Pregnancy Myths: Don't Lift Those Arms Above Your Head!

When I was pregnant, which was about 40 years ago, I was warned to not lift my arms over my head, especially as I approached my eighth month. I think it was suppose to have something to do with causing the cord to get tangled around the baby's neck.

Certainly I was not supposed to hang curtains or pictures, even though I moved into a new home during my sixth month. I remember just before the baby was born, probably during the last week, I did hang curtains one evening, even standing on a stool--another activity I was warned not to do! Nothing bad happened and my daughter was born in perfect condition.

Just a few generations ago women were confined to the house during pregnancy. It was believed an active pregnant woman would divert blood away from her growing fetus; resulting in a smaller, weaker baby. Today, women are running marathons during their ninth month as well as participating in other strenuous sports throughout pregnancy. Many of the old ideas about strenuous exercise during pregnancy have changed during recent years. Activity levels depend on your health and how active you have been before you become pregnant. Moderation is the key word.

Pregnancy myths have been around for a long time. Many pregnancy myths have arisen regarding the unique challenges of pregnancy. Here are a few that can now be safely ignored:

1. If you have really bad morning sickness you will have a girl. (It has been noted, however, that women who have been hospitalized for morning sickness are a bit more likely to have girls, so there may be some truth in this one!)

2. If you get a lot of heartburn during pregnancy, you will have a baby with lots of thick hair on its head. (Not true! Heartburn during pregnancy is caused by hormonal and physical changes in the body. These have nothing to do with the baby's hair growth!)

3. Don't sleep on your back. Always sleep on your left side. (No truth in this one. If it is more comfortable, do it though!)

4. Avoid sex and exercise during pregnancy to keep the unborn child safe. (Nonsense! Sex during pregnancy is safe and beneficial in many ways.)

5. Don't touch a cat while pregnant. Petting a cat is fine, but since a cat's stool carries a dangerous parasite that can cause toxoplasmosis, it is advisable to NOT handle used cat litter. (Obviously, don't be around a cat that is visibly ill. If you are worried, have your cat tested for toxoplasmosis.)

6. Avoid microwaves and computer terminals. Modern microwave ovens and computer terminals do not expose the fetus to harmful radiation. (No truth in this. Modern microwaves are harmless unless you crawl inside it!)

7. Do not take a bath if you are pregnant. (False. Many women are opting to deliver their baby in water.)

8. If it is stormy or if the moon is full, you are more likely to go into labor, even if it is weeks away from your due date. (What do you think?!)

9. Avoid spicy foods. They can trigger early labor. (Some people still believe this but it really isn't true.)

10. Avoid bumpy car rides. They can trigger labor and labor can also be triggered by being bumped in the stomach or lifting groceries. (Many women try taking a bumpy car ride to get labor started but I don't think this is very reliable. Maybe just taking a nice, long walk will be better.)

11. You can determine the gender of the baby by the position you are in when the baby is conceived and by how the baby is situated in the uterus. (I tried this myself when I was trying to have my second child after my daughter was born. I wanted a boy so followed the advise on what to do to get one. It worked for me!)

12. And, of course, my old favorite: If you raise your arms above your head while pregnant the baby will get the cord wrapped around its neck! (This is just another old wives tale!)

Relax! Chances are you will be doing all the right things during your nine months of pregnancy.