• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Precious Diary
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Work with Me
  • MY PEN SPEAKS
    • Love n Marriage
    • Singles
    • News n Features
    • Faith
    • Parenting
    • Beauty n Style
    • Blogging
  • Recipe Index
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • African Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Popular African Foods
    • Cameroonian Food
    • Carrribean Recipes

Precious Core logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Easter
  • Videos
  • Recipe Index
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Easter
    • Videos
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Parenting

    PUBLISHED: Nov 22, 2015 · UPDATED: Apr 27, 2017 by Precious · This post may contain affiliate links · 13 Comments

    7 INTERESTING MYTHS ABOUT PREGNANCY

    Sharing is caring!

    27 shares
    • Share27
    • Yum this
    • Email



    When you are pregnant, your territory is trespassed by friends, family and even foes who give you (mostly unsolicited) advice and information about your pregnancy . Talk about old wives' tales! Here are some I have heard over the years:

    1. Your baby will resemble the person you hang around often. 

    My Mom is the fairest among her siblings. According to my Grandmum, she 'took' this colour from a fair woman that came around her while she was pregnant. How a baby 'takes' a skin colour from someone is beyond me. My pregnant niece's fiance warned her against hanging around a particular family because that will make their baby ugly. Hahakjq hahakjq (laughing in Hebrew). It doesn't matter if you pack to the Unity Palace and live with Chantal Biya. if pikin go wowor, de woworness is unstoppable. By the way, no man no wowor (there is no ugly person).

    2. Don't eat anything too hot or too cold because it will affect the baby. 

    One day, while sitting with my long pregnant belly, I announced that I wanted to drink "hooooot tea" with an emphasis on "hot!". My mother cut in to say it wasn't good for me as the heat will burn the baby. How does hot tea find its way to the womb and burn a baby covered in amniotic fluid? She even banned me from eating anything cold or pepperish... because of the baby. Even you, Mummy? You are educated na. 

    3. A hairy baby causes a very nauseous first trimester. 

    When I had my first girl, she had a head full of hair. One day, while bathing her, Grandma questioned me: "You bi di ova vomet?" (Were you throwing up a lot while pregnant?) I answered in the affirmative and she responded that my baby's hairs caused the nausea. So according to her, the hairs were irritating my throat which in turn caused me to keep to keep puking. Who came up with these "truths?"

    4. A mixture of Top Grenadine and tin tomato (tomato paste) adds blood to the body.

    I once visited a pregnant friend back in Cameroon and she sent her younger sister to buy drinks for all of us. She chose to drink Top Grenadine. Top Grenadine is a red strawberry-flavoured soda produced by the main brewery company in Cameroon called Brasseries di do Cameroun (actually, Brasseries du Cameroun). While drinking, she explain to me and her other guests that she chose that drink because it gives blood to pregnant women. She added that mixing it with tomato paste could heal anemia. So because these products are coloured red like blood, it is wrongly assumed they add blood to the body. I was stunned! A schooled girl, in the 21st century, believing in bullsh*t. Yah!

    5. The sex of the baby can be told by looking at the shape of a heavily pregnant tummy.

    I have heard someone said if a woman's tummy is long and pointed, she will have a boy. The theory further stipulates that if the tummy is round, she will have a girl. I have had both tummy shapes and I ended up having girls. Wait... do believers in this theory thing that the boy pushes his butt against the walls of the womb to create a pointed tummy? How did they even come up with this?

    6. If your have swollen feet (oedema), you will either have twins or have a c-section.

    My Grandma is a firm believer in this. Oedema is a condition common in the third trimester of pregnancy whereby the woman's feet swell due to fluid retention. It is believed by some women that the feet swell due to the weight of the baby. So they conclude that you will either need to have a c-section or you will birth twins. My feet were all swollen during my third trimester in my first pregnancy yet I had neither twins nor c-section. I wish the twins part was real, though.

    7. Eating okra will guarantee a smooth labour.

    A well meaning family friend sincerely advised me about this. She said okra is the reason why she easily pushed out her kids. She advised me to constantly eat/drink okra soup from the 7th month of pregnancy. It is believed that the slime from the okra lubricates the passage so the baby just slides out, screaming weeeeee as though going down the slide on a playground. Na wah!

    Those pregnancy myths are what they are to me, myths. However, here is what I know about taking of yourself while pregnant:

    -Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
    -Do some form of regular exercise even if it is just walking.
    -Avoid raw eggs and raw meat.
    -Get regular medical check-up

    AND LASTLY, TAKE EVERY ADVICE THE OLD WIVES GIVE YOU WITH A PINCH OF SALT.
    I kind of miss being pregnant and receiving advice from every Joan, Mary and Adeline.*side eyes at Mr. N*
    What are some of the myths surrounding pregnancy you have heard? Please share in the comments section below. This should be fun!

    If you loved this post please click on the small social media icons below to share. Thank you!pre-signature-pro

    YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

    • PREGNANCY IN CAMEROON VERSUS PREGNANCY IN AMERICAPREGNANCY IN CAMEROON VERSUS PREGNANCY IN AMERICA
    • 10 CRAZY THINGS I DID WHILE PREGNANT10 CRAZY THINGS I DID WHILE PREGNANT
    • My First Pregnancy Part 3My First Pregnancy Part 3
    • My First Pregnancy 2My First Pregnancy 2

    More Parenting

    • How to embrace the mess as parents
      Embracing the Mess
    • mother and four daughters
      How Can I Love My Kids Well?
    • Mother and Girls
      MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH MY KIDS
    • Back to School Hacks for Parents
      10 BACK TO SCHOOL HACKS FOR PARENTS

    Sharing is caring!

    27 shares
    • Share27
    • Yum this
    • Email

    About Precious

    Welcome to my core! I am Precious Nkeih, the recipe developer and writer right here on my blog, Precious Core. My goal is to show you insanely delicious recipes you can replicate in your kitchen. And I love to tell stories too. Hope you find recipes here that will make cooking easier for you! Check me out on YouTube at YouTube.com/PreciousKitchen.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lucy W. says

      November 23, 2015 at 10:47 pm

      Dear Precious,

      On behalf of the Leaders and readers of Wlcmwisdom blog, we hereby warmly extend our invitation to you and all the readers of your family to our 2015 BLOGGERS’ CONFERENCE, tagged “WALKING INTO MY DIVINE INHERITANCE”
      From Mon. 30th Nov.___Fri. 4th Dec., 2015
      Time: 8:00A.M. and 5 P.M.

      The following servants of God will be Ministering together with the Holy Spirit
      Gloria Okaiman
      Chincobee
      BMF
      Miriam Ezeka
      Alabekee
      Carina Jacob
      Nwamaka Ajaegbu
      Naija Mom Diary
      Precious core
      Lucy w.

      Come and Receive Divine Empowerment for 2016 Visions Through The Living Word!!!
      Thank you!
      For more information visit: http://www.wlcmwisdom.blogspot.com

      Reply
    2. Diary of a Naija mom says

      November 24, 2015 at 1:04 am

      Eating okro is going to make your baby drool is another myth.

      Reply
    3. Precious Nkeih says

      November 24, 2015 at 1:05 am

      Lol. I didn't think of that. Funny

      Reply
    4. Gloria Okaiman says

      November 24, 2015 at 12:39 pm

      Nice one and a more nicer blog.. Thumbs up

      http://Www.trendwithgloria.com

      Reply
    5. LeXHan Menkiti says

      November 24, 2015 at 12:39 pm

      Nice post..... The mums in house will break this down better I sopoz.. Doh I love learning stuffs like this as they r useful and future important. You write well and this is a wonderful blog.

      http://www.lexhansplace.com

      Reply
    6. Precious Nkeih says

      November 24, 2015 at 12:41 pm

      Awww thanks Gloria!

      Reply
    7. Precious Nkeih says

      November 24, 2015 at 12:43 pm

      Hi LeXHan, indeed knowledge empowers you in many ways. Thanks for your kind words.

      Reply
    8. Carina Jacob says

      November 25, 2015 at 2:17 am

      Educating post! Nice of you to share

      http://www.ckjacob.com

      Reply
    9. Precious Nkeih says

      November 25, 2015 at 2:19 am

      Thanks hun.

      Reply
    10. Pamela Ugochi Orji says

      November 25, 2015 at 8:15 am

      Number 3,really cracked me up. Lolz. Nice blog dear.

      Pamscrib.blogspot.com

      Reply
    11. Precious Nkeih says

      November 25, 2015 at 8:18 am

      Lol... I know right. Thanks for swinging by, Pamela!

      Reply
    12. Arrey Echi says

      February 02, 2016 at 9:24 pm

      LOL I actually believe that Grenadine and tomatoe and I do drink it sometimes with milk. I do think it does help with the blood build. That said, funny and interesting post.Just got to read it now. Keep them coming.

      http://www.joy2endure.com

      Reply
    13. Precious Nkeih says

      February 02, 2016 at 9:27 pm

      Mamamiye, even you sis! How does grenadine and tin tomato build blood? I don't get it. I just don't get it ya. Thanks for reading always hun

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    precious

    Hi, I'm Precious!

    I am a mama with many mouths to feed. I develop recipes and share real-life stories. Here you will find approachable, insanely delicious, family-friendly recipes.

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Close up shot of Pan Seared Tilapia
      Pan Seared Tilapia
    • Banana fritters on a platter with one opened up to show texture
      Banana Fritters
    • A mug of fresh ginger drink with some ginger and key limes on the side
      Ginger Drink
    • Egusi soup recipe
      EGUSI SOUP - NIGERIAN EGUSI SOUP
    • Chicken in White Sauce in a pot
      Chicken in White Sauce
    • Chicken drumsticks in creamy sauce in a cast iron skillet
      Chicken Drumsticks in Creamy Sauce

    [do_widget id=enews-ext-1]

    Easy Dinner Recipes

    • Square image of cajun salmon.
      Baked Cajun Salmon
    • Square image of baked lemon butter tilapia.
      Garlic Butter Tilapia
    • Cooked salmon in pan.
      Lemon Butter Salmon
    • Square image of Nigerian Beef Stew
      Nigerian Beef Stew
    • Square image of green beans.
      Garlic Butter Green Beans
    • Square image of pan seared boneless pork chops.
      Pan Seared Boneless Pork Chops

    Easter Recipes

    • Cinnamon rolls in a pan, some of the rolls frosted with cream cheese frosting
      Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese Frosting (VIDEO)
    • Square image of roasted turkey wings
      Baked Turkey Wings
    • A bowl of buttermilk mashed potatoes
      Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
    • Pan seared lamb chops in a cast iron skillet
      Pan Seared Lamb Chops

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    IMPORTANT LINKS

    • Home
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work with Me
    • Contact
    • Recipe Index
    • Accessibility Policy

    Life

    • Square image of kids at Austin Library
      Our Family Trip To Austin Texas
    • Black family picture
      Family Vacation At Lake Havasu, Arizona

    STAY CONNECTED

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    COPYRIGHT © 2022 PRECIOUS CORE