Pregnancy Myths

As a psychologist, I’ve heard these many times over in the therapy room. Myths like:

• You should be feeling happy and enjoying your pregnancy (like, all the time)
• You should wait until 12 weeks to announce your pregnancy
• You should enjoy your changing body
• You should be happy with your baby’s gender

…and many more.

The Pregnancy Myths Guide grew out of hearing women navigate the same unhelpful myths and expectations, but everyone feeling like it was just them.

You are not alone.

Sometimes, these myths attach unnecessary stresses to pregnancy. Let’s undo this optional stress, one myth at a time.

Downloads and Supporting Resources

If you’re looking for the downloads mentioned in The Pregnancy Myths Guide, they’re here. 

Advance Praise for The Pregnancy Myths Guide

“In the current climate of AI-generated advice and social media, providing expectant and new parents with myth-busting information is needed more than ever. The Pregnancy Myths Guide by Dr Emma Black serve to empower parents with the right information and ensure their confidence is not undermined.“

—Dr Nicole Highet, COPE Founder and Executive Director

“The Pregnancy Myths Guide by Dr. Emma Black is an invitation. An invitation for women to pause.

It is both a practical resource and a reflective framework for women navigating pregnancy and early motherhood.

It encourages readers to critically examine the origins of their beliefs, asking: Where has this belief come from? To what extent is it internally held versus externally constructed? Does it meaningfully serve the individual (me) in the context of their (my) life?

Dr. Black has gives us all a tool for navigating a period that is often characterised by complexity, information overload, and competing external narratives. From a matrescence perspective, this is particularly significant because pregnancy is not only a physiological process but also an identity shift marked by ongoing psychological, relational, and social reorganisation.

This book IS the supportive companion through the transitional process of matrescence, ‘becoming a Mother’.

Thank you to Dr. Emma Black for this considered and insightful contribution, which will continue informing and supporting approaches to birth and early motherhood in the future.“

—Louise Thornton, Registered Midwife, Matrescence Coach, and Director of Shine Birth

“Wow – what a little gem of a book, filled with wit, wisdom and warmth. Dr Emma myth-busts pregnancy issues like the protective companion we all need when navigating the unchartered waters of pregnancy. Clearly written with digestible-length chapters, case examples and summaries, this is the book I wish I had when I was pregnant!”

—Dr Bronwyn Leigh, Clinical Psychologist, Director of Centre for Perinatal Psychology, Director of Perinatal Training Hub.

“Reading The Pregnancy Myths Guide as a mother of 4 and a Registered Midwife, I feel this book captures so beautifully the exact sense of confusion and pressure pregnancy can place on women. It speaks directly to the noise surrounding pregnancy: the myths, the “shoulds,” and the quiet anxieties pregnancy can create. I found myself reflecting on how much stress I carried back then, constantly second-guessing myself and wondering if I was doing things “right.” This guide gently unpacks those myths and replaces them with clarity and reassurance, something I wish I had access to during my own journey.

What resonated most was how the book acknowledges how vulnerable pregnancy can feel, especially when you’re young or lacking confidence in your decisions. It validates that overwhelm without amplifying fear, instead offering a grounded, supportive perspective that empowers you to trust yourself. That message alone is incredibly powerful for women.

The Pregnancy Myths Guide is more than just informative, it’s comforting and reassuring. It creates space for you to breathe, to question what you’ve been told to believe, and to approach pregnancy with a sense of calm and confidence. For anyone who has ever felt lost in the sea of advice and expectations, this book is a steady, reassuring voice that reminds you that you are capable, informed, and enough.”

—Natasha Johnston, Registered Nurse/Registered Midwife