A woman wrote to Arbana Osmani on Instagram - who had cooked rabbit meat - that she should not eat rabbit meat because "the child sleeps with his eyes open", the superstition that has no scientific basis. Based on this, we are posting some of the most common superstitions about pregnant women.
"If it's decorated, you're expecting a boy."
According to legend, the girls steal the beauty of the mother, which means that if the mother is adorned during childbirth, she is expecting a son. In fact, of course, the truth of the physical changes is related to the hormonal changes that can make women feel and look exhausted, have acne and other problems. But this has to do with hormones and has nothing to do with having a son or a daughter.
"If the labor pains last, you will have a son"
Pregnancy is different from one woman to another which means that it cannot be known for sure if boys cause more pain. However, in a 2003 study, researchers found that in an Irish hospital, mothers who gave birth to boys spent more than six hours in pain, while mothers who gave birth to daughters stayed less.
"Don't tell her from the beginning that you're pregnant because she's not well."
Popular beliefs suggest that women should not tell other people that they are pregnant before the first few months. It is thought that if they say so, there is danger. In fact, it remains a myth. Abortions are more likely to occur during the first few weeks, but that has nothing to do with when you make your pregnancy public.
"If you order, you'll have more babies."
It is thought that when mothers have heartburn, a child with a lot of hair will be born. In a 2006 study by Johns Hopkins University, researchers found that pregnant women who were under surveillance reported moderate or severe heartburn and had children with more hair than normal. Women who did not complain of heartburn, or acid reflux, gave birth to children without hair or with little hair. However, this correlation is not a typical cause-and-effect case. Both symptoms, both baby hair and heartburn in the mother, are caused by a third factor: pregnancy hormones.
"Don't step on the rope"
In certain cultures, people advise pregnant women not to step on ropes, as this causes the umbilical cord to rotate around the baby's neck. There is no scientific basis. It just remains a myth.
"Don't cut your hair"
According to the myth, expectant mothers should not cut their hair because the baby may be born with problems. Even in this case, there is no scientific basis. Hair coloring remains debatable. Although there are no proper studies to say that the paint has a negative effect on the baby, experts advise to avoid it, at least until the first trimester.
"You shouldn't see ugly animals."
We do not know what people call "ugly animals", but in some cultures they say that if a pregnant woman sees an "ugly animal", she will give birth to ugly children. This is probably one of the weirdest myths, because how can a baby be ugly.
Sources: Encyclopædia Britannica, CNN
