Pregnancy Diet & Morning Sickness Myths

When you are pregnant it is important to eat a healthy, balanced diet, for both you and your baby. However, there are lots of myths and old wives tales when it comes to a pregnancy diet, especially around morning sickness. But what is true and what can you ignore? We look at common dietary myths around pregnancy and morning sickness.

Common Dietary Myths Around Pregnancy And Morning Sickness

Now That I'm Eating For Two, Can I Eat Twice As Much As Before?

In short, no. You may feel hungrier during pregnancy, but you do not need to eat double your usual amount of food as this is likely to result in excessive weight gain, which is not good for you or the baby. The body becomes more energy efficient during pregnancy to meet your body’s increased need for energy, so you only need to eat slightly more than usual e.g. the odd extra slice of bread or one or two healthy snacks each day.

I've Been Having Strong Food Cravings - Does This Mean I Am Deficient In Something?

Cravings or aversions to food vary between women and even between pregnancies in the same woman. We don't really know why food cravings or aversions occur, but they are likely to be caused by hormonal changes to taste and smell rather than any specific deficiencies for vitamins or minerals.

For many women food cravings or aversions are unlikely to be harmful but if the craving is for unusual things, such as coal or matches, then it is important to discuss this with your midwife.

Is It True That Eating Spicy Food Will Bring On Labour?

No. Eating spicy food close to a due date may cause you to have an upset stomach, but that is as close to bringing on labour as you might get. If you enjoy spicy foods you are safe to carry on eating these throughout the whole of pregnancy.

Is Raspberry Leaf Tea Good For Pregnancy?

If you enjoy herbal teas, you might have been advised to avoid raspberry leaf tea until the end of pregnancy. This is because raspberry leaf tea is thought to have a stimulating effect on the womb, which could potentially induce contractions. Therefore, intake of raspberry leaf tea is not usually advised until towards the later stages of pregnancy, generally after 36 weeks.

Is raspberry tea good for pregnancy? Possibly, but only after a certain point in the third trimester. Whether raspberry leaf tea helps with labour still requires further research, as there have been few studies in this area.

If you are a herbal tea drinker or are wondering when to start taking raspberry leaf tea in pregnancy, speak to your midwife for advice.

Morning Sickness Is Only In The Morning

The cause of morning sickness is thought to be due to the rise in hormone levels during pregnancy. For many women nausea and sickness are at their worst in the mornings hence the name morning sickness, but it can indeed occur at any time of the day.

Can you get morning sickness at night? Yes, as pregnancy sickness can occur at any time of the day for some women.

Snacking can help reduce morning sickness, as having an empty stomach can often make you feel sicker. Some women are really helped by sucking lemons or peppermints, others swear by bananas or breakfast cereals. Keep snacks by your bed to have something to hand to middle if you get morning sickness at night or first thing in the morning. The good news is that most women start to feel a lot better at about 14 weeks.

Everyone Gets Morning Sickness

Nearly 80% of women experience some form of pregnancy sickness - and not just in the morning. However, every pregnancy is different and for some women it might be normal to not have morning sickness. Some women will also feel slightly nauseous while others might experience severe sickness. Make sure you speak to your midwife for reassurance and advice.

Morning Sickness Protects Your Baby

Some people believe that pregnancy sickness protects your baby from harmful substances, and this explains why so many women can't bear coffee, alcohol, cigarette or petrol fumes at this crucial time. While there is no scientific proof of this, you might find that it is true that you can’t face your morning coffee, especially during the first trimester.

If You Have Morning Sickness, You’re Most Likely Having A Girl

Some people swear that pregnancy nausea or sickness means you are carrying a girl. This is perhaps based on the belief that girl pregnancies result in higher hormone levels, which can make you feel sicker. However, there is no factual basis for this, as pregnancy sickness depends on a multitude of factors related to your body and can happen with both boy and girl pregnancies.

Craving Salty Foods During Pregnancy Means It’s A Boy And Sweet Cravings Means It’s A Girl

Does craving crisps during pregnancy mean you’re having a boy? Does craving chocolate and cake mean you’re having a girl? A common pregnancy myth is that salty or savoury cravings means you’re having a boy, and sweet cravings mean you’re having a girl. However, there is no factual basis for this as cravings tend to be individual to each person and pregnancy.

Read more in our post on the differences between boy and girl pregnancy signs.

If You Are Pregnant:

Make sure you find out about our pregnancy vitamins and our Pregnacare during pregnancy range.

You can also read our detailed post about morning sickness during pregnancy.

Disclaimer: The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional regarding any medical condition. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in the blog and to describe best generally accepted current practices we cannot accept any liability for errors or omissions or for any consequences from application of the information given.