Pregnancy Myths Revealed in The Mommy Docs' Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Birth

Available on May 3

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Apr 28, 2011, 06:00 ET

LOS ANGELES, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 3, just in time for Mother's Day, comes The Mommy Docs' Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Birth (Da Capo Lifelong Books) by Drs. Yvonne Bohn, Allison Hill, and Alane Park – preeminent Los Angeles-based OB/GYNs and doctors of "Deliver Me," the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network documentary series about pregnancy and childbirth. The "Mommy Docs" – who are mothers themselves – have delivered more than 10,000 babies.

Urban legends and old wives' tales about pregnancy frighten expecting moms the world over. Some of the myths and half –truths are perpetuated in the most popular and trusted pregnancy guides on the market…until now.

Here are 5 top myths busted in The Mommy Docs' Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Birth:

When you're pregnant, you're eating for two!
FACT: No, you're not! Most women need to add only about 300 extra healthy calories per day.

Never fly on an airplane during your first or last trimester
FACT: If you're traveling in a pressured cabin, flying will not harm your baby at any stage of pregnancy.

Taking birth control pills can cause birth defects and infertility
FACT: No, it doesn't. Hormones in the pill have not been shown to cause birth defects. In addition, fertility rates are not affected by previous pill use.

You have to get rid of your cat when you become pregnant
FACT: Cats themselves do not harm a developing fetus. However, cat feces can carry toxoplasmosis, so pregnant women should not clean up after their cats.

When your water breaks, that means you are in labor
FACT: This does not mean you have to come rushing to the hospital. But a majority of women will go into labor within twenty-four hours after their water breaks.

A sneak peek of "Deliver Me" can be seen on May 1 at 11am ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Also available in May is "The Mommy Docs' Ultimate Pregnancy App," their unique, multi-media smart phone app that enables users to monitor their pregnancy progress via video downloads, diaries, tips, and more. For additional information on the Mommy Docs please visit www.mommydocs.com

Book co-author Melissa Jo Peltier is a five-time New York Times – bestselling author.

SOURCE The Mommy Docs