43. How to Avoid Pregnancy Misinformation and Feel Confident in Your Choices
Pregnancy is basically an open invitation for unsolicited advice. The second you announce you’re growing a tiny human, the floodgates open:
💬 “You HAVE to eat for two.”
💬 “If you don’t drink milk, your baby’s bones will be weak.”
💬 “Sleeping on your right side? Oh no, that’s dangerous.”
💬 “You’re having spicy food? Hope you’re ready for a bald baby!”
It’s like suddenly, everyone you know is a self-proclaimed pregnancy expert—your great-aunt, your coworker, the cashier at Target. And with the internet? Whew. You’re one Google search away from believing that eating pineapple will trigger labor and looking at the moon wrong might mess with your due date.
But here’s the thing: misinformation isn’t just annoying—it can make you second-guess yourself at every turn. And when you’re already navigating the wild world of pregnancy, the last thing you need is unnecessary anxiety.
So let’s talk about how to dodge the nonsense, separate fact from fiction, and actually feel GOOD about your choices.
Why Pregnancy Misinformation is So Common (and So Annoying)
First off, let’s address why pregnancy advice is everywhere, even when it’s wildly incorrect:
✅ Old Wives’ Tales That Won’t Die – Just because your grandma swore that raising your arms above your head would wrap the umbilical cord around your baby doesn’t mean it’s scientifically sound.
✅ The Internet is a Double-Edged Sword – For every great evidence-based source, there are a hundred Facebook groups telling you to drink essential oils for an easier birth (please don’t).
✅ Fear Sells – Some misinformation spreads because it’s clickbaity and dramatic. A boring headline like “Moderate caffeine intake is fine in pregnancy” won’t go viral. But “Caffeine SHRINKS YOUR BABY'S BRAIN?!” will.
✅ Everyone Thinks Their Experience is Universal – Someone had a terrible reaction to an epidural? Now they’re convinced epidurals are evil for everyone. Someone had a great induction? They’ll tell you it’s the only way to go. But birth isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Now that we know why misinformation runs rampant, let’s talk about how to sift through it like a pro.
1. Be Wary of “I Did This, So You Should Too” Advice
Anecdotes are great for sharing experiences, but they don’t equal facts. Your cousin might have eaten six dates a day and had a smooth labor, but that doesn’t mean dates are a magical labor potion. (Spoiler: they can be helpful, but it’s not that simple.)
Instead, look for:
✔ Research-backed information
✔ Studies that include large sample sizes (not just one or two people)
✔ Sources that explain why something works, not just that it worked for one person
If someone is pushing their experience on you like it’s the gospel truth, smile, nod, and keep it moving.
2. Check the Source (Because Not All “Experts” Are Experts)
Just because someone has a massive Instagram following or a fancy title doesn’t mean they’re handing out accurate advice. Some red flags?
🚩 They make bold claims without citing any actual research
🚩 They use fear-based tactics to convince you to buy their product
🚩 Their advice contradicts most major health organizations (and they claim it’s because “Big Pharma” is hiding the truth)
Instead of relying on influencers or random blogs, check reliable sources like:
🔹 ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
🔹 Evidence Based Birth
🔹 Cochrane Reviews (basically the gold standard for medical research)
🔹 Birth professionals who cite sources and explain nuance (ahem, hi 👋)
3. Learn How to Read Research (Without Feeling Like You Need a Science Degree)
One of the best ways to avoid misinformation? Get comfortable reading research yourself. And no, you don’t need a PhD to do it.
Here’s a quick guide:
🔹 Abstract: The TL;DR of the study. Good for a quick overview.
🔹 Methods: How the study was conducted. (Was it a huge study or just 10 people in a lab?)
🔹 Results: The actual findings. Not just what people think it means.
🔹 Conclusion: What the researchers took away from the study—though this can still be interpreted in different ways.
Pro tip: If a study says “correlation,” that does NOT mean causation. (Example: Ice cream sales and shark attacks both increase in summer. That doesn’t mean ice cream causes shark attacks.)
4. Beware of the “Good Mom” Trap
A lot of pregnancy misinformation plays into the idea that there’s a right way to do pregnancy and birth—and if you don’t follow it, you’re failing.
🙅♀️ Didn’t have an unmedicated birth? “Oh, so you weren’t strong enough?”
🙅♀️ Want an epidural? “Aren’t you worried about the risks?”
🙅♀️ Planning a home birth? “That’s so dangerous!”
🙅♀️ Choosing a hospital birth? “Doctors only care about interventions!”
See how exhausting that is? Your birth experience is YOURS. Not your mom’s, not your neighbor’s, not some influencer’s. Your job is to make informed decisions that feel right for you—not to prove anything to anyone.
5. When in Doubt, Trust Yourself
At the end of the day, you are the expert on your own pregnancy. Yes, knowledge is power. Yes, research is important. But so is tuning into what feels right for you and your baby.
So, before you go down another Google rabbit hole, take a breath. Ask yourself:
🔹 Does this source have credibility?
🔹 Is this advice rooted in facts or just someone’s personal opinion?
🔹 Does this information align with my values and intuition?
If it doesn’t check out? Toss it.
Final Thoughts
Pregnancy is already a rollercoaster—you don’t need misinformation making it harder. By learning how to spot red flags, checking your sources, and trusting yourself, you’ll feel more confident in your choices. And that confidence? That’s what leads to a truly empowered birth experience.
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