Before the internet, expectant and new mothers had to navigate pregnancy and the aftermath with little to no idea of what to expect. Thanks to the world wide web, however, expectant mothers know how to navigate things like being pregnant during the coronavirus pandemic, ectopic pregnancy, or marijuana use while pregnant. And then there are the birthing myths and misinformation that seem real but aren’t.
Some of these myths will have little to no impact on their or their fetuses’ health, while others can be harmful on both a physical and emotional level. It’s important to be able to discern fact from fiction so you can have a healthy, happy pregnancy and birth.
Check out these birthing myths that are absurd, harmful, and in need of being dispelled.
1. Eating Spicy Foods Helps Start Labor
If you like spicy foods, great; there’s no harm in giving this old wives’ tale a try. However, eating spicy curry, hot sauce, and jalapeño poppers while pregnant is more likely to result in heartburn than it will labor.
2. Moody Moms Have Girls
Rumor has it that expectant mothers who experience intense mood swings during pregnancy can expect to have a girl. This is nonsense on so many levels, but science is the best argument against it. Several hormones play a huge role in pregnancy, and all expectant mothers — whether they be a mom to a boy or girl — are likely to experience a roller coaster of emotions.
What about boy babies…?