January 27, 2025 • 10 mins
EP 75:
Think you’re “eating for two”? Or that lifting anything heavy is a no-go? Today, I’m busting the biggest pregnancy myths with evidence-based facts to help you navigate your pregnancy with confidence. We’ll cover safe exercise, nutrition, caffeine intake, and more—so you don’t fall for outdated advice!
📢 Mentioned in this episode:
- Bump to Bundle Blueprint – My all-in-one guide to pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding! (LINK)
- Free Birth Plan Template – Grab it here! (LINK)
📲 Let’s Connect:
- 🎥 YouTube: Birth Prep Academy
- 💻 Website: www.birthprepacademy.com
✨ Rate & Review! If you enjoyed this episode, leave a 5-star review—it helps more moms find this podcast!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Microphone (TONOR TC-777 (00:00):
Today, we're diving into some of the
most common pregnancy myths thatjust won't quit.
These myths might be making yousecond.
Guess what you should be doingduring your pregnancy.
But don't worry because I haveevidence-based science to set
the record straight.
So stick around.
Because in this video, not onlywill we be busting common
(00:22):
pregnancy myths, but I'll alsogive you three top takeaways For
you to have a more empoweredpregnancy.
Are you ready to bust the myths?
If so Lesco.
Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founderand CEO of Birth Prep Academy.
(00:45):
I'm on a mission to helppregnant moms prepare for their
first hospital birth.
I'm sharing revealingconversations about what it
really takes to successfullytransition into motherhood.
So join me.
I'm here to discover things likewhat to expect in childbirth,
how to prepare for your birth.
We'll also talk aboutbreastfeeding and so much more.
(01:08):
I'm so grateful to share it allwith you right here on Oh, Baby,
the podcast created for pregnantmoms, preparing for their first
hospital birth.
Let's get started.
Microphone (TONOR TC-777 Au (01:21):
All right, so let's go ahead and
jump right into those myths.
You know, the ones that make yousecond, guess everything you
thought you knew.
Yeah, those let's go ahead andstart with myth.
Number one, you're eating fortwo.
Okay.
So while it is important thatyou do take in.
Extra calories.
(01:43):
It's a lot less than what youprobably think in the first
trimester you don't need to takein any extra calories.
The second trimester, therecommendation states that you
should take in about 300 extracalories per day.
And the third trimester, thatnumber rises to about 450 extra
(02:04):
calories per day.
But the key thing to remember isthat you're not doubling your
intake and calories.
You're not eating for a wholenother person.
Instead.
It's important to remember thatyou're really only taking in
enough, extra calories tosupport the growth of your
baby's growth and development.
Microphone (TONOR TC-777 (02:26):
Okay, so next up is myth number two,
the no heavy lifting myth.
Now, once you become pregnant,most people say that you should
avoid lifting anything heavierthan a feather.
But is that really true though?
I'm so glad you asked, becausethe truth is you do need to be
(02:49):
careful with your body.
However it is usually safe tolift heavier objects.
As long as you're payingattention to your form.
And this case is more aboutlistening to your body.
You really want to be careful toavoid any jerky or sudden
movements?
As a matter of fact, ifsomething feels too heavy, then
(03:10):
you should probably stop and askfor help.
With that being said, don't feellike you need to live in a
bubble.
Your body can still handle alot.
If you're being mindful.
Okay, next up is myth.
Number three, avoid caffeine andalcohol completely.
Okay, so let's break this apart.
Let's talk about alcohol first.
(03:33):
It is important to stop allconsumption of alcohol during
pregnancy due to a conditioncalled fetal alcohol syndrome.
This can affect the babytremendously.
And so alcohol is an absoluteno-no.
How, however caffeine is more ofa gray area.
A small cup of coffee or teaevery day is usually okay for
(03:56):
most women.
The key here is really to stickwith moderation.
Too much caffeine can be linkedto things like preterm birth.
But.
A little is generally consideredto be safe.
Okay.
As promised, let's talk about acouple of tips that you can take
away.
To help you feel more empoweredand confident during your
(04:19):
pregnancy?
The first tip I have is I'm sureyou could probably guess it if
you've watched any of my othervideos, but in case you haven't.
The first tip I have for you ishydration.
I cannot stress this enough.
So you might be wondering, well,why is hydration so important?
(04:40):
Water is important because itsupports your increased blood
volume, which you have now thatyou're pregnant.
It also helps to preventconstipation and can even help
to reduce swelling.
Now on the opposite end,dehydration can cause things
like headaches.
Cramping.
(05:00):
And fatigue.
So aim to drink about eight to10 cups.
Every day.
And whenever you're feelingthirsty.
Feel free to drink up.
Alright, next up is your mentalhealth.
Pregnancy is a rollercoaster.
And so it's perfectly normal tofeel up and down and quite
frankly, all over the place.
(05:21):
With that said it's important toprioritize your mental health.
Stress and anxiety can reallyaffect your pregnancy.
So make time for relaxation.
That could look like anythingfrom meditation.
Prayer, prenatal stretches.
Or simply taking a quiet walk.
(05:42):
And remember, don't be afraid toask for support when you need
it.
All right.
Let's talk prenatal vitamins.
The key vitamins that you wantto look for should include
things like full like acid.
Iron.
Calcium and DHA.
Folic acid helps to preventneural defects while iron helps
(06:03):
to support that increased bloodvolume.
Calcium of course supports thegrowth of your baby.
And your bones, both of you.
And DHA is crucial for braindevelopment.
It's best to take themconsistently.
So that may look like takingthem in the morning every day,
or perhaps you take it at night.
(06:24):
but whenever you choose to takethem, try to stick closely to
that schedule.
just because this helps toestablish a habit and routine so
that you don't forget.
And always check with yourdoctor to make sure that you're
taking the right prenatalvitamins for you.
Okay.
So I've got today would be agreat time to just address some
(06:48):
FAQ's that I get often in myemail and DM.
The first one I want to tackleis about morning sickness.
A lot of people ask tons ofquestions about morning
sickness, or, they'll justcomment that they're having a
lot of morning sickness with thesymptoms.
Morning sickness is very commonand it's very normal.
(07:09):
but it doesn't have to make youmiserable.
So be mindful to eat smallfrequent meals.
I recommend to keep crackers atyour bedside.
Sometimes it's good to even haveone or two crackers before you
even get out of bed in themorning, just to have something
on your stomach.
You can also try things likeginger or peppermint and things
(07:32):
with lemon.
All of these things have beenknown To help ease some of that
feeling of nausea.
Now remember if your symptomsare severe, if you're having
severe nausea, severe vomiting,without being able to get.
Little to no relief, then it'sbest for you to reach out to
your provider for help.
(07:53):
Okay.
So another question that I get alot about is, how can I prepare
for labor?
And my response is the best wayto prepare for labor is both
mentally and physically.
I encourage all moms to take achildbirth class, especially my
first time moms.
This will help you learn aboutthe stages of labor and
(08:15):
breathing techniques.
It's also helpful to have abirth plan.
But remember to stay flexible.
Because things may notnecessarily go.
Exactly as planned.
The best way to increase yourchances of having a positive
birth experience.
Is to be prepared.
And the best way to be preparedis to learn and take classes
(08:39):
before you give birth Now it'sno secret that that is exactly
what we do here at berth prepacademy.
So if you are looking to take adeeper dive to start preparing
for birth, whether it's theactual preparation of getting
your home together and getting abirth plan together, or if
(09:00):
you're interested in thatchildbirth class or
breastfeeding class, thenthey're all available right here
for you just.
Check the link in thedescription below.
Another question I get is, well,what can I do to.
Ensure a healthy pregnancy.
And the number one thing thatcomes top of mine is to stay
(09:21):
active.
Now, when I say stay active,it's still important to listen
to your body.
And when it comes to having ahealthy pregnancy it's also
important to eat well by havingbalanced nutrition.
It's important to get enoughsleep.
And to attend all of yourprenatal appointments.
And don't forget, ask for helpwhen you need it.
(09:42):
Your health and wellbeing are atop priority.
if there's one thing I want youto take away from today, it's
this.
don't let myths andmisinformation.
Overrule your pregnancy.
I want you to be informed.
I want you to ask questions.
I want you to learn everythingyou can from a trusted source.
And I want you to trust yourbody.
(10:03):
If you're ready to dive deeperinto your pregnancy, be sure to
check out the resources in thedescription box below for even
more support.
And check out the playlist hereto follow my week by week
pregnancy guide.
I've got more pregnancy tips andbreastfeeding hacks coming your
way.
So stay tuned.
And until next time, I'll seeyou in the next video.
Today, we're diving into some of the
most common pregnancy myths thatjust won't quit.
These myths might be making yousecond.
Guess what you should be doingduring your pregnancy.
But don't worry because I haveevidence-based science to set
the record straight.
So stick around.
Because in this video, not onlywill we be busting common
(00:22):
pregnancy myths, but I'll alsogive you three top takeaways For
you to have a more empoweredpregnancy.
Are you ready to bust the myths?
If so Lesco.
Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founderand CEO of Birth Prep Academy.
(00:45):
I'm on a mission to helppregnant moms prepare for their
first hospital birth.
I'm sharing revealingconversations about what it
really takes to successfullytransition into motherhood.
So join me.
I'm here to discover things likewhat to expect in childbirth,
how to prepare for your birth.
We'll also talk aboutbreastfeeding and so much more.
(01:08):
I'm so grateful to share it allwith you right here on Oh, Baby,
the podcast created for pregnantmoms, preparing for their first
hospital birth.
Let's get started.
Microphone (TONOR TC-777 Au (01:21):
All right, so let's go ahead and
jump right into those myths.
You know, the ones that make yousecond, guess everything you
thought you knew.
Yeah, those let's go ahead andstart with myth.
Number one, you're eating fortwo.
Okay.
So while it is important thatyou do take in.
Extra calories.
(01:43):
It's a lot less than what youprobably think in the first
trimester you don't need to takein any extra calories.
The second trimester, therecommendation states that you
should take in about 300 extracalories per day.
And the third trimester, thatnumber rises to about 450 extra
(02:04):
calories per day.
But the key thing to remember isthat you're not doubling your
intake and calories.
You're not eating for a wholenother person.
Instead.
It's important to remember thatyou're really only taking in
enough, extra calories tosupport the growth of your
baby's growth and development.
Microphone (TONOR TC-777 (02:26):
Okay, so next up is myth number two,
the no heavy lifting myth.
Now, once you become pregnant,most people say that you should
avoid lifting anything heavierthan a feather.
But is that really true though?
I'm so glad you asked, becausethe truth is you do need to be
(02:49):
careful with your body.
However it is usually safe tolift heavier objects.
As long as you're payingattention to your form.
And this case is more aboutlistening to your body.
You really want to be careful toavoid any jerky or sudden
movements?
As a matter of fact, ifsomething feels too heavy, then
(03:10):
you should probably stop and askfor help.
With that being said, don't feellike you need to live in a
bubble.
Your body can still handle alot.
If you're being mindful.
Okay, next up is myth.
Number three, avoid caffeine andalcohol completely.
Okay, so let's break this apart.
Let's talk about alcohol first.
(03:33):
It is important to stop allconsumption of alcohol during
pregnancy due to a conditioncalled fetal alcohol syndrome.
This can affect the babytremendously.
And so alcohol is an absoluteno-no.
How, however caffeine is more ofa gray area.
A small cup of coffee or teaevery day is usually okay for
(03:56):
most women.
The key here is really to stickwith moderation.
Too much caffeine can be linkedto things like preterm birth.
But.
A little is generally consideredto be safe.
Okay.
As promised, let's talk about acouple of tips that you can take
away.
To help you feel more empoweredand confident during your
(04:19):
pregnancy?
The first tip I have is I'm sureyou could probably guess it if
you've watched any of my othervideos, but in case you haven't.
The first tip I have for you ishydration.
I cannot stress this enough.
So you might be wondering, well,why is hydration so important?
(04:40):
Water is important because itsupports your increased blood
volume, which you have now thatyou're pregnant.
It also helps to preventconstipation and can even help
to reduce swelling.
Now on the opposite end,dehydration can cause things
like headaches.
Cramping.
(05:00):
And fatigue.
So aim to drink about eight to10 cups.
Every day.
And whenever you're feelingthirsty.
Feel free to drink up.
Alright, next up is your mentalhealth.
Pregnancy is a rollercoaster.
And so it's perfectly normal tofeel up and down and quite
frankly, all over the place.
(05:21):
With that said it's important toprioritize your mental health.
Stress and anxiety can reallyaffect your pregnancy.
So make time for relaxation.
That could look like anythingfrom meditation.
Prayer, prenatal stretches.
Or simply taking a quiet walk.
(05:42):
And remember, don't be afraid toask for support when you need
it.
All right.
Let's talk prenatal vitamins.
The key vitamins that you wantto look for should include
things like full like acid.
Iron.
Calcium and DHA.
Folic acid helps to preventneural defects while iron helps
(06:03):
to support that increased bloodvolume.
Calcium of course supports thegrowth of your baby.
And your bones, both of you.
And DHA is crucial for braindevelopment.
It's best to take themconsistently.
So that may look like takingthem in the morning every day,
or perhaps you take it at night.
(06:24):
but whenever you choose to takethem, try to stick closely to
that schedule.
just because this helps toestablish a habit and routine so
that you don't forget.
And always check with yourdoctor to make sure that you're
taking the right prenatalvitamins for you.
Okay.
So I've got today would be agreat time to just address some
(06:48):
FAQ's that I get often in myemail and DM.
The first one I want to tackleis about morning sickness.
A lot of people ask tons ofquestions about morning
sickness, or, they'll justcomment that they're having a
lot of morning sickness with thesymptoms.
Morning sickness is very commonand it's very normal.
(07:09):
but it doesn't have to make youmiserable.
So be mindful to eat smallfrequent meals.
I recommend to keep crackers atyour bedside.
Sometimes it's good to even haveone or two crackers before you
even get out of bed in themorning, just to have something
on your stomach.
You can also try things likeginger or peppermint and things
(07:32):
with lemon.
All of these things have beenknown To help ease some of that
feeling of nausea.
Now remember if your symptomsare severe, if you're having
severe nausea, severe vomiting,without being able to get.
Little to no relief, then it'sbest for you to reach out to
your provider for help.
(07:53):
Okay.
So another question that I get alot about is, how can I prepare
for labor?
And my response is the best wayto prepare for labor is both
mentally and physically.
I encourage all moms to take achildbirth class, especially my
first time moms.
This will help you learn aboutthe stages of labor and
(08:15):
breathing techniques.
It's also helpful to have abirth plan.
But remember to stay flexible.
Because things may notnecessarily go.
Exactly as planned.
The best way to increase yourchances of having a positive
birth experience.
Is to be prepared.
And the best way to be preparedis to learn and take classes
(08:39):
before you give birth Now it'sno secret that that is exactly
what we do here at berth prepacademy.
So if you are looking to take adeeper dive to start preparing
for birth, whether it's theactual preparation of getting
your home together and getting abirth plan together, or if
(09:00):
you're interested in thatchildbirth class or
breastfeeding class, thenthey're all available right here
for you just.
Check the link in thedescription below.
Another question I get is, well,what can I do to.
Ensure a healthy pregnancy.
And the number one thing thatcomes top of mine is to stay
(09:21):
active.
Now, when I say stay active,it's still important to listen
to your body.
And when it comes to having ahealthy pregnancy it's also
important to eat well by havingbalanced nutrition.
It's important to get enoughsleep.
And to attend all of yourprenatal appointments.
And don't forget, ask for helpwhen you need it.
(09:42):
Your health and wellbeing are atop priority.
if there's one thing I want youto take away from today, it's
this.
don't let myths andmisinformation.
Overrule your pregnancy.
I want you to be informed.
I want you to ask questions.
I want you to learn everythingyou can from a trusted source.
And I want you to trust yourbody.
(10:03):
If you're ready to dive deeperinto your pregnancy, be sure to
check out the resources in thedescription box below for even
more support.
And check out the playlist hereto follow my week by week
pregnancy guide.
I've got more pregnancy tips andbreastfeeding hacks coming your
way.
So stay tuned.
And until next time, I'll seeyou in the next video.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!