There's just something about pregnancy that brings out the Old Wives' Tales... all the little old tips, tricks, and "sure signs" of what is happening from friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers... I thought it'd be fun to make a list and see how many turned out to be true and how many were false.
So far, I've had three children and I am expecting our fourth, so I think I've heard every tale, remedy, and tip in the book... these are our results of some of the most common Old Wives' Tales I've heard:
1) The Chinese Gender Prediction Chart: Apparently if you calculate your age and due date you can know the gender of the child in advance. For us? 2 out of 3 wrong so far (1 unknown).
2) Once you're full term and have experienced the signs of labor try the following to speed up or induce labor:
- walking
- spicy food
- intimacy
- nesting
- exercise
- watching stressful television or reading intense books
Result: 3 out of 3 100% wrong (for the above items). 2 children born 5 days after due date, 1 born 12 days after due date... all MORE than ready for weeks prior in all physical ways except actually arriving. Mentally prepping for another one to "take their time."
3) Ginger and Peppermint are cures for morning sickness. Results: The smell of both make my stomach sick... haven't gotten far enough to actually taste.
4) When you're pregnant, you'll have weird dreams. Result: I really haven't, BUT my husband has had MANY weird dreams. He calls them "empathy dreams."
5) Morning sickness only lasts through the first trimester. Result: 3 for 3 of being sick all the way through and shortly after childbirth.
Soooo.... am I just an an anomaly or are all these Old Wives' Tales simply fiction? What have you learned from your experience?
Written by Kristina Light