This pregnancy, I’ve dealt with a lot of advice… even more so than with my first child. And I’ve heard ALL of the old wives tales it seems!
- Don’t put your hands above your head
- Don’t climb a ladder
- Don’t eat hot food
- If you carry low, it’s a boy
- If you have a lot of movement, it’s a girl
I usually just nod my head and go ahead with whatever it was I was doing that prompted that comment – or at least wait until that person is gone and then dig into the hot salsa. But, there are a lot of old wives tales about pregnancy – and they’ve been around a long time. So, I thought I’d tackle some of the popular ones today and give us a bit of fun around here. 😀
Old Wives Tale #1: If you have a lot of heartburn, your baby will be born with a head full of hair.
My, oh my…is this false or what? I had VERY little heartburn with Annie and she was born with lots of hair. I was convinced I was going to have a bald-headed baby because I couldn’t conjure up any heartburn. This time around everything gives me heartburn, and I’ll likely have a baby whose head looks like Mr. Clean’s.
Myth #2: Don’t lift your hands above your head or the umbilical cord will get tangled around the baby’s neck and it will choke.
I can’t even make sense of this one in my head. Why does lifting my hands over my head make a cord wrap around something in my uterus? Anyone? Anyone? Didn’t think so – very untrue…no movement I do makes any difference to the umbilical cord. My goal is just to move as little as possible…when people are looking.
Old Wives Tale #3: If the heart rate is above 140, the baby is a girl. If it’s fewer than 140, the baby is a boy.
This is dumb. Boy is this dumb. Annie’s heart rate was always low – even the doctor was convinced she was a boy. When she popped out and was a girl, we were all astounded. Everything pointed to her being a boy. And yes, she’s still ornery to this day – takes after her arm-raising Mama. You can opt for a Baby Gender DNA Test instead to identify your baby’s gender.
Myth #4: When a pregnant woman sees something really ugly, it means she’ll have an ugly baby.
Quick! Someone get me some eye patches!
Myth #5: If you carry high, it’s a girl. If you carry low, it’s a boy.
I carried high with Annie…but she had a low heart rate. Oh dear. I’m carrying low with this one, but with a higher heart rate. I AM SO STINKIN’ CONFUSED! I choose to think I’m carrying low because when I’m ready to go into labor, this baby will just shoot out of me in like 5 minutes. Amen.
Old Wives Tale #6: Hang your wedding band on a string and then dangle it over the pregnant woman’s belly. If it swings in a circle, boy…if it swings back and forth, it’s a girl.
For Pete’s sake…if you want to know that bad, just go get an ultrasound already. Sheesh. And I’m pretty sure the way it swings has something to do with PERSON HOLDING THE STRING.
Old Wives Tale #7: If you dream you’re having a girl, it’s a boy. If you dream you’re having a boy, it’s a girl.
Last night I dreamed I was eating a Big Mac…does that mean I was really eating a Whopper? We women – we’re so fickle. We even dream in opposites. Men just don’t have a chance to get it right.
Myth #8: Don’t take a bath while pregnant.
Don’t wear deodorant either…or shave. Actually, the shaving part makes sense. I can’t bend over well enough to shave (34 weeks) because my belly feels like a solid rock. Let’s just go au natural. *Gag Attack*
It’s okay to take a bath while pregnant, just don’t get the water too hot – and avoid baths if your water breaks….do not however, avoid deodorant while in labor. Sweaty work, that labor.
Myth #9: Drink a ton of water so your amniotic fluid is clean and your baby doesn’t come out dirty.
We’re worried about our baby being dirty, but not our Mama. Yes, drink water…and you can give your baby a bath. I’m pretty sure all babies come out “dirty.”
Old Wives Tale #10: If the Daddy also gains weight with you, it’s a girl.
Why is a girl always at fault for a man’s weight gain? You most certainly did not shove that Whopper or Chunky Monkey ice cream down his throat. He ate it willingly…at 3am…in the parking lot of Kroger. Yes, I eat all day long – what’s it to ya? Who’s counting?
Did I share one of your favorite old wives tales? If you’ve heard another I didn’t mention, please share it below! And if you or someone you know is dealing with mental health issues during pregnancy, then you may consider consulting professional Pregnant Mental Health services.