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PREGNANCY MYTHS AND MISTRUTHS

M yth: I can't get pregnant if I have my period.

Fact: You can get pregnant if you have vaginal sex while you have your period. Sperm can survive inside of you anywhere from a day to almost a week, which means that the sperm could still be waiting for an egg to fertilize when you ovulate. If you decide to have sex while you have your period, you should still use birth control. And you should always use a condom since it is the only effective protection we have against sexually transmitted infections (STI's). STI's don't care if you have your period or not, they can be passed on to you at anytime so it's best to protect yourself every time you have sex. If you think you may be pregnant, take a home pregnancy test right away. Ultra-sensitive home pregnancy tests can give you results as quickly as six to eight days after conception.

Myth: I can't get pregnant if he doesn't ejaculate inside of me.

Fact: You can get pregnant if your partner ejaculates inside your vagina or on or near your vulva (this is your external genitals including the opening to your vagina). There is also something called pre-ejaculate which is a small amount of fluid that contains thousands of sperm. It is called pre-ejaculate because your partner releases it before he actually ejaculates. Because of pre-ejaculate, the withdrawal method (when your partner pulls out before he climaxes) is not a reliable birth control method.

Myth: I can't get pregnant if he doesn't put his penis inside of me.

Fact: Pregnancy can occur when your partner ejaculates or pre-ejaculates near or on your vulva. Even if you and your partner do not engage in vaginal sex, there is still a chance of getting pregnant if there is naked body contact. So use birth control, like a condom, which will also help to protect you from STI's.

Myth: I can't get pregnant the first time I have sex.

Fact: You can get pregnant any and every time you have sex, it doesn't matter if it is your first time or not. Plus, females are the most fertile when they are teenagers and in their early 20's, so always use a reliable form of birth control.

Myth: If I washout my vagina after sex, I won't get pregnant.

Fact: Whether you wash with hot water, soap, or use a douche, it won't make a difference. Sperm are really fast swimmers and will get to their destination before you even have chance to think about it. Also, using something like a douche may actually help them along by giving them an extra thrust into your cervix. Also, your body works naturally to suck the sperm up into the womb, so washing after sex won't help you prevent a pregnancy. Only birth control will.

Myth: I can't get pregnant if my hymen doesn't break.

Fact: You hymen has nothing to do with your ability to get pregnant. As well, many girls' hymens don't break when they have sex for the first time (you might have also heard of this as "popping the cherry"). The hymen is a thin piece of skin that stretches across the opening of your vagina. There are different hymen sizes and openings while some girls may not even seem to have a hymen. Plus, your hymen can break from doing things like horseback riding or even riding your bike. If you have had unprotected sex, you can get pregnant, no matter what state your hymen is in.

Myth: Fetal heart rate can indicate the sex of your baby.

Fact: The myth is that a fast beat indicates a girl, and a slow beat means it's a boy. Sounds vaguely medical, but is probably a load of drivel. Still, it's quite a quaint sexual stereotype to think of our baby girls' heartbeats rushing as they decides what outfit to wear on the day of the grand arrival, while the lads doze happily, dreaming of a welcoming breast!

Myth: Bulgy bumps have girls inside them and tidy, 'up front' bumps carry boys.

Fact: Where does this one come from? There is no evidence for this theory, but many women swear it was true for them, so who's to say otherwise?

Myth: Plenty of heartburn in pregnancy means your baby will be born with plenty of hair.

Fact: This sounds like the sort of old wives' tale used to comfort mums having a hard time: 'I know heartburn is awful, dear, but won't it be lovely to have a bonny baby with a beautiful head of hair?' Comfort is always a good thing, but it won't stop the average expectant mum reaching for the Gaviscon.

Myth: Dangle your wedding ring by a hair plucked from your head and let it hang over your pregnant belly. If it moves from side to side you will have a boy, and if it moves in circles your child will be a girl.

Fact: Sounds as though it comes straight out of the mouths of the three witches in Macbeth, doesn't it? Many of us pregnant women have neither long hair nor wedding rings nowadays. This is a myth from the depths of time, and all the more mysterious and charming for it.

Myth: Curry and Champagne help induce labour.

Fact: This one seems to have a ring of truth about it. By the final weeks of pregnancy a little alcohol isn't going to do any harm. It certainly sounds like a good idea to treat yourself to an energy-packed take-away and a relaxing drink if you are stuck at home waiting for your little one to arrive. Whether it's true or not, this sounds like fun.

Myth: Having sex helps induce labour - before or after your curry?

Fact: If you've got the energy (and your heartburn's not playing up) why not give it a try? Sex can help induce labour because the chemicals in semen and the chemicals released by the woman during orgasm can cause the cervix to start dilating...

Myth: You need to drink plenty of water during pregnancy or the baby will get dirty in its sac.

Fact: Well, we all know about the importance of good hydration nowadays, but this one is definitely in my 'downright daft' category!

Myth: If the dad gains weight while you are pregnant you are carrying a boy; if his weight stays the same it's a girl.

Fact: Nice that the dads get a mention! Sounds like a modern myth to me. Some muddled thinking about sympathetic pregnancy, maybe?

Myth: If you hold your hands above your head during pregnancy you'll strangle the baby with the umbilical cord.

Fact: This myth is not only daft, but also horrid. It's the sort of thing that gives myths a bad name! I do apologise for this stupid scare-mongering. Let's pretend we never heard of it and get back to our gentle stretches and yoga positions, happy in the knowledge that they will have no ill effects for us or the baby.