Pregnancy and Old wives tales

You've probably heard some yourself - from being able to tell the sex of the child from the way you're carrying to how excess tea consumption can harm your child's complexion. Join us for a trip into the fascinating world of old wives tales as we explore and sift fact from fiction.

Boy or Girl???
The minute you tell people that you're expecting you can be sure to get a variety of advice and home wisdom including 'expert' guesses regarding the sex of the child. Well, the good news is that you are going to have either a boy or a girl and the long wait is made 'interesting' with the various "predictions" you will get to hear!

• If your face glows and you 'look' more beautiful than before than you will have a girl, while if your skin becomes dull and you have a dark mask over your face it's a boy.
  
  

  It is said that when you are carrying a girl the female hormones are in excess making you more glowing and beautiful.

  
  
• If you are very sick it's a girl but if you are more exhausted then its a boy.
  
• If you put on all the weight on the tummy it's a boy. If you put on weight on your back as well it's a girl.
  
• If you crave for savoury (chatpatta) stuff than it's a girl. If you like sweets during the pregnancy than it's a boy.
  
• If you carry high, it's a girl. If you carry low, it is a boy.
  
• The baby's heart rate tells you whether it's a boy or a girl - high is a girl and low is a boy.
  
• Hold a needle (or ring) on a thread over your abdomen. If it swings clockwise it's a boy; counterclockwise it's a girl.
  
• Hold a longish piece of cotton over your abdomen. If it moves back and forth, it's a boy; if it hangs straight, it's a girl.
  
• Compare your age at conception with the year of conception. If both are even or odd, it will be a girl; if one is even and one is odd, it will be a boy

Baby's looks

• If you have too much tea or coffee during pregnancy than the child will be dark complexioned
  
  

  The child's complexion is dependent on the genetic pool and what you eat or drink will not affect it. Although the consumption of tea and coffee during pregnancy should certainly be kept to the minimum as they both contain caffeine.

  
  
• You should look at cute looking babies or good looking people during pregnancy so that your baby can also be good looking
  
  
  

  Again the baby's looks are determined by genetics and obviously as you will be seeing your husband or yourself (in the mirror) most frequently the baby will resemble either of you!!!

  
  
• If you have heartburn when you're pregnant, the baby will have lots of hair.

Baby's health

• If you raise your hands above your head, the umbilical cord will strangle the baby.
  
• You should have nice thoughts and should stay happy. You should read the Ramyana (not the Mahabharata) especially aloud.
  
  

  Maybe the Abhimanyu story has some truth in it. Documented medical research has proven that early in the third trimester of pregnancy, your baby can hear and recognize sounds. Your baby can hear you even before he is born. You can nurture the unborn child by talking to him in a soothing voice. Also the Ramayana, which is associated with virtue and values is a better 'story' to read to the child than the Mahabharata, a tale of battle!

  
  

Mother's health

• A pregnant woman should not even lift a finger during pregnancy
  
  

  A woman's body is made to carry a baby therefore unless the doctor forbids any activity you can carry on doing whatever it was you were doing earlier - from going to work, to cooking, to going for walks. But do not start any new physical activity.

  
  
• If you have narrow hips you will have a caesarean delivery
  
  

  Narrow hips generally means a smaller pelvic area therefore a narrower passage for the baby to pass through. However, this does not necessarily mean a caesarian - as even doctors do not rule out normal delivery until after an internal examination.

So these were a few of our favorite old wives' tales! Do let us know if you know some- we'd love to add them to our collection.

• If you have narrow hips you will have a ceasarean delivery