There are so many old wives tales floating around during pregnancy that it is hard to know fact from fiction, except in the case where the tale is really off the wall. You will probably hear strange things from your grandmother regarding what you should and shouldn’t do. While your grandmother probably believed this when she was pregnant with your mom, there is no reason why you have to believe it now. We can’t cover all the pregnancy related old wives tales in this article, but here are some of our favorites, and some of the funniest.

Pregnant Women Should Not Take Baths
This idea is false; however some of the beliefs behind it are true. Pregnant women can and should take baths. It is a great way for a pregnant woman to take some of the weight off her back and relax, especially later in pregnancy. If your water has broken however you should NOT take a bath as your uterus is then vulnerable to infection. You should also avoid throughout your pregnancy taking baths or sitting in hot tubs above 100 degrees. This can raise your body temperature too much and cause problems to your baby, especially during the first trimester.

Holding Your Hands Above Your Head Can Hurt The Baby
The truth is that the positioning of your hands has nothing to do with your baby’s positioning in the uterus or the umbilical cord becoming wrapped around him. Babies born with the umbilical cord wrapped around them is actually quite common as it happens in about 1/3 of all pregnancies and is actually caused by the early movements your baby makes in utero, while they are still small enough to make them.

Wearing A Lei Can Choke Your Fetus
This Hawaiian superstition is just that…a superstition. It makes no sense that a pregnant woman who wears a lei could be choking her baby.

You Have to Drink A Lot of Water or Your Baby Will Get Dirty
A pregnant woman should drink water because it is good for them. However it has nothing to do with how clean or dirty the baby’s amniotic fluid is. The truth is your baby pees in and drinks the amniotic fluid surrounding them, and the amniotic fluid actually replenishes itself every three hours. Staying hydrated helps your baby, but your baby will not get dirty if you do not drink the recommended eight glasses of water a day.

You Need Boiling Water Nearby During Childbirth
Fact or fiction? In reality no one is really sure WHY midwives used to order the husbands to get boiling water. Some think it was just a ploy to get the husbands out of the room during tense times of labor. Others speculate that it was an effort to make sure the few tools that were used, were properly sterilized. Along the same lines so believe that it was a way to keep the tools used at room temperature instead of letting them get cold. Today there is little, if no need to have boiling water nearby during childbirth.

If You Have Heartburn During Pregnancy Your Baby Has A Lot of Hair
Because of there being less room in your stomach since there is a baby growing and pushing on it, heartburn is actually extremely common during those nine months. There is no proof or reason to believe that having heartburn is a sign of a baby being born with a head full of hair.

Your Partner Will Get a Sty in the Eye if They Don’t Feed You What You Crave
While this is fun and definitely something a pregnant woman might be able to get away with holding over her partners head, it is not true. However, that doesn’t mean that the person who denies their pregnant partner the food she craves is safe…

Sex Can Kick Start Labor
This one is actually true! Female enjoyment creates the hormone oxytocin which can help ripen your cervix and get it ready for labor. A mans semen contains the hormone prostaglandins which can cause contractions. Sex is often recommended at the end of a healthy, normal pregnancy. Ask your OB!

Full Moons Bring the Babies
While it is widely believed and noted in L&D rooms every where, however this myth has never been scientifically proven.

These are just a few that we have put together for you. To see our list of gender related pregnancy old wives tales, click here.

by Lee-Anne Robert

Every pregnant woman has experienced the pregnancy blahs. I can remember feeling so big and unattractive throughout my two pregnancies, and secretly wishing for the pregnancy to be over so that I could have my body back and fit into my normal clothes. It’s sad to say, really, because pregnancy is such a beautiful experience and the fact that you created this little human being that is developing in your body should make you feel wonderful through every step of the way.

Oh, but those pregnancy blahs kick in! Your stomach is growing, you cannot fit into your normal clothes, you can’t see your feet, you waddle when you walk, your feet and legs are swollen, and other additional physical changes make you feel, well, blah! Sometime during your pregnancy, you may even start to feel bored with the pregnancy and/or feel depressed. Yes, those raging hormones kick in too.

Here are some tips in helping to beat those pregnancy blahs:

1. Eat healthy and get plenty of rest. Choose healthy foods and ensure that your intake is nutritious.
2. Exercise. Even a short walk in the outdoors will uplift your spirits.
3. Make yourself feel attractive by taking the time to groom yourself. Do your hair and put on makeup. We all feel so confident and alive when we look good.
4. Buy maternity outfits that will make you feel good. Don’t buy just because they fit you.
5. Ensure to include pretty accessories in your daily wardrobe such as nice earrings or a pretty scarf. Most of us raid our spouse’s closet for clothes that we can wear throughout our pregnancy. Lovely accessories even dress up your spouse’s wardrobe.
6. If you start to feel bored with your pregnancy, choose an activity that you will enjoy to help you through the boredom. Many woman will prepare for the baby by going shopping or decorating the nursery. Other woman choose a hobby such as gardening, preparing a scrapbook, writing in a pregnancy journal, etc.
7. Roughly 10 percent of women experience mild or moderate depression during pregnancy. If you feel persistent depression or anxiety, seek professional help.
8. Spend quality time with your spouse. Go for a romantic dinner or out to a movie. Enjoy this time because it’s hard to find time after the baby is born.
9. Take time out for yourself. Motherhood is just around the corner so take this time to enjoy your independence.

Although it may seem like 9 months is taking forever, really, it goes very quickly. Enjoy the wonderful experience of pregnancy each step of the way. There will be a time in our lives when our children have grown up and we wish to live the pregnancy experience all over again.

You can beat the pregnancy blahs! Feel good about being a woman and feel good about bringing a wonderful new baby into the world.

About The Author
Written by Lee-Anne Robert, a mother of two young children and owner of Cuddles ‘n Gifts, info@cuddlesngifts.net

By Alli RossOften times, the hormones produced during pregnancy can produce hair on your face and arms. If you are experiencing an increase in overall hair growth, it is due to the amplified production of various hormones in your body. Usually, this extra hair shows up on your face: above the lip and on the chin and cheeks. This is usually not real appealing for women. However, it doesn’t stop there. It can also appear on your breasts, back, stomach, and arms.

This may make laser hair removal during pregnancy seem like a perfect solution. However, this is not necessarily true.

The excess hair may seem like a real downer now, but it will most likely go away after the baby is delivered. If you would like to have laser hair removal performed, it’s best to wait until after the baby is delivered. In the meantime, it is best to shave or tweeze.

However, there are some exceptions. If you’ve had excess hair for some time and now want to get rid of it, it is perfectly safe to have laser hair removal done on your face during pregnancy.

Most people believe that laser hair removal is completely safe during early pregnancy. Many people would warn to stay away from the bikini area, though.

However, it is best to wait until after the baby is delivered. This way, the technician can do a proper consultation for you and tell you what your needs really are. In any case, you must consult your OBGYN regarding any type of treatment you are considering while you are pregnant.

About the Author
Are you tired of shaving, waxing, and tweezing? For a complete guide to laser hair removal, visit http://www.laserhairportal.com.

Between family members, friends, and the photos that you snap yourself, you’ll certainly have an abundance of pictures to go through, organize and select for preparing your baby’s first photo album. Maybe you received a beautiful, hand-made book at your shower or have chosen one on your own, but whichever the case, you’ll want to make that first album as precious as the little bundle of joy in your arms.

And photo albums don’t have to be all about pictures. With so many new experiences about to occur for both you and your newborn, they’ll be lots of opportunities for collecting memorabilia to add to your baby’s album. And nothing is too silly, so if you adore it, include it.

Of course, the beginning is the easiest part. Starting with the very first photo taken of your baby – the hospital has already supplied you with what you need to get started – your sonogram picture, baby’s footprint, name tag bracelet, birth certificate, and even the receiving blanket your newborn was swaddled in. So your first page can incorporate all or parts of those things. For sentimental reasons, you may not want to snip that receiving blanket, but later on, a patch of the fabric placed on the birth page makes for a precious addition to your baby’s first photo album.

As we know, lots of babies are born lacking in the hair department. But once it does start to grow in and you give him or her their very first haircut, be sure to save part of those silken locks to add to the pages of your baby’s first photo album. For girls, you can also include a pretty bow they wore or their first barrette.

What about their first bowl of real cereal? Wouldn’t a few of those Cheerios be an adorable piece of memorabilia to include in baby’s first photo album? It may not mean much to your baby now, but once they’re old enough to realize what you’ve done it will surely bring a giggle and a smile when they see it, and the memory it has created for you is priceless.

First birthday photos, pieces of ribbon, and wrappings from the gifts they receive, even one of the candles from their first birthday cake are more creative ideas to add to your baby’s first photo album.

Pictures of the first day of nursery school, masterpieces they’ve created there or at home, first report cards and all of those other extraordinary firsts, are things that you’ll treasure throughout the years. As time goes on, growth and changes occur such as their first baby tooth is also something special that can be kept and cherished in your baby’s first photo album.

So include as many of the pictures and items you adore in your baby first photo album. Because it’s something that you will not only consider your most prized possession as time goes by, but you can also bet that your child will thank you for spending the time and devotion that made their first baby photo album so special.

Sometime around three months your baby will probably realize that he can grab things and hold onto them. It could be the blanket you are covering him with, a rattle, his pacifier, or another toy. It could also be your hair, your necklace, your dangling earrings or daddy’s tie. This milestone is a great one, even though it might sometimes be painful.

One of a baby’s favorite things to grab is long hair. We are not sure why a baby always seems to take a hold of it and yank, but they do! Sometimes it will be difficult to get them to let go as well. If your baby feels like he is falling or knows that you are about to lay him down, he may grab your hair and hold onto it so that you can come too. If you have long hair or a sensitive head, this can hurt and become a problem. 

The same it true if you are wearing a chain or a necklace. This is an item that is easy for your baby to grab a hold of so it is something you should be careful with. The same is true for dangling earrings. There have been situations where a baby has grabbed mom’s earring and ripped it out of mom’s ear.

Mom isn’t the only one to suffer from her baby’s new trick. Dad can get in on the game too! A tie is a nice, long object that is fun for baby to get his hands around. For men who don’t have long hair or wear jewelry, sometimes a tie is the only thing on them that a baby can grab. The way a baby sees it, all is fair in love and war!

There are steps you can take to protect your body and your clothing however. If you have long hair, try to keep it back in a ponytail or in a bun, out of your baby’s reach. If he can’t reach it, he can’t pull it. For jewelry, try to keep it tucked under your clothes when the baby is up, and keep earrings to studs instead of loops or ones that dangle. When dad gets home from work, he can remove his tie before holding the baby, or if out, put his tie over his shoulder. If your baby doesn’t see it there, he probably won’t go looking for it to pull.

You can also try giving your baby something else to hold onto. His favorite toy, a blanket or a rattle will normally do the trick and give him something to grasp. Keep these things with you when you are out, in your diaper bag, to offer to your baby before you pick him up to change him, so that you don’t wind up with your head down, getting a big whiff of his diaper while getting your hair pulled out of your head.

Don’t worry, like all the other stages your baby will go through, this one too shall pass…

Babies who are born premature, or even slightly early may have a thin white hair covering their body and face. This hair is called lanugo, and normally falls off before or shortly after delivery of full term babies.

Lanugo is the name for the hair that grows on the body that is lacking fat, in order to help insulate and regulate body temperature. This happens on fetuses while in the womb, normally around the 5th month of pregnancy, and generally falls off or is consumed by the baby between 36 and 40 weeks of pregnancy. The lanugo is then stored in the babies intestines and helps to make up the meconium, or the first bowel movements your newborn will have.

Lanugo is often described as a soft and downy hair that is covering the newborn. It will be covering the baby’s whole body except for his palms, the sole of his feet, his lips, penis, nails and sides of his fingers and toes. There is no danger to lanugo to the baby or to people who come in contact with the baby.

Properly stated, lanugo is the Latin word for “down”, like the small fine hairs of plants.