Don’t eat snails or your labour will be too rapid.
Hmm… where do we even start?
This idea likely comes from the ‘slimy’ nature of snails and the assumption that it somehow translates to a ‘slippery’ or faster delivery. But in reality, there is no link between eating snails and how fast your labour will be.
Rapid (or precipitate) labour does happen, but it has nothing to do with what you ate. Factors like smaller babies or the shape of the pelvis may play a role, but even then, it’s not something you can predict or control with diet.
Bottom line: Enjoy your snails if you like them. They have nothing to do with how fast your baby arrives
If you have a lot of morning sickness, then it’s a girl.
Hmm… not quite
Morning sickness has nothing to do with whether you’re having a boy or a girl. You can be sick every day of your pregnancy regardless of the baby’s sex.
Now, let’s talk about the sickness itself…
We’re often told to eat bland foods like crackers or dry toast. That works for some people, but honestly, it didn’t work for me at all.
What worked for me? Tart things.
Lemons were my go-to. I also had a particular brand of very tart gum that I practically lived on
Brushing my teeth every morning would send me into a bout of retching, so I always had something sour ready to ‘reset; my mouth immediately after. Not my fondest memory!
So if tart things help you, go for it. A few drops of lemon in water can sometimes do the trick.
But be careful – too much can worsen heartburn, which is also common in pregnancy. So moderation is key, and if it makes things worse, stop.
Other helpful tips:
• Eat small amounts frequently – an empty stomach makes nausea worse
• Avoid fatty, greasy foods
• Stay away from smells that trigger you
• Cold foods may be easier to tolerate than hot ones
• Get fresh air and plenty of rest
• Stay hydrated
And most importantly, get support.
If cooking makes you nauseous, ask for help. This is not the time to suffer in silence.
If a pregnant woman drinks cold water, her baby may get pneumonia.
Seriously?!
It’s already a stretch to believe that drinking cold water causes pneumonia in adults… but now an unborn baby too?
No. This is completely fictional.
Pneumonia is caused by infections, not by the temperature of the water you drink. And your baby is well protected inside the womb. What you drink does not directly expose your baby to infections like that.
So, drink your water however you like it – just stay hydrated
Sometimes, the trigger for asthma is right inside your home.
Tuesday May 5 is World Asthma Day
If you’ve ever been told your child has asthma, you’ll remember that moment – the panic, worry, fear, and the thoughts of what life will now look like. But it doesn’t always have to be that way.
One major trigger for asthma is something many of us don’t even think about – dust mites.
These tiny organisms live in fabrics like pillows, bedding, curtains, and stuffed toys. They thrive in warm, moist environments and feed on dead skin cells we naturally shed. As we go about our daily activities – making beds, dusting, and generally moving around, they can become airborne and trigger asthma attacks in sensitive individuals.
So how do you reduce them?
• Dust with a damp cloth or oiled duster to prevent particles from becoming airborne
• Vacuum instead of sweeping with a broom
• Use allergen-proof mattress and pillow covers
• Wash bedding and stuffed toys weekly with hot water
• Reduce carpets, heavy curtains, and upholstered furniture where possible
• Keep the moisture and humidity low and reduce clutter. These would reduce the breeding places of the mites.
With simple hygiene measures, asthma can be better controlled and flare-ups reduced.
That embarrassing ‘sound’ down there is more common than you think
Many women notice a feeling of looseness after childbirth or experience what is often called ‘vaginal farts.’ It can be uncomfortable to talk about, but it is actually quite common.
This happens when the vaginal walls expand, allowing air in, and then release it. Unlike regular gas, it is usually odorless. It can occur during exercise, sex, or even simple movements like getting up from a chair.
So, what can you do about it?
The answer is simple – pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegel exercises.
Try tightening your pelvic muscles as though you are trying to stop the flow of urine. Hold for about 10 seconds, then relax for 10 seconds. Repeat several times a day. You can do this anywhere – at your desk, in a queue, or while watching TV.
With consistency, you should begin to notice improvement in about 6 – 12 weeks.
These exercises don’t just help with this issue – they also support childbirth, improve sexual function, and reduce the risk of urinary leakage later in life.
Remember that this is common and manageable. There’s no need to feel embarrassed.
However, if symptoms persist despite exercises, please see your doctor for further evaluation.
Some motherhood mistakes don’t show up until much later…
When I had my first baby, of course, I had a baby book. I took loads of pictures and filled it up properly. There was hardly any empty page. First lock of hair, outline of the foot, that first wrinkled picture, first birthday… everything was in there.
By the time I had my second baby, I was a bit more blasé… been there, done that, if you get what I mean ☺ So, fewer pictures, fewer moments captured, fewer things written down. With my last baby, it was just terrible. I didn’t even buy a baby book. I could not, for the life of me, remember to take pictures. It was a difficult time in my life, so yes, I have an excuse… but honestly, when the time comes, that excuse doesn’t really hold water.
And the time came.
Every now and then, my daughters would bring out their baby books and we would sit and reminisce. My son would join in and then start asking about his own – his baby book, his stories, his pictures.
At first, I managed it… small small explanations here and there. But then the questions became more direct. And I could see it on his face… That look of, ‘I’m not quite sure she loves me the same way… how come my sisters have all this and I don’t’”
That was it for me.
We brought out every single picture we could find. I bought the biggest baby book I could find, and we got to work. My second daughter and I sat down and put it all together. It wasn’t perfect. There were gaps – no handprints, no footprints at certain stages… but when we were done, it looked amazing. Even if I say so myself ☺
So please, don’t find yourself in this kind of situation. Get the baby book. Take the pictures. Write the stories. Start from day one… even ‘baby’s first picture at home.’ 😄
You don’t have to be addicted to alcohol for it to be a problem.
Alcoholism is a chronic condition where a person becomes preoccupied with alcohol and continues to drink despite the harm it causes.
But long before that stage, there is something called ‘problem drinking’ when alcohol begins to cause repeated issues in your life, even if you’re not dependent on it.
So how do you stay in control? Before we had guidelines such as: • Drink in moderation • Men: no more than 2 drinks per day; Women: no more than 1 • Limit weekly intake – 14 drinks for men, 7 for women • Avoid binge drinking (more than 4 drinks at once for men, 3 for women) • Have at least 2 alcohol-free days each week
But now, that recommendation has changed. Alcohol is now classified as a Group 1 carcinogen alongside substances like tobacco and asbestos. To clarify, a group one carcinogen is the highest risk category for cancer.
So, bottom line, people, the safest level of alcohol is none ☺️
I didn’t say so – the World Health Organization did!
Should you stop folic acid because of fibroids in pregnancy?
Folic acid does NOT make fibroids grow.
Fibroids do not feed on folic acid. They feed on hormones and that is the reason why they may become bigger in pregnancy and tend to shrink during menopause.
Please, ensure that you take your folic acid so as to ensure your baby has no neural tube (spinal cord) defects and be sure that your pregnancy is properly supervised by your doctor/medical team.
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