

No studies whatsoever were found to support this myth. On the other hand, no controlled studies were found which deny that fact either.

However, this is what we know; the temperature of the human body is maintained remarkably constant at about 37^oC. There are several mechanisms by which the body keeps its temperature constant.

While taking a cup of hot tea or a glass of ice cold water has been found to cause temporary changes in body temperature, warmer and cooler respectively, these changes are minimal and do not make any difference in a healthy adult (pregnant or not).

This myth, can be taken therefore with a pinch of salt. A cup of cold water has virtually no effect on the womb but drinking warm water never hurt anyone.

2. Taking alcohol in pregnancy makes for easier delivery

This is one of my favourites.

No because there is any truth in it, but because of how wide spread it is, and how very, very dangerous this myth is.

Many women who are educated now know that alcohol in pregnancy is a big medical no-no.

But I have found, in clinical practice, that many women, mostly from the lower socio-economic class, drink a lot of alcohol, especially with the native herbal concoctions.

The kinds of herbs in them vary from tribe to tribe in Nigeria but a consistent ingredient in all of them is alcohol.

The consumption of alcohol in pregnancy has been a much-studied issue. Alcohol consumption in pregnancy causes a lot of problem for the baby.

A major problem that it will cause is a reduction in the growth of the baby in the womb.

This will result in a smaller baby at birth, and an easier delivery, a fact that the women that drink the alcohol tend to promote as a good thing, hence the myth.

The untold story for them however, is that alcohol is a well known cause of mental retardation in babies born to alcoholic mothers, heart defects, eye and joint abnormalities have also been seen in such babies.

These problems can be caused even by consumption of small amounts of alcohol. Hence, the current recommendation is that NO alcohol be consumed during pregnancy.

THIS MYTH IS AN ABSOLUTE NO-NO.