The Duchess Is Pregnant: Debunking 5 British Pregnancy Myths

The British Royals have some exciting news: Kate Middleton is pregnant again!

Every mother-to-be (especially pregnant duchesses, we're sure), is super careful when it comes to the health of her unborn child. There are some obvious do's and don'ts; like "don't drink" and "do take your vitamins," but when it comes to the perfect diet for the mommy-to-be (and by extension, the baby), there are hundreds of professional and semi-professional opinions out there to sift through.

Plus, pregnancy myths and old wives' tales actually vary by nationality. In America, most pregnant women will avoid all forms of alcohol like the plague, but in France, having an occasional glass of wine is considered good for you. We've rounded up the top five popularpregnancy food and drink myths from the U.K. that Kate Middleton may actually believe (but we hope she does her research instead!).

Drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea will Help Induce Labor

The Brits love their tea, but unfortunately, that myth is most likely not true. Raspberries do contain oxytocin, which is the hormone that causes contractions, so it could help ease the labor, at the very least.

Eating for Two

This is not so much a U.K. myth, as it is a universal one. "Eating for two" may be a common expression, but even toward the end of the third trimester, pregnant women only need to consume about 300 calories extra every day.

Spicy Food Can Induce Labor

This one is similar to the raspberry leaf tea, but there is very little medical evidence that any of these natural ways to induce labor early actually work.

Stop Eating All Types of Cheese

British people will commonly stay away from all types of cheese during pregnancy, but the reality is that most cheeses are safe. Just stay away from the soft, mold-ripened cheeses like brie and blue cheese.

Don't Ever Microwave Your Food

Microwaved food is kind of scary when you think about the excess radiation, but there's very little evidence that microwaves can harm your child. 

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Joanna Fantozzi is an Associate Editor with The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter@JoannaFantozzi