We’ve heard the old wives' tales on what you should and shouldn’t do when you’re expecting.  Must you really forgo hot baths, your cat, shellfish, and foot massages?  Not wanting to give up on these little (okay, huge) indulgences, we chatted with Dr. Grace Liu, OBGYN at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital, to sort the mythical facts from fiction.

Myth #1: Forgo all shellfish
Fact: There’s no reason to ban seafood from your diet unless it’s raw. The benefits far outweigh the risks. Fish is an excellent source of omega-3s and nutrients such as protein.

“Some patients who have severe allergies to shellfish in their family may want to try to avoid it because of concerns for allergies the baby may get - though this hasn’t been proven,” says Dr. Liu.

Myth #2: Skip the hot baths
Fact: Soaking in a warm bath is safe and may help relieve backache and pelvic pressure. Dr. Liu suggests making sure the water temperature is close to your body temperature. When water is too hot, you get overwhelmed and that increases your heart rate, reduces blood flow to your baby and potentially puts your baby under stress.

Myth #3: Cut out caffeine
Fact: Moms-to-be can breathe easy - you don’t have to toss your secret stash of chocolate or lock up the coffee for nine months. Dr. Liu says a cup of coffee, cola, or caffeinated tea every day is okay.

Myth #4: Don’t go near Kitty
Fact: Before you send “Snowball” packing, understand that petting your cat and playing with them is safe. Just don’t go near the litter box - cat stool can contain a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which can cause serious infections in humans and deformities in developing fetuses.  According to Dr. Liu, this is more common in outdoor cats.

Myth #5: Don’t eat tuna
Fact: Fish with high levels of mercury like tuna, swordfish and shark are good to stay away from when pregnant. If you are going to eat tuna, limit yourself to one 6oz can per week.

“Too much of this fish and the high levels of mercury could potentially cause problems for the baby,” advises Dr. Liu.

Myth #6: You should eat for two
Fact: Don’t double your portions: instead, boost the nutrients. According to BabyCentre.com, if you’re at a healthy weight you don’t need additional calories in the first trimester. In the second you need 300 extra calories a day, and in the third about 450 extra calories a day. It only takes a few glasses of low-fat milk and a handful of sunflower seeds or tuna sandwich to add enough calories for that last trimester.

Myth #7:  You can’t have x-rays when you’re pregnant
Fact: You can get an x-ray while pregnant. The level of safety depends on the type of x-ray and the amount of radiation you’re going to be exposed to. Experts on BabyCentre.com say if it’s not over 10 rads (the unit of measurement for absorbed radiation), your baby will be fine.

Myth #8: You can determine the sex of your baby by how you are “carrying”
Fact: “No, you can’t,” says Dr. Liu. Technically speaking, the only sure way to find out is through an ultrasound performed during the 20th week of pregnancy. And even that isn’t always 100%.

Myth #9: Foot massages cause labour
Fact: Yes, it's possible but highly unlikely, says Dr Liu.  Finding the right pressure points (around the inner ankle) that could encourage contractions is quite difficult, even for someone who knows exactly where to press like a registered massage therapist or acupuncturist. Foot rubs from the hubby or a pedicurist should be safe.

Myth #10: Avoid sex while pregnant
Fact: Most women who are having a normal pregnancy can continue to have sex right up until their water breaks or they go into labour. You won’t hurt the baby. If you have concerns, talk to your doctor.

“It’s fine, really. Unless you’ve broken your water or your physician has told you not to have sex, it’s perfectly safe,” says Dr. Liu.

Which pregnancy myths are you curious about?