Do You Have Any Favorite OB Myths?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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I was wondering if anyone had a favorite OB myth that you've come across in work.

I'll start with a few of my favorites:

When I worked at a maternity home, the lead houseparent told the girls that if their baby was a girl, it proved that the young lady had participated in a lot of sexual activity at conception. If it was a boy, the young lady had intercourse only once or twice. I couldn't think of any biological basis for that one. Of course if the young lady had a baby girl, then she would really have been read the riot act about her sexual activity from the housemother.

This one I heard rather recently. A woman went in for an u/s to determine the baby's sex, and baby had it's legs crossed. The woman asked the u/s tech to count the fetal ribs because men have one less rib than women do - the "Adam's Rib Theory."

Anyone heard of other interesting OB myths that are brought into the doctor's office or hospital?

Specializes in ICU.

For those who do not vaccinate their children, what do you tell the daycares and the schools when they ask for updated shot records? Didn't you, yourself need updated immunizations to enter nursing school? Just curious.

Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.

Can those interested in discussing vaccinations further please start a new thread? It's not fair to the OP to continue to hijack this one and say "Oops, sorry!" Thanks!

Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

One of the OB myths I've always heard is that taking Castor Oil will bring on labor.

I don't know that I've ever met anyone tired enough of being pregnant to try it!!

Specializes in Critical Care.
One of the OB myths I've always heard is that taking Castor Oil will bring on labor.

I don't know that I've ever met anyone tired enough of being pregnant to try it!!

Actually, I did. With my first one I was young and not too bright. my grandmothe swore by this and I put it in coke, plugged my nose to not taste it, and down it went. I went into labor about 2 and 1/2 weeks later. :lol2:

tvccrn

Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

I've encountered a couple among patients of Mexican heritage.

One is wearing a key or a safety pin pinned to the inside bottom of one's shirt, or the top of one's panties. This is to prevent birth defects.

Another is that a wound won't heal if the injured person is around a pregnant woman.

The one my mother always told me was about raising the arms causing the cord to be knotted or around the neck. Both my boys had nuchal cords so I guess it was true!! :chuckle

Specializes in M/S, OB, Ortho, ICU, Diabetes, QA/PI.

what a funny thread!! I can't count how many of these I heard from patients over the years - I don't know which ones that my family believe in because fortunately, both my mother and mil are afraid of me ;) and would have never tried to give me the benefit of their "wisdom" for fear of receiving the sharp side of my "knowledgeable" tongue - tee hee........

I have 2 boys, healthy as horses - I worked 12 hr night shifts in OB right up until 40 weeks - I never had one single day of morning sickness either time - I delivered one the day after my due date and the other one was 4 days post-dates - I carried both of them so low down that I didn't look pregnant from behind because I still had a definite waistline and no change to my hips or butt - and, sorry to be so personal, but I know exactly when I conceived each kidlet and know for a fact that I DIDN'T have an orgasm either time (quite honestly, we were struggling with fertility issues, fertility drugs, ovulation-prediction kits, etc. and I was so stressed that I really couldn't relax and have fun!!!)

so........some of these myths applied to me and some not..............

I flew 8 hrs overseas when I was 24 weeks along with my oldest and I had people ask me if I was worried that the pressurised (sp?) air in the cabin of the plane would cause my water to break - has anyone heard that one?

Specializes in psych.
I heard that the rhythm method was when you get pregnant to music.

Hrmmm ... I concieved my current 19 week pregnancy after a Lynyrd Skynyrd/3 Doors Down concert ... How's that for rhythm?

:rotfl:

Specializes in Family Practice.

OMG! Thats what my husbands grandmother used to say too:) "you'll turn their liver!"

So now when we turn the kids upside down we "in a smirky voice" say "you'll turn their liver!" Then laugh:)

Specializes in Family Practice.

I think they got that one backwards. Even is a boy and odd are a girl. MOthers age at the time of conception plus the month conception occurred...I hear this one alllll the time:)

Specializes in Family Practice.

Heard that if you drink Earl Grey tea it will cause you to go into labor 2 weeks before your due date.

Red raspberry tea will "tone" your uterus and make labor easier.

Theres no need to push a baby out! your contractions will do ALL the work for you.

If you have sex before you ovulate it will be a girl and the day of or after ovulation it will be a boy.

Cravings for salty during pregnancy will be a girl and sweets a boy, I may have this one backwards.

Ive heard of women claiming to carry their baby to "10" or "11" months. And I dont mean 40 weeks.

Non preggo, if you're menstruating dont walk in a garden or the plants will not grow.

One of the OB myths I've always heard is that taking Castor Oil will bring on labor.

I don't know that I've ever met anyone tired enough of being pregnant to try it!!

I had a friend that did this and it worked for her. So I tried it and I went into labor (strong contractions 3-4 minutes apart) about 2.5 hrs later.

I think there is a scientific basis in the effect of the castor oil on smooth muscle contraction and increased prostaglandins. If nothing else it will get rid of that pregnancy constipation:)

Specializes in OB.
Its a myth most definetly....my sil has red hair and has had two babies and I watched both deliveries.....no problems at all.

I wonder how that myth came about? Thats funny :lol2:

took care of 3 PP moms this week. One was brunette with a C/S, the other 2 were redheads, one vag, one C/S . BOTH of the redheads bled more then normal, in fact the one with the C/S was on max pitocin my whole shift and we got some LOVELY clots as well.. so I dunno. they also mentioned in report" well, she is a redhead"

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