One thing is for sure: Pregnancy will be one of the most exciting times in your life. It will also be one of the most overwhelming as you’re inundated with new information - some helpful and some not so much. The women in your life may be dying to tell you their own experiences and all of the different things they learned throughout their own pregnancies. Keep this in mind as the information flows in: No two pregnancies are alike and just because something happened to someone you know, does not mean it will happen to you too!
There is a lot of anecdotal information and old wives' tales out there that surround pregnancy, but how do you know what is true? For some clarification, we asked Dr. Peter Vasquez, Ob/Gyn at Penn Medicine, if there is any truth behind some common concerns you may hear about.
Pregnancy Q and A
My due date is during the winter and I am concerned about a snow storm. How can I be more prepared?
As you get closer to your due date, it's a good idea to know exactly how you're going to get to the hospital. You may want to explore alternate routes in case of traffic or bad weather.
There is a theory that the changes in barometric pressure that comes along with storms may cause labor to start or your water to break, but we do not have any proof that this actually occurs. However, weather can be associated with certain pregnancy symptoms. For example, in hot weather, you're more likely to be dehydrated and may experience contractions. It's important to focus on staying well hydrated when it gets hot and humid outside.
In a true emergency, you shouldn't hesitate to call 911 to help you get to the hospital. Otherwise, it's a good idea to plan to allow extra time for less urgent situations.
My due date is on a holiday, should I be concerned?
There's no need to be concerned about staffing on holidays and weekends. We know that babies can and do come at any time, and the labor and delivery unit is always fully staffed.
What is the likelihood I will deliver on my due date?
Your due date is calculated as 40 weeks exactly after the first day of your last menstrual period. This date is sometimes adjusted based on early ultrasound. However, we define "full term" as any time between 39 and 42 weeks. Your baby is likely to come at some point during this window, but arriving exactly on the due date is relatively rare.
Are any of the “old wives’ tales” true - such as “you will have a baby with a lot of hair if you experience heartburn during pregnancy”?
Most of the old wives' tales regarding pregnancy seem to be harmless myths, although many of them have not been studied scientifically. However, there was a study that demonstrated that moms with worse heartburn were actually more likely to have a baby with a full head of hair! So there may be some truth to that one, although the majority of women have some degree of heartburn in pregnancy.
I’ve heard many things that can help induce labor, are any of these true (i.e. eating pineapple, brisk walks, sexual intercourse)?
There aren't any reliable, non-medical ways to induce labor. Staying active throughout pregnancy, including as you get close to or past your due date, is always a good idea. There's no harm in having sex near your due date, but it's not guaranteed to induce labor.
Will your water always break before going into labor?
Increasingly frequent and painful contractions are the most common first signs of labor. Although your water may break prior to contractions, it doesn't usually happen until you're in active labor.
As you are flooded with information from others during your pregnancy, try to remember that yours will be different. Most of this information is harmless and likely based off of someone else’s experience. If you have questions or curiosities, your physician is always a great resource and you will have plenty of opportunities to ask the questions, especially as you get closer to your due date.