True or not: three popular misconceptions about childbirth
'06.12.2017'
Source: with the BBC
In all centuries, childbirth has remained a sacrament, and even in our time, progressive technologies and open information in many ways this process is still shrouded in legends and myths. Reviewer with the BBC Claudia Hammond decided to figure out how true 3 common misconceptions about childbirth.
Myth 1. For the first time, women give birth later.
In fact, the expected date of birth, even obstetricians consider the approximate date. Only 4% of children are born on this day. Both the first and any subsequent childbirth can happen not only later, but earlier. A study by Allen Downey from Massachusetts showed that in the first pregnancy, childbirth is less likely to occur on time than the rest. Yes, they are more likely to occur later (as a rule, by no more than 16 hours), but more likely - and earlier. But we are not talking about the tendency for later deliveries in all first pregnancies, both about days and about weeks.
The date of birth is traditionally calculated on the day of the last menstruation - but, firstly, not everyone can remember when it was, secondly, all pregnancies have different durations. In some cases, the time period may differ by 5 weeks. As for the second and third pregnancies, if the conception occurred during the first year after a previous birth, the baby may be born earlier. Many believe that the date in general is time to abolish, or to report later - when the child is already exactly born. This will save 96% couples from unnecessary stress about timing and dates.
Myth 2. Some foods may provoke childbirth
For example, spicy food - it is known that when the expected date of birth passes, some women begin to "stimulate blood circulation" by overeating peppery and spicy foods. They probably also imply an increased contraction of the intestines and other organs, which should induce the uterus to start giving birth. But in fact, this can work or not, and in case of a positive result, it is not a fact that it was spicy food that helped.
Myth 3. Amniotic fluid flows rapidly and suddenly
This is due to the traditional movie plot, when a woman suddenly spews out streams of liquid and immediately begins to give birth in agony and screaming. In life, this often does not happen. In half of the cases, labor begins with contractions. And sometimes after the discharge of the waters, the contractions do not begin for a long time, and labor is stimulated. Although ¾ of women give birth within a day after the passage of water. In rare cases, a baby is “born with a shirt on,” meaning the amniotic sac does not rupture. You should also not wait for Niagara from under your skirt: more often than not, the water leaks, and does not flow like a river.
