Myths of Motherhood

She should sit back, relax and enjoy hearing some of the most profound, hilarious and sometimes ridiculous things she will ever be told. Some people will give her pieces of advice and information that will give her already straining pelvic floor muscles to the test as she tries to hold back the laughter. Others will tell her things that may be true.

So how does one decide whether Aunt Mabel is telling her the truth, when she tells you the baby will have lots of hair because she had heartburn during pregnancy?

Nobody should fret over the truth or falseness of the old wives tales and advice they are hearing, just accept and reject as you please. Never offend Aunt Mabel by scoffing at her well meaning information though, this is not the time to create family tension.

Just what are some of these myths and are they true or false:

• Placing your arms above your head while pregnant will wrap the umbilical cord around the babies neck. There is a strong suspicion in the minds of all those mother who hung out washing whilst pregnant that this is false.
  
• Get a pencil with an eraser on the end. Thread the eraser with string and let the pencil dangle above the wrist. If it swings left to right it is a boy, up and down it is a girl. This can also be done with a gold chain, however my last child should have been a girl using this method, strangely the baby was born with a penis and his name is Ben.
  
• Tie a wedding band to a piece of string and hold above your belly. If it goes around it is a girl if it swings it is a boy. Or is that the other way around.
  
• If you put milk in your cup before the tea you will NOT have redheaded children. So if you desire a redhead add the milk last. Mmmmmm not to sure about this one, I add the milk last and have one redhead, so I guess there is a one in three chance this is true.
  
• For years in Britain advertisements claimed Nursing Mothers should drink a pint of beer to aid in milk production. This claim is no longer made and there is no scientific evidence to support it.
  
• If a baby stands to soon it will be bow legged. Considering how many babies love being on their feet with support and how few bow legged people there are, this is probably false.
  
• Your labor and delivery will match your mothers. Some of you will be pleased with this, some not. This has not been tested, however many believe it to be true. Myself included, but my sister will argue with you about it.
  
• If your belly is high you are carrying a girl, low slung is a boy. This is another that gets mixed up, so it's truth depends on if you get it the right way around or not.

Myths of motherhood seem to be international phenomenon, giving much amusement to pregnant women everywhere. It is a long nine months so a little light hearted relief helps the mother-to-be keep her sense of humor. Boy, she is going to need it when the next lot of advice arrives with the baby.