As soon as you announce that you are trying to conceive or that you are pregnant, your friends and family will bombard you with unsolicited—and ridiculous—advice. There are countless myths about how to guarantee pregnancy and the sex of your unborn child. None of them are true. Even the most advanced obstetricians cannot, with absolute certainty, ensure the gender of your baby; nor can they advise you on methods or techniques that will ensure conception. That doesn’t stop people from promoting half-baked ideas, such as these nuggets of wisdom.
- If you have sex in a position so that you are upside down, you’ll definitely get pregnant. More like bruised! It doesn’t matter if the woman is lying down or swinging from a beam. The environment of conception is microscopic and you womb is well cushioned and will survive even the most rigorous and dubiously balanced attempts at conception.
- If you eat a lot of cheese during your first trimester, you’ll have a boy. And his name will be Paul. There is no credible evidence indicating diet has any affect on gender.
- Women who carry low have boys. This myth is incredibly persistent and quoted as gospel as soon as you’re showing. However, again, there is no credible evidence the appearance, heft, or position of your belly has anything to do with the gender of your baby.
- Women should gain weight to keep the baby healthy. Uh, no. Another pernicious lie so pervasive and told with such certainty that the average weight of newborns has risen by two pounds over the last 40 years! There is no credible evidence you should change your normal diet. You may experience cravings as your body depletes potassium and other minerals used in making a baby. No doubt you’ve heard about the pickles & ice cream craving, which is a half-myth. Pregnant women often crave salty foods or dairy because they both contain necessary chemicals the woman’s body requires. But you won’t see Ben & Jerry launching a Pickle flavored ice cream just yet.
- Women should keep still, hold their legs tightly closed, or lie down for a while immediately after sex to make sure the sperm won’t leak out. Doh! Wrong again. Sperm travel so fast that by the time you can decide on which of the above myths to use, they’re already cruising the fallopian tubes. You can do jumping jacks and it won’t make a difference. Once they’re in—they’re in.
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Recommended Websites
Blooming Marvellous
The Blooming Marvellous store offers everything you may need during and after your pregnancy. Stylish yet functional maternity clothes, baby clothing, nursery equipment and much much more!
Mothercare
Mothercare provide a full range of products including maternity, nursery furniture, pushchairs, car seats, baby clothes, toys, gifts.
Early Learning Centre
ELC stock a great range of toys and games for babies and children of all ages that make learning fun, stimulate imagination and encourage development.
