Wives Tales

[JadeCrusader]

What are the ones you've grown up with/heard/relied on/debunked yourself/or anything else? Specifically wives tales about all the facets of being a woman (including pregnancy) would be the coolest to hear about, but others are welcome to.

Most of these come from DH's Abuela (who says they came from HER Abuela), and while I don't always follow them 100% (or at all, lol) I must say... she's 85 years old and just as spry as I am. Her periods were only ever 3 days long and painless her whole life, and she had 6 healthy children with no problems. She can even still thread a needle at her old age, that's how good her eyesight is. Also, if I remember the story correctly, she didn't experience menopause until she was close to 70. She attributes all of that to following a few simple rules for taking care of your body.

Here are the ones I can remember off the top of my head:

Every Day:

1. Jog Daily, even if it's just a short distance - No brainer; this is definitely healthy
2. Always wear good sunglasses when in direct sunlight - Makes sense I suppose; protecting your eyes is a good idea
3. Stay warm your whole life no matter what forever and for always! - If I was walking around the house barefoot DH's Abuela would yell "BRIIINE!! TU WIFEY!!" (His name is Brian but it always sounds like she's saying Brine, haha ). Anyways, he would get yelled at for not ensuring I had socks and shoes on at all times. She would say that if I keep my feet chilled, the cold would travel up through my bones and chill my uterus and damage it, making future child-bearing difficult and painful.
4. Drink lukewarm or juuuust cold water, never iced - She felt that chilling your stomach would cause sickness, or increase a sickness you already had. I never once saw her with ice in her drinks (but I can't live without it...)
5. If you get your feet wet, you have to get your head wet too - I think this also had to do with temperature. I was told something along the lines of, if you get your feet wet it chills them, and unless you get your whole body the same temperature (by submerging completely under or "dunking") then the temps in your system will fight, will tire your body, and you'll be more susceptible to getting sick.

During Menstruation

1. No fruit of any kind during your period - My DH's Abuela told us girls that it causes "puss" or infection in the uterus during menstruation, therefore making cramps happen and the period last longer to expel all the mucous and puss. While I'm not totally sure about this one, I did notice that if I ate avocado or cantaloupe while on my period I would get almost instant, severe cramping, but that could just be a food sensitivity specific to me.
2. Keep warm to the point of sweating at all times - Keeping your body warm will ensure that your uterus is warm and your period will be quick and painless. I actually do this when on my period if I can. It's just a comfort thing and does diminish any cramps. I'm not sweating the WHOLE time, but I will definitely bundle up, complete with socks and shoes until I'm too hot and then open up a bit and just relax on the couch.

Note: I've never followed all of these things to the 'T', but my SIL says that if she perfectly follows Abuela's advice then she had comfortable, super short periods (like 4 days, light, no pain). So maybe there is something to it???

Pregnancy

1. Don't sleep on your side - She said that if you sleep on your side during your third trimester the weight of the baby will squish your organs and give you inexplicable back and organ trouble down the road. I am just newly pregnant and have never tested this, but DH's mother told me that she disregarded this one thinking it was dumb, but now as an adult (And after having 5 children of her own) she says her abdomen is always giving her trouble and her back aches like nothing else! She's also had gallbladder surgery... not sure if it's related, but she seems to kinda think so.

I know there's more, but I can't recall them off the top of my head... Now lets hear all the crazy things you've heard over the years!

 

[ModernMillie]

I find wives tales interesting, too.

I recall several women who took serious the warning that if you lift your arm above your head, the umbilical cord will wrap around the baby's neck.

Another is that the baby's heart rate will indicate gender. I had a friend who was concerned that the "gender by heart rate" did not match her ultrasound. Surprise surprise, it was the ultrasound that was right.

Tales aside for a moment, when it comes to pregnant sleeping, it is advisable to sleep on your side -- specifically your left side. Here are some links with further details:

https://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/sleepingpositions.html
https://www.babycenter.com/404_whats-the-best-sleep-position-during-pregnancy_7608.bc

 

[SabrinaKat]

I heard sour cravings = boy, and I crave lemon and the scan shows....

a boy....

best wishes

 

[YoshiPikachu]

Interesting.

 

[SouthernC]

Yeah Ive heard heart rate determines gender as well, not true at all, my sons heart rate was 155 at 17 weeks and 143 at 19 weeks, as my sisters little girls heart rate has been 150 (were both pregnant theres 3 months between us).

I've craved everything from sour things to sweet things..

I heard a lot of people tell me don't sit on the floor its bad for you.. so is standing on my feet for 8-10 hours a day at work and I don't see you telling me thats bad for me..