Find out the top 20 myths expectant parents believed below
FOOD cravings and bump size are among the most common myths expectant parents believe.
However, new research shows that half of parents believed myths that later proved to be untrue during pregnancy.
The difficulty is determining whether it’s a boy or a girl based solely on the bump and pregnancy cravings.
According to these commonly believed myths, carrying the baby high in the womb means it’s a girl, while lower means a boy.
And salty or sour cravings point towards a boy whereas those craving sweet things are carrying a girl.
It comes after research, commissioned by Vitabiotics Pregnacare, found 47 per cent of new parents originally believed well-known myths during pregnancy that they later realised weren’t all true.
A poll of 1,000 parents of children aged 0-10 found 11 per cent of those believed having sour cravings during the first trimester indicated you were expecting a boy.
While the same percentage (11 per cent) thought carrying the baby high up in the womb meant you would be welcoming a little girl to the world.
And 12 per cent believed that experiencing an influx of spots on your skin also indicated a female.
However, 79% believe that at least some of the pregnancy-related superstitions they had heard about and believed in have come to pass.
As a result, 51 per cent of those who had heard of a superstition used this to try and predict their baby’s gender.
With 44 per cent of these trying the ‘swinging ring test’ – where you tie a ring to a string and swing it over the belly to see which way it moves.
Carly Sandland, doula and founder of The Doula Club, which matches pregnant women with doulas to provide support to families during pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum, said: “As a doula, I’ve heard every pregnancy myth going.
“Carrying high? Must be a boy. Bad skin? Definitely a girl. Craving savoury food? That’s obviously a boy.
“It’s amazing how confidently people will make these calls – even from complete strangers in the supermarket.
“What this research shows is how common these myths still are – and how many people believe them, even just a little.
“But why not enjoy the guessing games? Have a laugh at the wild ones, and let people guess if they must. But don’t let any of it carry more weight than it deserves.
“Myths aren’t facts. And they definitely aren’t a substitute for understanding your own body and the right professional advice.
“If something feels off, ask questions. If it doesn’t sit right, trust yourself.”
In addition, 14% of expectant parents who had heard pregnancy myths thought that light morning sickness indicated a boy, whereas severe morning sickness suggested a girl.
Ten percent believed that violently leaping up and down after sex will prevent conception.
It also emerged 30 per cent of those who tried to use a superstition to guess the baby’s gender had a go at the ‘key test’, where the expectant parent is observed picking up a key and if they opt to grab it by the narrow end, it means a girl is due.
While 53% of new parents sought advice from friends and family regarding the arrival of their child, 42% resorted to Google, and 23% looked through social media.
However, according to data from OnePoll.com, 13% of parents who had heard of myths or superstitions say they had “a lot” of influence on their expectations for pregnancy.
A spokesperson for Vitabiotics Pregnacare added: “Of course, not all of these tales are rooted in fact – but they can still be surprisingly persuasive.
“While these stories are usually fairly harmless, it’s always best to check anything that may be concerning or unusual with a midwife or medical professional.”
