Six pregnancy myths midwives hear every day

RBWH Birthing Services Clinical Midwife Consultant Lisa Garland

More than 5,000 babies were born at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) in 2025, so the midwives there know a thing or two about pregnancy and babies.

The word midwife means ‘with woman’, and every day the midwifery team works with patients to understand what goes on inside the body during pregnancy, labour and birth and make recommendations for care that support parents to have a safe and healthy journey to parenthood.

RBWH Birthing Services Clinical Midwife Consultant Lisa Garland shared the six most common myths and misconceptions her team hears:

1. You can’t exercise whilst pregnant: For most women, it is perfectly safe and healthy to continue exercising in pregnancy.
2. Heartburn means the baby will be born with lots of hair: Statistically most babies are born with hair, so unfortunately heartburn is not a reliable indicator.
3. Pregnancy is such a happy time and every woman gets that glow: Whilst pregnancy is a transformative time in a woman’s life, it doesn’t mean that it is always joyful, happy or comfortable. Some pregnancies are just hard. For parents experiencing challenges, it’s important to talk to someone trusted, whether it be a healthcare provider, partner, parent or friend. For families wanting mental health support during pregnancy and early parenthood, they can also access the Metro North Perinatal Wellbeing Service.
4. Babies arrive on their due date: Babies are fully grown and ready to be born from 37 weeks onwards, with most coming on their own before 42 weeks pregnant. It’s really more of a ‘due month’ rather than a ‘due date’. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict when in this five-week period a baby might decide to come, and it’s perfectly normal if someone has not gone into labour on their own by 41 weeks.
5. In a water birth, won’t the baby swallow water?: A baby coping well in labour has a dive reflex when they are born which protects them from breathing until they reach the surface of the water. Midwives keep the water warm and the stimulation minimal until the baby is brought to the surface to protect this reflex. Evidence tells us that for well women and well babies it is very safe to have a water birth and may offer some benefits to labour.
6. Natural methods like raspberry leaf tea, dates or spicy food will bring on labour: There is no strong evidence that raspberry leaf tea, dates, spicy food, sex or hand expressing breastmilk will bring on labour, so it’s best to chat to your healthcare provider before starting a natural method to make sure it’s safe. The best way to support your body to go into labour is to focus on trusting your body and your baby, reducing stress where you can and talking to your healthcare provider about what is right for you.

Lisa recommends all expectant parents take the time to educate themselves on pregnancy, labour and birth through reputable educational classes, books, podcasts and research.

“Information is power, and the more parents know about what to expect in labour and what is normal, the more in control of their experience they will feel,” she said.

“Parents should feel empowered to make their own decisions about their maternity care. A recommendation is just that, a recommendation. You can decline aspects of your care you don’t feel safe or comfortable with.

“We will always respect and work with the pregnant or birthing person, to help them achieve the pregnancy, birth or labour journey they choose.

“As a midwife, I am blessed to stand beside strong women every day and hold space for them to experience becoming a parent in an informed and empowered way.”