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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

What's the most bonkers advice anyone has given you during pregnancy?

46 replies

Eaglebird · 27/04/2007 15:46

Yesterday one of my elderly aunties advised me not to do any wallpapering. Not because of the hazard of falling off the stepladder...because reaching up would cause the umbilical cord to snap .
I was dying to laugh, but kept a straight face and told her I'd bear it in mind.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Anchovy · 28/04/2007 20:47

Let's just say I was very glad when DD turned naturally!

mummytosteven · 28/04/2007 20:49

to avoid pigeons, because of all the diseases they carry. (random old lady when out shopping)

bumperlicious · 29/04/2007 09:28

I was told off for swearing in front of my unborn child! (I had just splashed boiling water over my hand!)

PregnantGrrrl · 29/04/2007 12:27

my gran kept encouraging me to drink a bottle of wine, because it was Xmas so it wouldn't matter . I didn't.

MuminBrum · 29/04/2007 12:39

I was told not to reach up by an older colleague. I was 12 weeks and had just told everyone and was the first person in our office to be pregnant, so they were all treating me like an unexploded bomb!

canadianmum · 29/04/2007 19:36

I have been told to gain "loads of weight" by my mother, as this will mean I have a big healthy baby. Never mind the fact that she gained approx. 60lbs (yes 60lbs) with me, and I weighed under 7lbs full term (might have had something to do with the 25 cigarettes she smoked every day?????)

nickytwotimes · 29/04/2007 19:39

i got the "don't stretch " one aswell.
also from gp(!!!!!) "you'll have to give up your veggie diet while you're pregnant, you know!"

unknownrebelbang · 29/04/2007 20:18

Not advice as such, but:

a (childless) colleague once told me "fgs, pregnancy is a condition not an illness".

This is, of course true.....but I went off sick a couple of days later with raised BP - I was about 20 weeks at the time (plus had already had some problems in early pregnancy).

I didn't return to work until after my mat leave had finished.

DontlookatmeImshy · 29/04/2007 20:30

I alsohad the don't stretch your arms above your head you'll wrap the cord round the baby's neck thing. After I said I'd spent the last two days hanging wallpaper so it was all done before the baby came. Though it sounded a bit daft but there was still that niggling doubt that had me quite worried until someone confirmed it was an Old Wives Tale. Was pretty peed off about it at the time iirc.

MuminBrum · 29/04/2007 21:16

That's great, Nicky2, obviously that's why no-one in India ever manages to have a baby - it's all that rampant vegetarianism! I do wonder what they teach them in med school, I really do.

marieg76 · 30/04/2007 09:29

I haven't had much bonkers advice yet but I have had the "joy" of people treating me like an unexploded bomb! I'm only 17 weeks and people keep asking if I am okay. When I reply that I am fine, which I am, they kind of tilt their head, tell me that I must be exceptionally tired and then make sympathetic "ahh" noises. I'm barely allowed to get up off my chair in certain company!

fortyplus · 30/04/2007 09:31

I had 'Don't hang out the washing or the cord will get wrapped round the baby's neck'.

MuminBrum · 30/04/2007 09:37

40plus, that makes it sound as though you were planning to use the umbilical cord to hang the washing on!

fortyplus · 30/04/2007 09:39

Funny thing was, when I had ds2 he had the cord wrapped twice round his neck

skidaddle · 30/04/2007 10:09

NOt exactly pg advice but when I asked my mum if contractions felt like period pains (I bloody wish ), she said, Oh for God's sake, they're not as bad as period pains

MKG · 30/04/2007 11:06

My dh tells me not to bend over too much. That's as he's dropping things (like food) on the floor and not picking them up and ds (20 months) is flying through the house leaving an obstacle course behind him.

My question is: If I don't bend over to pick things up will the house cleaning fairy come to do it for me?

Porcupine · 30/04/2007 11:07

thats STIPID one about curry inducing labour
and sex
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew
complete strangers told me that
if curry works how come lal of india isnt plagues buy premature births>

iwouldgoouttonight · 30/04/2007 11:36

Don't use photocopiers, don't cycle or swim, but eat lots of chocolate because it will make your baby sleep better when its born!

Diplidophus · 30/04/2007 11:43

Another one for reaching armas above head from grandmothers.

From my Mum - morning sickness was imagined because she never had it (in fact as is any complaint that she never suffered from).

Sorry - but anything involving homeopathy! It's water FFS (she waits for the attack which she can't be bothered to defend). However never underestimate the power of palcebo.

Holding a candle by your toe will turn a breeached baby. (moxtibo- whatever)

elkiedee · 30/04/2007 11:44

MrsMar, that diet obsessed GP is an idiot, glad I didn't have one like that. Have you considered making a complaint? - his advice sounds like the opposite of most diet advice I've been given or have read.

What about calcium if you cut out dairy products? I've just started drinking a bit of milk again after more than 20 years since my teens of not doing so except in other drinks on advice to deal with symptoms of calcium deficiency - it works and I'm quite enjoying it with a slight flavouring of banana (about half what's recommended on the package).

I do quite like the chocolate one?

IcingOnTheCake · 30/04/2007 11:59

You know PuppyDogsTails, pregnacy homones actually did make me stable, happy and lovely! It was very strange, i was sooo laid back when i was pregnant and was actually a nice person for a while

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