Stop Believing These Pregnancy Myths: Expert Explains Why 80% of Women Have Safe Journeys -

In a bid to demystify long-standing maternal health myths, medical experts are urging expectant mothers to look beyond generalized pregnancy advice and embrace the uniqueness of their own biological journeys.

Speaking on the complexities of maternal physiology, a consultant gynecologist at Well-Life hospital Abuja, Dr. Ibrahim Yakub Sime countered the pervasive anxiety gripping many pregnant women, revealing that a staggering 80 percent of pregnancies progress entirely without complications from conception to delivery.

“Statistics worldwide show that the vast majority of pregnant women do not face medical crises,” he stated.

“In fact, routine antenatal care is heavily designed to identify and support the minority—roughly 20 percent or fewer—who may develop exaggerated symptoms or delivery-related challenges.

“The remaining majority possess a natural, robust capacity to carry to term successfully.”

Dr. Sime emphasized that pregnancy experiences are governed by a highly individualized “genetic software,” meaning no two pregnancies are identical—even within the same woman.

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Factors such as individual anatomy, physiology, unique genetic makeup, and the complex biological compatibility between parents ensure that one individual’s pregnancy journey cannot be extrapolated to another.

Addressing a widespread maternal health controversy regarding sleep positions, the expert debunked the universal rule that pregnant women must never sleep on their backs.

“The warning against supine lying is not a universal law,” the speaker explained. “While it is true that about 10 percent of pregnant women experience a reduction in blood flow to their own hearts when lying flat—leading to dizziness or breathlessness—this does not apply to everyone.

“Generalizations exist because we cannot always predict who falls into that 10 percent.”

According to the reproductive health expert, clinical guidance should remain practical rather than restrictive. “If a woman lies on her back and feels uncomfortable or dizzy, she should simply turn to her side.

“However, if she and her baby are perfectly comfortable, it signifies a biological peace pact. There is no need to enforce rigid restrictions where no distress exists.”

Medical professionals maintain that the true indicator of fetal well-being in a complication-free pregnancy remains simple and consistent: regular, daily fetal movement.

Expectant mothers are encouraged to focus on these positive indicators of health rather than succumbing to generalized anxieties found online or through well-meaning but unscientific advice.