The Pregnancy Diaries: Things My Mother Did That We Now Know Not To
Although there is “pregnancy” in the title the “things my mother did that we now know not to,” are all related to caring for the new baby.
I did think that this might be about busting some pregnancy ‘old wives tales” and as it actually wasn’t I thought maybe I’ll blog about it instead?!
Baby’s move less close to term as they are running out of room
This is not true, in fact the unborn baby should continue to move strongly, often, and to the same kind of pattern all through the last 3 months of the pregnancy.
If a baby is not moving drink a cold drink to wake it up
This is not true. There is no possible way that drinking cold water can possibly ‘wake’ an unborn baby as both the stomach and uterus are at body temperature and are at least 10cm away from each other! Even if it was possible that this strategy could make the baby move it is completely impossible that it could make a sick baby well!
If you put your hands above your head it will strangle the baby
Lifting your hands above your head does not strangle the baby with its umbilical cord.
It’s safe to lie on your back in pregnancy if it doesn’t make you feel dizzy
The thing about this ‘old wives tale’ is that it disregards what this position might be doing to the baby! Just because you don’t feel dizzy doesn’t mean that your baby isn’t feeling the effects of you lying on your back. When you lie on your back, the weight of your uterus presses on the major vein that returns blood from your lower body to your heart and the one that supplies blood to the placenta and baby! It is therefore best to avoid lying in this position during the day and also not settling to sleep in this position at night.
Any wives tales I’ve forgotten??