Expecting? See if you’ve heard of these pregnancy myths...
As a mum-to-be, you might’ve got wind of several myths and old wives’ tales that recommend you avoid eating certain foods. They might even include indicators that might give you an inkling of the gender of the baby you’re having! Well, we’re no strangers to them. In fact, we’ve also had our fair share of recommendations from folks like our parents, friends, family members and even random strangers on the street (or in cabs!) telling us what we should avoid while pregnant.
Whether you believe these superstitions or not, here’s our bottom line: in our obstetrician we trust. Read on to find out if you’ve heard of these weird and silly pregnancy superstitions!
1. If you look at pictures of good-looking people during your pregnancy, your baby will be good-looking, too
Well, we’re not sure if this is true, or if it works. But there’s no harm in staring at beautiful people on the street… right? As the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry! After all, what harm can it do, especially if our baby comes out good-looking?
2. Your child will grow up liking the foods you eat during pregnancy
Love chocolate and cake? Or what about truffle fries? Well, some mums have attested that your baby might grow up liking the same foods you craved and ate during your pregnancy. Like mother, like child! We just hope they don’t crave durian…
3. If you want to have a boy, eat lots of bananas when you’re trying to conceive
No prizes for guessing why, parents! Plus, there are tons of benefits as to why bananas are great to consume during pregnancy. For example, did you know bananas are essential in aiding your baby’s brain and nerve development?
On the other hand, it’s a longstanding Chinese belief that eating bananas during your pregnancy might cause your baby to “slip out”. How that works, we don’t know. But it sure makes for a good conversation and chuckles!
4. If you have lots of heartburn during your pregnancy, your baby will have a head full of hair
This age-old myth has been around for years – it’s so common among pregnant women that there’s even an article by the New York Times about it, too. And surprisingly – this myth has some truth to it. A study performed at Johns Hopkins University in 2007 not only confirmed its results, but other studies have shown that hormones produced during pregnancy can affect fetal hair growth. How cool!
5. If you find yourself with puffy, red skin and suffer from breakouts, you might be having a girl
Some women believe that having skin issues during pregnancy isn’t because of hormonal changes, but rather, you might be having a girl as they tend to “steal their mum’s beauty”. Whether it has an ounce of truth or not, we’re sure us mums are more than happy to share some of our beauty with our little girls!
6. Eating lychee might cause your child to have scaly skin
Uh-oh, lychee lovers. Worried you can’t enjoy your favourite fruit anymore? Well, you’ll be glad to know you can still eat lychee as this myth has no scientific backing to prove otherwise. Rather, this Chinese superstition stems from the belief that what you eat manifests itself in your body. Thank goodness!
7. The shape of your pregnant belly can tell you if you’re expecting a boy or a girl
You might’ve heard of this old wives’ tale – most people have held on to the belief that if you’re carrying your baby high and your belly’s narrow, you’ll be expecting a baby boy. Conversely, if you’re carrying your baby low and your belly’s wide, you’ll be expecting a baby girl. Unfortunately, this myth isn’t true. Neither can the size of your bump give you information on the sex of your baby, too. But, it certainly is fun to guess. Either way, you have a 50/50 chance of getting it right!
Ultimately, whether you believe in these superstitions or not, we’re sure you can agree that we’re content with delivering a healthy baby with all its fingers and toes intact. What are some weird or silly pregnancy myths you might’ve heard of? Let us know!
