Great expectations

> Here are some motherly advice for mums-to-be to deal with the many superstitions and old wives’ tales out there

WHETHER or not you have a bun in the oven, you would have heard of many pregnancy myths. Are you confused by them? Let me debunk them for you based on my experience as a mother of four, the expert advice of Dr Google, and some plain old common sense.

Many of the superstitions centre around the baby’s looks. For example, they advise you not to drink too much coffee or consume food with black soya sauce if you don’t want a baby with a dark complexion.

And, if you want a fairskinned baby, to drink soya milk by the barrels.

If you want your baby to be good-looking, they suggest you put up posters of gorgeous movie stars whom you can ogle at every day.

According to another taboo, you should not look at any animal.

A monkey is scurrying across your path at the park? Quick! Turn away – you don’t want a monkey-faced baby!

It’s best you avoid the zoo, and if you rear pets such as gold fish, dogs or cats, avoid looking at them too, unless you want to risk your baby having gold-fish eyes, or a face like your mutt or tabby.

Has the fear set in? Relax, dear. You only need to remember one word to put your fears at rest: genetics.

And don’t let your diet be restricted by the colour of your food.

Gaze at your husband instead of posters of your Hollywood heartthrob, because when the baby arrives, it will suck up all your time until you have none to spare for the hubby.

As for the animals, don’t worry about them unless they’re going to attack you.

You probably have heard of the old wives’ tale that forbids you to renovate the house or move when you’re pregnant because you might disfigure your baby.

If you paint the house, your baby might end up with a birthmark. If you hammer that nail, your baby might get a cleft lip.

Well, it is wise not to renovate or move house during pregnancy, but not because the nails or the paint will make an impact on the baby’s body.

It is just being sensible – you don’t want to over-exert yourself with carrying or moving heavy stuff during the renovation or move.

Here’s another myth which I have personally debunked.

If you’re having a girl, you would look horrible during your pregnancy as she has stolen your radiance.

Not for me. When I was carrying my daughters, my face was practically glowing.

It was the boys who caused a breakout of pimples on my face until it resembled a moon crater.

The ultrasound can predict quite accurately the sex of your baby, but you might not want to make the information public yet.

So begins the fun game of “guess the baby’s sex”.

If you’re carrying a high bump, it means you’re getting a boy; if it’s low, it’s a girl. Or is it the other way round?

If you pose this superstition to Google, it will tell you that the shape and size of a woman’s abdomen depends on the position of the foetus, posture, muscle size, and amount of fat deposited.

Let people have their fun. After all, they have a 50% chance of being right.

As far as you’re concerned, you can throw these superstitions out the window and have a stress-free pregnancy.

Lydia Teh is a mother of four and author of nine books, including the latest, Cow Sense for Young People. Send comments to lifestyle.lydia@ thesundaily.com.