Pregnancy Untruths Originated from Old Wives Tales

                                                                                         

It is only an old wives tale that says that you are having a boy or a girl based on the shape of your stomach. It is said that is you are carrying straight out in the front then you are carrying a boy and that if you are carrying all over that you are carrying a girl. There is absolutely no validity to such claims and as of now the only scientific testing that can prove sex is the ultrasound and even that can have its errors in determining the sex of the unborn baby.

Craving pickles when you are pregnant is not the norm. Not every woman who is pregnant craves pickles. It is also an old wives tale that all pregnant women crave ice cream. It is true that pregnant women have cravings and that these cravings are linked to the body’s needs for nutrients. Pickles are high in sodium content and the pregnant woman may be craving a natural source of salt. Ice cream cravings can also be linked to a craving for comfort foods and a craving for sugar.

It is an old wives tale that if the pregnant woman has acne she is carrying a girl. The natural change in hormone levels can cause acne just as it does in some women during their menstruation cycle.

Pregnant women should avoid bathing is a repetitious saying but it has no validity. It was thought that infection could occur if the pregnant woman took a bath. Taking a bath is actually beneficial. It increases circulation and blood flow as well as help the mother relax. During labor a bath can bring relief during contractions and some specialty birthing rooms in hospitals have tubs for the mothers to use during labor.

A pregnant woman must eat for two people, herself and the baby. This is not true in fact it is another old wives tale. Research shows that weight gain should be minimal for the healthiest labor and birth weight. The mother should not increase her eating to eat for two. Instead she should choose healthy foods and by eating smaller meals throughout each day control her blood sugar level. This will also help the mother to avoid binge eating and over eating based on dips in sugar levels.

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Find information about infertility treatments such as IVF, as well as tips on getting pregnant.

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