Pregnancy myths and superstitions

As soon as a woman reveals that she is pregnant, she starts hearing various pregnancy myths and superstitions. Some of these superstitions are still believed by expectant mothers today, while others are long outdated and are mentioned more out of habit. What are the most common pregnancy myths and superstitions? And why do some mothers still believe them?

Telling people about the pregnancy in the 1st trimester brings bad luck

Mothers expecting their first baby usually wait to announce the pregnancy until the beginning of the 2nd trimester, when the chance of a miscarriage is lower. For women who have had more than one child, it differs: some do not hide it, while others keep it to themselves for as long as they can. It is up to each couple whether they wait to announce it or not. For some women, announcing it at work may be easier, because then they will not have to hide their nausea and will be better understood. 

Morning sickness does not last only in the morning

The term morning sickness is very misleading, because although it most often appears in the morning, a mother can just as easily suffer from it in the evening or at any time during the day. Expectant mothers often feel sick to their stomach all day long. 

The baby's gender can be told from nausea

They say that if a woman is troubled by so-called morning sickness, she is expecting a girl, and if she does not suffer from nausea or it is more of an evening thing, then it will be a boy. For some people this may be true, but since every pregnancy is different, a mother may have severe nausea with a boy and none at all with a girl. At the same time, if a mother had severe nausea in her first pregnancy and none in her second, it does not mean she is expecting the opposite sex. 

The baby's gender can be told from the shape of the belly

A round belly means a girl will be born, a pointed one means it will be a boy. But it is not that simple, because it depends on the mother's body type, how many kilograms she gained, and whether or not she had toned abdominal muscles before she became pregnant. 

The baby's gender can be told from the mother's beauty

Boys make their mothers more beautiful, while girls, on the other hand, take it away from them. This is very individual and also depends a lot on the woman's skin type before pregnancy. Some women are more prone to acne, and it shows more during pregnancy. 

The baby's gender can be told from pregnancy cravings

It is said that if a woman craves sweets, she is expecting a girl, while if she prefers other non-sweet foods (meat, sausages, cured meats, crisps), she is expecting a boy. It is common for a woman to have the opposite cravings during pregnancies, and then she ends up with two girls or two boys at home. So this myth cannot be relied on one hundred percent either. 

A mother must eat for two

This is a common remark from expectant grandmothers. This myth has long been outdated, and every woman today knows that if she eats for two, it will unpleasantly affect her weight and do the baby no good.

Heartburn, a hairy child

If a woman suffers from heartburn, it is said that the baby will be born very hairy. It is nice to think that the baby's hair is what causes heartburn. However, the cause of heartburn is stomach acid, which backs up into the esophagus as a result of the stomach being pressed. 

Do not hang out laundry or raise your hands above your head

This superstition says that if a woman hangs out laundry (meaning high up on a line) or raises her hands above her head, there is a risk that her baby will have the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck. According to doctors, as many as one third of babies are supposedly born with the cord wrapped around the neck, around an arm, around the belly, or with a knot in the cord, and it is not usually a problem. The important thing is not to stress about it, because it cannot be influenced in any way.

Wide hips make giving birth easier

Unfortunately, wide hips are no guarantee of an easy birth. The size of the pelvis plays an important role in childbirth, and it does not necessarily correspond to the width of the hips. 

A stroller before birth brings bad luck

Most first-time mothers follow this superstition. They most often leave the new stroller with the expectant grandparents, so they do not have to keep it at home and bring bad luck on themselves. Mothers who have already had more than one child usually already have a stroller at home, because they needed it or still need it for an older sibling, so they do not deal with this at all. Likewise, parents who have experienced a loss at a later stage of pregnancy commonly have a stroller at home. 

All the weight gained disappears after birth

Every mother wants to get back into shape quickly after giving birth, or even lose more than just the weight gained during pregnancy. Unfortunately, not every mother manages to lose it all, and breastfeeding also does not determine whether the kilos will go down faster or not. The important thing is to focus on a healthy diet, not neglect yourself, and devote time to the baby. Don’t worry, you will definitely lose some weight by going for walks with the stroller or carrying your child in a sling/carrier. 

Whether you believe or do not believe some superstitions or myths, it is always about the mother’s mindset. That is why it is important not to stress, to rest whenever possible (yes, with older siblings it is more demanding), and to trust yourself, your body, and your baby, because the baby is the only one that knows how it will all turn out. 

We wish you 9 beautiful months and even more beautiful years to follow after your baby is born.