Ready For A Baby:
Myths about Conception and Pregnancy
As long as women have been getting pregnant there have been myths about pregnancy. A pregnant woman is a magnet for advice and predictions, from family and strangers alike. Here are some of the popular myths about pregnancy that have no basis in science but that you are bound to hear, probably more than once.
High for girl, low for boy
A classic myth is that if a pregnant woman is carrying high, the baby will be a girl and if she is carrying low it, will be boy. There is no scientific basis for this. The size or shape of a pregnant woman’s belly is determined by her body, her muscle size and structure and the position of the fetus.
The Full Moon Myth
Some people say that more women go into labor during a full moon. Looking at the facts shows that this isn’t true.
Spicy Food and Sex Induce Labor
It is often said that eating spicy food will help bring on labor – not true. There also is a myth that says having sex brings on labor – this also isn’t based on fact and there is no evidence to show that it is true.
Stretch Marks Are Unavoidable
It is common to hear that stretch marks are inevitable for pregnant women. The truth is that some women get them and others don’t.
Sugar or Salt?
Another classic is that if you are craving salty foods then you will have a boy. Craving sweet foods would indicate a girl. Others say that if you prefer the heel of a loaf of bread it means you will have a boy. You may crave lots of things when you are pregnant, but none of these will be indicators of the sex of your new baby.
Drano Myth
Some people say that if you put Drano in the toilet bowl, when the pregnant woman urinates you can tell the gender of the baby by the color of the water. This has been scientifically studied and shown to be untrue.
Locket or String Myth
People claim that if you hold a locket or piece of string over a pregnant woman’s stomach, you can tell the gender of the baby by the direction the locket or string moves. Back and forth for a boy. In a circle for a girl. This isn’t true but it might be fun to try.
When you are pregnant you will probably hear all of these myths and many more. There certainly is no harm in trying to guess the sex of your baby, but when it comes to your pregnancy its always best to rely on the advice of medical professionals instead of folklore and myths.