Signs for giving birth

Signs that labour has begun

Know the signs

There are several signs that labour might be starting, including:

• contractions or tightenings
• a "show", when the plug of mucus from your cervix (entrance to your womb, or uterus) comes away
• backache
• an urge to go to the toilet, which is caused by your baby's head pressing on your bowel
• your waters breaking

The early (latent) stage of labour can take some time.

Urgent advice: Call your midwife or maternity unit if:

• your waters break
• you have vaginal bleeding
• your baby is moving less than usual
• you're less than 37 weeks pregnant and think you might be in labour

These signs mean you need to see a midwife or doctor.

Latent phase of labour

The start of labour is called the latent phase. This is when your cervix becomes soft and thin, and starts opening for your baby to be born. This can take hours or sometimes days.

You'll probably be advised to stay at home during this time. If you go to the hospital or maternity unit, they may suggest you go back home.

Find out more about the stages of labour and what you can do at home during the latent phase.

Call your midwife if you're unsure or worried about anything.

What do contractions feel like

When you have a contraction, your womb tightens and then relaxes. For some people, contractions may feel like extreme period pains. 

You may have had contractions during your pregnancy, particularly towards the end. These tightenings are called Braxton Hicks contractions and are usually painless.

Your contractions tend to become longer, stronger and more frequent as your labour progresses. During a contraction, the muscles tighten and the pain increases. If you put your hand on your abdomen, you'll feel it getting harder; when the muscles relax, the pain fades and you will feel the hardness ease.

The contractions are pushing your baby down and opening the entrance to your womb (the cervix), ready for your baby to go through.

Your midwife will probably advise you to stay at home until your contractions become frequent. 

Call your midwife or maternity unit for guidance when your contractions are in a regular pattern and:

• last at least 60 seconds
• come every 5 minutes or
• you think you are in labour

Read more information on when to go to hospital

Backache often comes on in labour

You may get backache or a heavy, aching feeling.

A "show" can signal the start of labour

During pregnancy, there's a plug of mucus in your cervix. This mucus comes away just before labour starts, or when in early labour, and it may pass out of your vagina. This sticky, jelly-like pink mucus is called a show.

It may come away in 1 blob or in several pieces. It's pink because it contains a small amount of blood.

If you're losing more blood, it may be a sign something is wrong, so phone your hospital or midwife straight away.

A show indicates that the cervix is starting to open. Labour may quickly follow or may take a few days. Sometimes there is no show.

What happens when my waters break

It's likely your waters will break during labour, but it can also happen before labour starts.

Your baby develops and grows inside a bag of fluid called the amniotic sac. When it's time for your baby to be born, the sac usually breaks and the amniotic fluid drains out through your vagina. This is your waters breaking. Sometimes when you're in labour, a midwife or doctor may offer to break your waters.

If your waters break naturally, you may feel a slow trickle or a sudden gush of water you cannot control. To prepare for this, you could keep a sanitary towel (but not a tampon) handy if you're going out, and put a protective sheet on your bed.

Amniotic fluid is clear and pale. Sometimes it's difficult to tell amniotic fluid from urine. When your waters break, the water may be a little bloodstained to begin with.

Tell your midwife immediately if:

• the waters are smelly or coloured
• you're losing blood

This could mean you and your baby need urgent attention.

If your waters break before labour starts, call your midwife. Use a sanitary pad (not a tampon) so your midwife can check the colour of the waters.

If labour does not start after your waters break

It's usual to go into labour within 24 hours of the waters breaking. You'll be offered an induction if you do not because, without amniotic fluid, there's an increased risk of infection for your baby.

Until your induction, or if you choose to wait for labour to start naturally, tell your midwife immediately if:

• your baby moves less than usual
• there's any change in the colour or smell of any fluid coming from your vagina

You should take your temperature every 4 hours when you're awake, and tell your midwife if it's raised. A raised temperature is usually above 37.5C, but you may need to call before this – check with your midwife.

There's no evidence that having a bath or shower after your waters have broken increases your risk of infection, but having sex might.

How to cope when labour begins

At the beginning of labour, you can:

• walk or move about, if you feel like it
• drink fluids – you may find sports (isotonic) drinks help keep your energy levels up
• have a snack, if you feel like it
• try any relaxation and breathing exercises you've learned to deal with contractions as they get stronger and more painful – your birth partner can help by doing these with you
• have your birth partner rub your back – this can help relieve pain
• take paracetamol according to the instructions on the packet – paracetamol is safe to take in labour
• have a warm bath

Find out what happens during labour and birth, and what you can do for pain relief in the early stages of labour.

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Video: How will I know I am in labour?

In this video, a midwife describes the signs that mean labour may be starting.

Media last reviewed: 1 November 2019
Media review due: 1 November 2022

Early signs & symptoms of labor: What to watch for

As you approach the end of your pregnancy, your excitement is probably reaching its peak. And it’s easy to wonder if every unusual sensation in your body is a sign that the big day is right around the corner.

The signs and symptoms of labor are unique for just about every mom-to-be. But as you get closer to welcoming your little one, it helps to be prepared and know what physical symptoms to expect and when.

Below, we’ll go over some symptoms that labor is coming soon but hasn’t started yet. And we’ll provide some tell-tale signs that it’s time to grab your bags – because labor is about to begin.

Signs that labor is coming soon but hasn’t started yet

A normal pregnancy lasts about 37 to 42 weeks from the date of your last period, so once you enter the later 30s, your body is starting to gear up for the main event. The following changes don’t necessarily mean it’s time to go to the hospital, but they are signs that the big day is approaching:

Dilation and other cervical changes

Some of the biggest changes your body goes through before labor may be identified during cervical exams. As you get closer to labor, your cervix can start to soften and efface (get thinner). These changes allow your cervix to then dilate (open and grow wider), which will be necessary to deliver your baby.

Starting around week 36, your doctor or midwife may check for changes to your cervix and the position of your baby. It’s important to remember that these changes progress differently for everyone. Progress might start slowly and then increase rapidly just before labor, or vice versa.

It’s also normal to begin labor and not have a lot of changes yet. Once labor truly begins, your cervix will continue to dilate until you reach 10 centimeters and are considered fully dilated. Full dilation is what’s needed to start delivery.

Braxton Hicks contractions

Braxton Hicks are mild contractions that happen irregularly and become more common in the third trimester of pregnancy. You might experience Braxton Hicks contractions well before other signs of approaching labor show up. They tend to become stronger and more frequent as you get closer to your due date. But is this cramping a sign of labor? Not in the same way that regular contractions are (we’ll get to that below). And not everyone notices Braxton Hicks contractions.

Aches, pains and looser joints

Throughout your pregnancy, the hormone relaxin will loosen the ligaments in your body, particularly those in your pelvis. This will help your body stretch and flex during delivery, but you may feel discomfort or pain in your pelvic area. As your due day approaches, it’s also common to feel a bit wobbly, particularly in your hips and lower back. This is because the muscles around your joints now need to work harder to keep those areas stable.

Stomach issues

Stomach trouble isn’t out of the ordinary at any point during pregnancy. But it could intensify late in your third trimester, leading you to wonder, “Is nausea a sign that labor is approaching?” The answer is, sort of. Your baby is still growing and competing for space with everything else in your abdomen. As a result, you may experience indigestion and heartburn. But these issues can be with you for weeks or months.

However, a bout of diarrhea at the end of pregnancy can often be a sign that labor is 24 to 48 hours away. But those numbers can vary.

Lightening

As mentioned above, one of the things that doctors may check for during cervical exams is the position of the baby. This is in part because as you get closer to your due date, your baby will most likely settle into your pelvic area, which is referred to as the baby “dropping” or lightening.

Lightening often takes place two to four weeks before labor for first-time mothers. Mothers who have given birth before may not experience lightening until much closer to labor.

Your baby’s new position may put added pressure on your pelvis and bladder. So you may be used to frequent urination as a pregnancy symptom, but even more frequent urination is a potential sign of labor to come.

However, lightening sometimes makes it feel easier to breathe. And it could also reduce heartburn thanks to less pressure on the stomach and organs.

Nesting instincts

Many mothers-to-be experience a burst of energy in the weeks before they deliver and an urge to get things done along with it. The science isn’t clear on why, but there are theories that it could be instinct or the result of peaking estrogen.

Whatever their cause, these “nesting instincts” may take the form of planning for labor, organizing or cleaning house, and doing other activities that help prepare for the baby’s arrival. If you experience this, just be sure not to spend all your energy on it. You’re going to want as much energy as possible going into labor.

Questions or concerns about labor signs? Our 24/7 BabyLine is free for our members and patients.

The first signs that labor may be starting

While signs that labor is approaching can vary a lot from person to person, some of the signs that labor is actually beginning tend to be more universal.

You start to experience real contractions

Uterine contractions are your body’s way of getting your baby into position so you can push the baby out. The first stage of labor is generally defined as when you start experiencing true contractions.

What do contractions feel like?

Early labor contractions are mild and irregular, lasting for hours or days. But as you progress towards active labor, true contractions become more intense. They’re often compared to menstrual cramps or the severe gut pain that might be related to gas or an intestinal issue.

One of the main ways to tell true contractions apart from Braxton Hicks contractions is that normal contractions happen at regular intervals that become more frequent over time. You can track your contraction intervals either by using an app or phone, or by using a stopwatch and charting the start time and duration of each contraction on a piece of paper.

False labor vs. real labor

These key differences can help you tell when to go to the hospital for contractions.

You feel consistent pain in your belly and lower back

Once contractions have truly begun, you’ll feel pain in your abdomen as a result. In addition, your baby’s head may put pressure on your lower back. So is this back pain a sign of labor? It can be. When labor is starting, pain can move in waves from your back to your front.

You lose your mucus plug and experience “bloody show”

What does losing your mucus plug mean? The mucus plug is a protective accumulation of mucus in the opening of the cervix, and as your cervix dilates, this “plug” may be passed into the vagina and discharged before labor starts.

Vaginal discharge containing this mucus may be thicker and have a pink or red color to it. This is due to bleeding from the cervix as it changes. When mucus and blood are discharged together, it’s referred to as “bloody show.” It’s worth noting that the mucus plug is often lost in the days leading up to labor, but it can also happen earlier or later depending on when you actually start to dilate and efface.

Your water breaks

During pregnancy, your baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid, which helps protect them from bacteria. Around the beginning of labor, the sac containing this fluid often ruptures. This can take the form of a sudden gush or a slow trickle of fluid from your vagina, but it isn’t always obvious. So if you suspect that your water may have broken, call your care team or head to the hospital. It may take contractions or your baby applying pressure before your water breaks.

What to watch for: Signs of preterm labor

Labor is considered preterm if it starts three or more weeks before your due date. If you haven’t reached week 37 and you believe that you may be experiencing signs that labor is starting, call your care team immediately.

What to do if you suspect that you’re in labor

The most common signs that it’s time to go to the hospital are water breaking or regular contractions that are five minutes apart for at least an hour (if it’s your first baby). If you live farther away from the hospital or this is not your first baby, your doctor or care team may give you other instructions.

Labor is yours alone. Listen to your body and don’t be afraid to go to the hospital early if you have any concerns. And in the meantime, if you have any planning left to do, we’re here to help.

Signs and signs before childbirth. Signs before childbirth Folk signs about the date of birth

There is a belief that the name of the child should be kept secret until his birth. Since ancient times, it was believed that evil spirits, having learned the name of the child, would harm him and complicate his birth.

Most of the folk signs for easy, quick delivery have a logical justification.

Signs from grandmothers

Conspiracy for easy childbirth

Women try to follow signs for easy and quick childbirth. nine0003

There is a saying that in order to relieve pain during childbirth, it is necessary to open windows and doors, closets, untie knots on belts and ropes. How to clear the way for a child to enter a new world of life.

In ancient times, to relieve pain, a woman in labor was forced to chew her own scythe.

One should not tell anyone that childbirth has begun in order to avoid torment for the souls of all who have learned about the childbirth that has begun.

Lit wedding candles in front of the icon, according to beliefs, drive away death. nine0003

For the speedy birth of a child, midwives sprinkled the birth canal with sugar.

Popular signs also say that a mother will love her child less if the birth is easy and quick. It's hard to believe though! How can a mother love more or less her child.

To relieve the pain, the husband of the woman in labor should remove the shoes from her right leg and untie the belt, and the husband should also touch his wife's back with his knee.

In order for the delivery to be quick and easy, for three days after the woman is sent to the maternity hospital, nothing should be taken out of the house where she lives. nine0003

In the old days, it was believed that pouring ice-cold water around a corner on a woman expecting a baby meant “easy childbirth”.

In order to give birth without pain, a pregnant woman should take a bite of a crust of black bread, swallow it and say: Bread, Mother of God looked at you? Did you endure bodily pain during your birth? So I would look like that and not endure the agony during my birth.

In order for the delivery to pass quickly, you need to drop your veil and step over it several times.

To avoid premature birth, a pregnant woman should not raise her arms high when hanging laundry.

To prevent the baby from becoming tangled in the umbilical cord, knitting or sewing is not recommended during pregnancy. What is associated with the node representation. It was believed that the knot ties the child out into the world. However, some pregnant women like to knit and sew and are skeptical about such a sign.

A woman's belief in charm words, omens and beliefs helps her psychologically during childbirth, and the moral support of relatives and her beloved husband guarantees a successful and easy childbirth. nine0003

A look at signs in modern medicine

Modern obstetrician-gynecologists, listening to such arguments of modern expectant mothers, come to quiet horror and agree only that it is not worth stepping over obvious obstacles - for example, jumping over ditches and climbing over fences, which can provoke a divergence of the bones of the symphysis or just lead to foot injury.

Superstitions for pregnant women are a big fantasy field. However, the wisdom of the ancestors regarding this important period has come down to our days. It is worth taking a closer look at the beliefs and understanding which ones have a rational basis, and which ones to bypass. nine0003

In the article:

Folk signs for pregnant women

Expecting a baby is the highest happiness in life , and it is natural that a woman wants to give birth to a healthy child. Given the state of the body and bursts of hormones, she becomes more anxious. And therefore, will pay attention to all the signs. Signs for pregnant women can be divided into groups: what can and cannot be done in position. Below we will tell about them in more detail.

Boy or girl

Traditionally, they try to guess the sex of the child by the shape of the abdomen. A girl is in a wide and round one, and a protruding and sharper one indicates a boy. The stomach "looks" to the left to Masha, and to the right - to Sasha. Another interesting option for determining the sex invites the expectant mother to pay attention to the hair on her legs. Increased hairiness - expect a boy, bare legs - a girl.

There is an opinion that if at the time of conception a couple is in a formal marital relationship, they will have a daughter, otherwise a son. Daily sex during pregnancy increases the chances of a female child, and intermittently - male. Interestingly, everything can be a decisive factor in determining the sex of a small person. For example, future father's loose underwear will cause the birth of a daughter, and tight - a son.

• If you sleep with your head to the north, there will be a boy, to the south - a girl.

Feeling cold in the legs during pregnancy also indicates the birth of another man. Another, no less interesting sign: if a woman flourishes in a position, wait for a hero, if she becomes silly - a princess. The mother of the baby wants plant food all the time, and the baby wants milk and meat. nine0003

• Swollen nose and swollen face are a sign of male sex.

nipples folk wisdom also knows how to determine the sex of a child. If their color has changed to a darker side - run for pink booties, in the light - for blue ones.

• A girl is more likely to cause toxicosis than a boy.
• But the hero provokes the appearance of hair on the abdomen, and the princess - age spots.

An accelerated heartbeat, as well as an increased temperature, indicate that you will have a son, and a slow and low temperature - get ready for a daughter. nine0003

Popular signs about pregnancy - what not to do and why

If the expectant mother pricks and gets scared while sewing or cutting food, this can cause the appearance of moles in the child . Therefore, folk signs forbid the use of a needle and a knife by pregnant women. The same applies to touching the face. Touch it less often if you do not want the baby to have birthmarks. Another belief forbids a woman during pregnancy to stand on the threshold. Among the Slavs, it was considered the line between the worlds. Long stay on this frontier can hurt the baby . You can not step over brooms and logs. It was believed that this would offend the brownie, and regardless of the state of health and the events taking place in life. A separate sign exists and in relation to cats , with which a woman in position is forbidden to play.

In our time, doctors explained this superstition by the disease toxoplasmosis , which a pregnant woman can get from a cat. There is a special analysis that detects this disease in the early stages. Expectant mother should reduce consumption of red berries, as the child will be "red" skin, now known as diathesis . In order to avoid the evil eye , popular rumor forbids a pregnant woman to tell her friends and relatives about her situation. The same applies to the name that the parents chose for the baby.

• Weaving knots can cause difficult childbirth, as the knot is considered a symbol of a dead end.

Do not sleep on your back - this makes it difficult for the fetus to breathe. The habit of sitting cross-legged interferes with blood circulation and can cause vein disease in the mother and crooked legs in the child. nine0003

Modern superstitions during pregnancy

It is not recommended to cut and dye your hair while you are pregnant. Hair is a symbol of vitality, and the shorter it is, the less it is. As for the paint, it used to contain a large number of substances harmful to the baby, which cannot be said about modern products. Photographing during pregnancy is not recommended. This ban is explained by the fact that the photo leaves the expectant mother and her developing child in static. The church has also contributed to the superstitions about pregnant women by banning medical sex determination and suggesting trust God's will in this matter.

09/10/2012

Every mother-to-be wants the easiest possible delivery. Still would! After all, we are talking about childbirth not only about the health of the mother herself, but also about the health of the baby.

The healthier the childbirth process was, the less unpleasant surprises in the form of consequences after childbirth can be expected in the future. Our ancestors were well aware of this and created a whole set of laws, which we now call signs, in order to protect the child and expectant mother from negative consequences in childbirth. nine0003

The very word "omen" takes its roots in the word "notice" - that is, to notice something. From the noted conclusions were drawn, many of which are confirmed by modern practice, both obstetric and therapeutic. Well, for example, everyone knows that pregnant women should walk a lot. Popular wisdom adds to this the advice to eat less and sleep less, more physical labor. But, signs are added - do not wear heavy weights and do not overtighten the belt of the skirt. How, how did they know this, having no idea about the internal structure of the body? And here - noticed. And food was advised to limit, so that the child would not be too big and it would be easier to give birth. nine0003

It was forbidden to look at the fire, go to wakes, funerals, look at the disabled and holy fools. They believed in imitative magic - that is, that like attracts like. And if the future mother will look at all this, then the child will be born either dead, or with a “burn” on her body, or with a serious illness. Although, in principle, modern ideas have not gone so far: expectant mothers are advised to look at the beautiful, listen to the classics and enjoy life. It was strictly forbidden to swear with the expectant mother - otherwise the birth would be difficult, nervous, painful, and the child would then be angry and nervous. Modern obstetric science also confirms this. nine0003

Now about signs that seem to have no basis. You can’t step over a ball of thread, through a rope, raise your hands high, throw something heavy back over your head (for example, a sheaf). Reminds modern prohibitions for expectant mothers to wash windows and doors, doesn't it? Balls of thread and rope are tied to the umbilical cord and possibly around the neck of a newborn baby. Throwing weights over the head - with premature discharge of water and the corresponding consequences. In the later stages, it was also forbidden to kick livestock under the stomach or pull it somewhere: in this case, they expected a protracted birth. nine0003

In some regions it was generally considered unlucky to meet a pregnant woman on the street. Therefore, pregnant women for long periods were mostly at home or not far from it - which thus protected them from the notorious birth in the field (which was much less than we are told). This sign, of course, did not refer to family or friends and relatives, but to strangers.

Undoubtedly, such a huge number of signs is also associated with a huge number of deaths in childbirth or after them - both children's and maternal. And magical thinking, as well as magical ways of controlling reality, helped our ancestors, if not physically, then psychologically, to protect themselves from the upcoming event, or rather, not from the event itself, but from negative consequences. And despite the fact that the main modern sign for an easy birth is a preliminary agreement with a midwife and a doctor, a number of folk signs have been confirmed by research. Therefore - the safe and God saves. If any of these signs sunk into your soul, it certainly will not be worse for anyone from observing it. nine0003

Have an easy delivery!

Christina Vyazovskaya

Signs associated with the birth of a baby are passed down from generation to generation. Some sincerely believe in folk beliefs, while others simply follow family traditions. A woman who is preparing to meet her baby is ready to do everything to make the birth perfect. Following traditions before getting ready for the maternity hospital will help you get in a positive mood.

Beliefs for an easy birth

The following rules will help you survive the process of the birth of a baby without complications. nine0003

1. With the onset of labor, relatives should open all cabinet doors and windows in the house of the woman in labor. In this form, everything should remain until the moment the baby appears. It is believed that observance of signs helps the child to pass through the birth canal more easily.

My parents believe in the omen described above. The son was born in winter. Fortunately, the birth only lasted a few hours.

While a woman is giving birth, all windows and doors in her house should be open.

2. During contractions, a woman should unplait her hair, remove all knots on her body, remove her underwear. If this is not done, labor will take a long time and there is a risk that the baby will be entwined with the umbilical cord. nine0003

Before childbirth, according to tradition, one should undo the braid and remove all knots from the body.

3. During contractions, the expectant mother should put her veil on the floor and step over it back and forth. According to legend, such actions help relieve discomfort during contractions, and the baby will be born without complications.

If a woman steps over her veil back and forth during contractions, childbirth will take place without complications

Personally, I don't believe in this omen. I think that a girl should look attractive even during pregnancy. And split ends and regrown bangs spoil the image. nine0003

5. Expectant mother should not knit. Many believe that such actions can lead to the baby being wrapped around the umbilical cord inside the womb.

To prevent the baby from getting wrapped around the umbilical cord inside the womb, the expectant mother should not knit

6. In the last months of pregnancy, you should not raise your arms high (for example, glue wallpaper, hang clothes, hang curtains). Such actions can lead to entanglement of the baby with the umbilical cord and premature birth.

7. Medical personnel working in the maternity ward also have their own original beliefs. nine0007 So, obstetricians have a tradition of laying out all the instruments to the maximum before taking delivery in. It is believed that in this case they will definitely not be useful and a new little man will be born without complications.

If obstetricians have laid out all their instruments, do not be alarmed, this is a good omen

Signs for the happiness of a newborn

luck.

Lucky ones who are born in a shirt, that is, without a rupture of the membrane, unfortunately, are few, including because the bladder is often pierced according to indications to stimulate labor

2. Within three days after the birth of a child, it costs nothing to anyone give from home, lend money. If you believe the sign, in this way you can give away the happiness and luck of the newborn.

Within three days after the birth, money and things should not be given or loaned to anyone

3. It matters in what position the baby first saw the world. If the baby was born face up, he will have strong immunity. If a small person was born face down, he will be in poor health, often get sick. nine0003

The tag from the maternity hospital must not be shown to strangers

5. A child will never suffer from epilepsy if the umbilical cord is tied with a red thread made of natural silk.

6. If a baby saw the world with long nails, soon the newly-made mother will return to the maternity ward for a brother or sister for her first child. But you can't cut a baby's nails in the maternity ward, otherwise you'll have to stay here .

If the baby was born with long nails, he will soon have a brother or sister

7. If even before the birth it was possible to find out the sex of the unborn child and come up with a name for him, you cannot share information with others. It is believed that evil spirits, knowing the name of a little person, will be able to harm him, complicate the process of labor activity.

8. Sleeping newborns are not allowed to be photographed. It is believed that the soul of a baby during sleep is very vulnerable. With the help of such pictures, a child can easily be spoiled. You can also unwittingly jinx the baby if you praise him (say how handsome and cute he is). nine0003

Wait 28 days, when the newborn period is over, and then arrange photo shoots

Believe it or not, each mother makes her own decision. It is much more important to learn to listen to your body and seek medical help in a timely manner if you feel worse in the last months of pregnancy.

Expectant mother should not look at ugly and scary things - this can affect the child's appearance .
Medicine agrees with this. Stress, anxiety have a bad effect on the condition of not only the mother, but also the baby. Therefore, pregnant women should avoid negative impressions and spectacles. More joy, more pleasant experiences. May beautiful music, painting, beautiful things surround you during this period. Look at happy, beautiful people and dream of that joyful day when you take your wonderful baby in your arms! And if, nevertheless, you looked at something not too pleasant, and it worries you - use the folk recipe - how to neutralize the negative influence: you need to look at the sky or at your own nails and say “mind me” three times. Whatever the mother experiences, the child also experiences. nine0003

A pregnant woman should not swear and quarrel, otherwise the baby will grow up to be angry.
Any doctor will tell you that pregnant women should avoid any conflict situations and noisy places. Fear, irritation, resentment lead to an increase in blood pressure, impaired placental blood flow, which can affect the health of your baby.

Expectant mother should not sew, knit or buy things for her child.
That's right! Entrust the chores to relatives - dad, grandmothers, aunts. Do not deprive them of this joy. Think for yourself - why do you need to push around in transport and stuffy shops, where there are a lot of people coughing and sneezing! Wouldn't it be better for a child's health to go for a walk in the park or devote his free time to water aerobics classes. nine0003

A pregnant woman must not sit on the threshold (windowsill, table, etc.)
Of course not! It doesn't take long to fall from a height. And then, drafts are simply unacceptable while waiting for the baby. So do not be frivolous and take care of your health.

Pregnant women should not eat in secret - the baby will be born shy.
Firstly, eating dry food or on the go is harmful. In addition, if you are “caught off guard” at the refrigerator at night, you can be very scared. Why do you need extra stress? nine0003

Pregnant women should not reach up and hang clothes.
Gynecologists believe that from the 20th week of pregnancy, this is really not worth doing. This position of the body provokes the outflow of amniotic fluid and premature birth.

Pregnant women should not play with a cat, take it in their arms - otherwise the child will have many enemies.
Cats carry the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, a very dangerous disease for pregnant women. Through the placenta, the pathogen enters the bloodstream of the child. Congenital toxoplasmosis is a serious disease that affects the nervous system of a child. A woman can get sick without even knowing it! Therefore, it is better not to take risks! Don't touch other people's animals. If a cat lives in the house, be sure to visit the veterinary clinic, where she will be tested for the presence of toxoplasmosis pathogens. During pregnancy, do not go to the cat litter box, shift these worries to the household. As a last resort, use rubber gloves. nine0003

A pregnant woman should not step over fruits growing in the ground (potatoes, carrots, etc. ): a miscarriage may occur.

You can't walk over a log and climb over a window: childbirth will be difficult.

Hair must not be cut before childbirth: the baby may still be born.

For the same reason, you can not sketch the appearance of a pregnant woman and photograph her.

The mother-to-be must not prepare the dowry for the child herself, otherwise the child may be born dead. nine0008 However, all other family members are not forbidden to do this.