The Myths Surrounding Pregnancy

Every woman who has ever been pregnant can tell you all different kinds of advice you are going to need, both wanted and unwanted. You will be told all about you, what is happening to you, what you should and should not do, and how you should and should not feel. By the end of the nine months, you will be glad to be rid of unwanted pregnancy advice. However, advice is not the only thing you will hear during pregnancy. Old wives tales, or myths, that you never thought possible, will begin to surface like you could not believe.

During the first few months of pregnancy, many women experience morning sickness. While it sounds self explanatory, sometimes morning sickness comes in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon, and sometimes at night. You may vomit, have gas, or just feel exhausted. Different symptoms can mean different things. Some of your symptoms will mean that you having a boy, others that you are having a girl. Many people say that if you are having very bad morning sickness, you are probably having a girl. There is no solid evidence that there is a direct correlation between morning sickness and the gender of a baby.

There is one old myth which revolves around what you eat. Some people may tell you that if you eat spicy foods then you increase your chances of having a boy baby. Others will tell you that if you eat fruit flavored yogurt you will have a better chance of having a girl. I would not suggest putting much stock in these rumors though, as spicy foods will likely lead to heartburns, which is yet another old wives tale in itself.

Another common misconception deals with heartburn. You will hear many pregnant women complain about heartburn. It is really just because the size of the uterus is squishing the stomach, leaving less room for stomach acid, and causing it to rise back up. However, if you mention it to someone, they may tell you that your baby is going to have a full head of hair.

Every visit to the doctor is likely to result in new myths arising as you gather more information about your pregnancy. Many doctors will listen to the babies heart beat often. If the heart rate is higher, then many people will tell you that you're having a girl. If the heart rate is slower, then you simply must be having a boy.

Other myths revolve around the position of your baby. Sometimes you will hear someone saying that you are carrying very high or very low. Many people believe that if you are carrying high, with the baby closer to your chest that you are having a girl, so if you are carrying low then chances are you are going to have a boy.

One last myth deals with your hair. Many people say that if the hairs on your head, arms, legs, and belly grow at a rapid rate, that you are going to have a boy. They attribute that to the male testosterone being produced by the baby boy.

You may hear many more tales during your pregnancy. As fun as they might sound, and no matter how many scientific facts they may have to back their idea up, do not put too much credit in these old myths. I would not go painting the room blue, just because your hair is growing. The only true way to determine the gender is with an ultrasound, and sometimes even those are wrong! Have fun with myths, and be sure to remember they are just that, myths!