From cravings to curses: The wildest pregnancy myths some people believe

As a mother of three, I can still remember sitting around the kitchen table while a friend was expecting, listening as well-meaning family members and neighbors confidently shared their "tried-and-true" pregnancy wisdom. One woman insisted that raising your arms above your head could cause the umbilical cord to wrap around the baby's neck. Another was convinced that craving strawberries meant the baby would be born with a strawberry-shaped birthmark. Each story was delivered with complete certainty, as though it had been lifted straight from a medical textbook rather than passed from one generation to the next.

Looking back, it's easy to grin or snicker at these colorful beliefs, but at the time they carried real weight... to some. Few experiences inspire more unsolicited advice than pregnancy, and much of it comes from a place of genuine love and protection. Long before internet searches and evidence-based prenatal care, families relied on traditions, folklore, and personal experiences to explain the mysteries of pregnancy. Some of those beliefs have since been disproven, while others continue to circulate in baby showers, family gatherings, and social media posts, often blurring the line between fact and fiction.

So, let's take a lighthearted journey through the Pregnancy Myth Hall of Fame—a collection of some of the most enduring, amusing, and surprisingly widespread beliefs about pregnancy, along with a few modern myths that prove this fascinating tradition is still very much alive.

Disclaimer: This post is for entertainment purposes only. Please seek the advice of your personal medical professional for your own individual health and experience.

The Classic Pregnancy Myths We Just Can't Seem to Let Go Of

For thousands of years, pregnancy has been surrounded by folklore, superstition, and advice that has been passed from one generation to the next. Long before ultrasounds, genetic testing, and modern obstetrics, families tried to make sense of the unknown by looking for patterns, signs, and omens. While science has answered many of those questions, some of these beliefs remain surprisingly resilient—and they're still shared today with complete confidence.

Pickles, Ice Cream...and Twins?

One enduring myth suggests that unusual cravings—particularly the classic combination of pickles and ice cream—are a sign you're carrying twins. While the image has become a pop-culture cliché, cravings themselves are incredibly common during pregnancy and are thought to result from hormonal changes, altered taste perception, and shifting nutritional needs. Whether you're craving salty chips, spicy tacos, or peanut butter at 2 a.m., the menu says far more about your hormones than the number of babies you're expecting.

Carrying High or Low Predicts the Baby's Gender

Few pregnancy predictions have been repeated more often than this one. According to tradition, carrying high means you're having a girl, while carrying low points to a boy. It makes for entertaining baby-shower conversation, but medical professionals have long explained that the way someone "carries" is influenced by factors such as muscle tone, body shape, the baby's position, previous pregnancies, and even posture—not the baby's sex.

Heartburn Means Your Baby Will Have Lots of Hair

Unlike many pregnancy myths, this one has a tiny grain of scientific plausibility. Researchers have found a possible association between pregnancy hormones that contribute to heartburn and fetal hair growth, meaning women with more severe heartburn were somewhat more likely to deliver babies with fuller heads of hair. Even so, it's far from a reliable predictor. Plenty of babies arrive sporting thick locks without causing heartburn, while others are born nearly bald despite months of indigestion.

Eclipses and Other Celestial Warnings

Across many cultures, solar and lunar eclipses have inspired warnings for expectant mothers. Some traditions advise pregnant women to remain indoors during an eclipse, believing the event could cause birth defects such as cleft lip or other physical abnormalities. While these beliefs remain culturally significant in some parts of the world, there is no scientific evidence that eclipses pose any special risk to pregnancy beyond the ordinary precaution of never looking directly at the sun without proper eye protection.

The Delightfully Quirky Pregnancy Superstitions

Some pregnancy myths are less alarming and more whimsical, revealing just how imaginative our ancestors could be when trying to explain the mysteries of unborn babies.

Don't Look at Frogs, Rabbits, or Certain Animals

One old superstition claimed that if a pregnant woman stared too long at a particular animal, her baby might somehow take on its features. While the idea sounds amusing today, it reflects a centuries-old belief known as "maternal impression"—the notion that a mother's experiences, emotions, or visual encounters could physically shape her unborn child. Modern genetics has thoroughly debunked the theory, but it remains one of history's more colorful pregnancy legends.

Craving Strawberries Causes Birthmarks

This charming belief has persisted for generations. According to the story, ignoring a craving for strawberries—or even eating too many of them—could leave a strawberry-shaped birthmark on the baby. In reality, common birthmarks such as hemangiomas and vascular birthmarks develop because of blood vessel growth and other biological processes, not because of late-night fruit cravings.

Never Step Over a Rope

In some cultures, pregnant women are cautioned against stepping over a rope, electrical cord, or even a garden hose because doing so is said to cause the umbilical cord to wrap around the baby's neck. In reality, the cord's position changes naturally as babies move and tumble inside the womb. Umbilical cords occasionally become wrapped around the neck—a condition known as a nuchal cord—but it occurs because of fetal movement, not anything the mother steps over during the day.

The Modern Myths That Spread Like Wildfire

In today’s world, folklore doesn’t just come from grandmothers—it spreads through social media, parenting forums, viral posts, and, yes, also on the podiums of certain politicians who treat science like it’s an optional belief system. Myths now travel faster than facts, wrapped in fear and broadcast with misplaced authority.

• Tylenol Causes Autism. A few studies have raised questions, but there is no solid scientific evidence linking Tylenol (acetaminophen) use in pregnancy to autism. Organizations like the CDC and ACOG continue to say it’s safe when used as directed. Fear is powerful, though, and this myth preys on a mother’s deepest anxieties: What if I unknowingly harmed my child?

*Keep in mind, every pregnancy and person is different. For the best advice on a safe and healthy pregnancy, consult your personal Obstetrician.

Tylenol was widely used for decades before autism was even formally defined in medicine. The rise in autism diagnoses paralleled changes in diagnostic standards and awareness, not a sudden surge in Tylenol use (which had already been common for years).

• Everything You Do Leaves a Mark. Modern “wellness culture” sometimes whispers that every decision—every snack, every emotion—somehow imprints on your baby forever. Science tells us: while some choices matter (nutrition, avoiding alcohol and smoking, proper prenatal care), most of these warnings are superstition wrapped in anxiety.

Why These Stories Still Matter

So why do they persist? Because myths—whether whispered in kitchens, scrawled on forums, or shouted at rallies—make the overwhelming unknown of pregnancy feel more familiar. They connect us to culture, to family, to generations past. They give us stories to laugh at, to eye-roll, and to pass along.

But let’s not forget the real truth: without education and science, we’d still be hiding from eclipses, blaming strawberries for freckles, and avoiding exercise. Myths remind us how far we’ve come—and how quickly misinformation can drag us back.

Final Word: Cherish the Stories, Trust the Science

Pregnancy myths are like folklore: part comedy, part cautionary tale, part cultural glue. They deserve to be remembered, laughed at, and maybe even cherished as curiosities.

But when it comes to your health and your baby’s? Smile at the superstition, share the stories at baby showers, but put your trust where it belongs: in evidence, education, your personal physician and the science that actually saves lives.

Because folklore may warm the heart—but science keeps both hearts beating.

Pregnancy Myths vs. Facts

Myth: Craving strawberries gives your baby birthmarks.

Fact: Cravings are hormonal. Birthmarks are genetic.

Myth: Carrying high means it’s a girl, carrying low means it’s a boy.

Fact: Baby position depends on your body and muscle tone—not gender.

Myth: Heartburn means your baby will be born with lots of hair.

Fact: Hormones may play a role in both, but it’s not a guarantee.

Myth: Solar eclipses are dangerous for pregnant women.

Fact: The sun doesn’t carry cosmic scissors—go ahead and watch safely.

Myth: Stepping over a rope tangles the umbilical cord.

Fact: Cords move and tangle naturally—ropes have nothing to do with it.

Myth: Every little thing you do imprints on your baby forever.

Fact: Healthy nutrition and avoiding known risks matter most. The rest is myth-fueled anxiety.

Myth: Exercising is dangerous and could cause miscarriage.

Fact: Moderate exercise is healthy during pregnancy—it boosts circulation, eases stress, and can even make delivery smoother. Doctors encourage it, with few exceptions. 🏃‍♀️

Myth: Pregnant women should avoid bathing or swimming.

Fact: Clean, warm (not scalding hot) baths and swimming are safe and often soothing. The only real risk is overheating in extremely hot water. 🛁

Myth: You can’t dye your hair while pregnant.

Fact: Most modern hair dyes are safe when used as directed, though many women wait until the second trimester to be cautious.

Bottom Line: Myths make great stories. Facts keep moms and babies safe.

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