Since time immemorial, man has tried to somehow explain the seemingly inexplicable. This did not stop at issues surrounding "having children". Myths and old wives' tales influenced and unsettled mums in earlier generations. Some have persisted to this day.
Even in prehistoric times, there were probably plenty of superstitions - even if the topic of motherhood in prehistory has been poorly researched and is more of a poor relation in archaeology. What is certain is that many myths already existed in ancient times and permeated the everyday lives of the female population in the Middle Ages.
The less knowledge, the more colourful the superstition
The less scientific and biological correlations between pregnancy, birth and infancy were researched and known, the more colourful superstition flourished. In the face of high maternal and infant mortality rates, people even resorted to all kinds of rituals and customs that were supposed to ensure greater happiness and health for mother and child. Some medieval ideas are still evident today in remarks and "advice".
The first thing to say is that as long as women draw their strength for pregnancy and birth from beliefs that do not harm mother and child, there is nothing wrong with this. However, it becomes difficult when a superstition leads to wrong or harmful behaviour - or when it frightens, intimidates or unsettles (expectant) mothers because of the numerous threatened consequences in widespread myths. This was not good for women in the past. It is bad today. All the more so because we now know more about the female body and the processes surrounding childbirth.
There is a kernel of truth in some "wisdom"
However, some old "folk wisdom" is also based on "quite correct observations that have been forgotten over time and thus become empty formulas after losing their content", wrote midwife Frieda Zaugg in the magazine "Schweizer Hebamme" as early as 1938. She illustrated this with the example that, according to old tradition, a pregnant woman should not work at the spinning wheel, otherwise she would spin a rope for her child. The implied consequence was of course terrible, but not the "spinning ban" itself, Zaugg explained. After all, constantly pedalling the spinning wheel was actually not conducive to pregnancy. The same applies to the medieval ban on dancing for pregnant women, which in some cases lasted until the 21st century and had all sorts of dire consequences if violated. After all, waltzes, polkas and other wild "spinning dances" whirled the unborn child swimming in the amniotic fluid around in the womb - and even when the mother's movements stopped, it continued to spin, which could actually lead to the umbilical cord becoming entangled. Today we know that dancing too wildly is actually not healthy for the pregnant woman. However, this is not because the baby could wrap the umbilical cord around its neck, but because the overly wild movements with abrupt stops put too much strain on the tendons, joints and muscles, but also on the pregnant woman's circulation.
Other customs, prohibitions or commandments relating to childbearing also often originally served useful purposes, although these could be hidden behind fine promises. Just think of the taler, which travelled through German territory from the 16th century onwards. This coin gave rise to the custom of placing it in the baby's first bath for the midwife, in which she bathed the baby. It was said to bring good luck to the child. However, I consider this custom to be more of a cunning "invention" by my prehistoric professional colleagues who wanted to be paid for their services. After all, there was no regular pay for midwives back then. They were dependent on the "voluntary" gifts of the young parents.
Another example comes from reports from the municipality of Mülverstedt in Thuringia. In the middle of the 19th century, people there were still convinced that a child should not be exposed to the rain to prevent it from getting freckles. This "folk medicine" superstition has also been passed down from Franconia, among other places - but unlike some other beliefs, it is of course complete rubbish!
High time to clear up some misconceptions
The search for explanations for once inexplicable phenomena has given rise to many other oddities. These include various ideas about why some babies are born with a birthmark on their skin. The supposed causes for this were localised in different ways. They ranged from moments of fright experienced by the mother during pregnancy, to the "evil eye" that came from somewhere, to bad curses that she uttered and for which the child now had to atone with birthmarks. Fortunately, such outrageous ideas from the Middle Ages have now been replaced by enlightened knowledge!
Regardless of how excellent scientific research is today and how much it now knows about connections, some beliefs are still heard, even if they originate from the realm of superstition. And it is not only some grandmothers and other members of young families who spread these strange fantasies. Unfortunately, the internet and social media in particular are full of them, giving old myths a supposedly new "credibility". It is therefore high time to clear up some misconceptions.
For example, with the "good" advice not to buy or bring the pram into the house before the birth, as this was said to bring bad luck. Women were firmly convinced of this in times when infant mortality was still very high. But we can still come across this advice today. It probably still resonates with the worry that the pregnancy could end without the baby being born healthy and arriving home safe and sound.
Of course, the well-being of a baby has nothing to do with the purchase of a pram. It is therefore a good thing that pregnant women today do not allow themselves to be impressed and led by such superstitions. The fact that this myth has nevertheless persisted among some pregnant women shows just how deep-seated their fears about the baby are. This in turn creates room for further myths and superstitious tips.
My tip: If you have a Pushchair If you would like to have your own, you should not be guided by this superstition, but rather choose and try it out calmly and with time.
Superstitions about pregnancy
Is it true that the shape of a pregnant woman's belly reveals the sex of her child? According to old traditions, a rather pointed belly indicates that it will be a boy, while a round, rather broader belly "promises" a girl. Nevertheless, this prediction was and is correct in half of all cases. If you bet on a boy, the probability is even slightly higher. This is because slightly more boys are born than girls. Today, this superstition can often be dispelled during pregnancy with the help of ultrasound equipment. In the past, you had to wait until the birth to know whether the bet on the sex was right.
A US research team also took a scientific look at this question. And came to the correct conclusion: there are none There is no connection between the shape of the baby's belly and the sex of the child. In fact, the posture of the expectant mother and especially the position of the foetus influence the shape of the belly during pregnancy.
Is it true that girls rob their mothers of their beauty? A pregnant woman with radiant, rosy skin and shiny, full hair is sure to have a boy - this is also a widespread belief. If, on the other hand, a girl is expected, this can be recognised by the impure skin and dull, weak hair of the pregnant woman, it is said. This superstition is as old as it is wrong. In fact, the sharp rise in oestrogen levels in pregnant women not only ensures radiant skin and strong fingernails, but also strong hair growth. The hormone extends the lifespan of individual hairs and makes them grow faster and thicker. And all this happens anyway - and above all regardless of the sex of the unborn child. Many women feel well and full of energy, especially in the second trimester of pregnancy. Others, however, suffer more from the physical strain of the progressing pregnancy, which can then also be reflected in their appearance.
Is it true that every pregnancy costs the mother a tooth? This assumption dates back to times when the nutritional situation was worse and people did not know as much about dental health and effective dental care as they do today. In this respect, there used to be a grain of truth in this belief. Hormonal changes and better blood circulation in pregnant women do indeed result in softer gums with a stronger blood supply. As a result, problems with inflamed and bleeding gums can occur more quickly. And our ancestors did not take regular dental hygiene as seriously. Today, however, we know how important it is to protect teeth from decay. That's why the teeth of expectant mothers can be protected with the right prophylaxis and Dental care during pregnancy are no longer at risk. In addition, pregnant women today have a very good supply of vitamins, calcium and minerals, which also strengthens the teeth. In the days of our (great-)grandmothers, this also looked very different.
Is it true that amulets really protect? The special protection of pregnant women, mothers and babies has always been close to people's hearts. And they devised many ways to provide this protection in every conceivable way. Amulet necklaces were very popular and widespread in this context, especially in southern Germany. Because they reflected the desire for potentised protection in all situations in life, there were often several protective pendants on such bracelets or necklaces. Amber e.g. should help against toothache and the evil eye. Malachite ensure a healthy pregnancy and safe birth. And Serpentine protect expectant and breastfeeding mothers from fright as a "frightening stone". According to common belief, which extended well into modern times, maternal fright could lead to deformities in the child or to the failure of breast milk.
The so-called "holy lengths" also had an amulet function - which shows that many superstitions were closely linked to religious beliefs. The "lengths" were narrow strips of paper or silk ribbons printed with prayers and various images, which corresponded to the dimensions of holy people, places or images of grace and were therefore supposed to have a strong protective effect. They were tied around the womb or placed on women to make childbirth easier.
Birth superstitions
Is it true that more babies are born at full moon? In some areas of our (women's) lives, the moon is said to have a significant influence. For example, chronobiologist Charlotte Förster discovered in a study at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg in 2021 that human reproductive behaviour and the female cycle were probably synchronised with the lunar cycle in ancient times. However, modern lifestyles and artificial light have largely changed this synchronisation.
Full moon phases are particularly preoccupying for many people and give rise to myths. Slept badly tonight? Sure, it was a full moon! Each of us has certainly heard statements like this at some point. So it seems almost obvious to assume that the full moon also has an influence on such a drastic event as a birth. I have also heard this from fellow midwives - at least subjectively, some have the impression that more babies are born during a full moon. Is that really the case? No, say various studies that have investigated this question. They always came to the same conclusion: an objective link between the full moon and increased births cannot be established.
Is it true that Sunday children have more luck in life? Even the ancient Romans referred to babies born on a Sunday as "children of the white hen". This bird was considered a lucky charm. In the Middle Ages, healing powers or supernatural abilities were attributed to it. To this day, the belief that Sunday children have more luck in life or are lucky charms themselves has become firmly established. A nice idea - but even this superstition cannot be scientifically proven. Incidentally, from the perspective of maternity clinics, weekend work schedules and Sunday surcharges are making births on the 7th day of the week increasingly unattractive.
Superstitions about breastfeeding
Is it true that breastfeeding causes sagging breasts? The fact is that the female Chest already changed during pregnancy due to hormonal changes. While the breast was previously largely made up of fatty tissue, additional connective tissue and mammary glands now ensure a larger size. This is completely independent of whether the woman will later breastfeed her child or not. After the end of the breastfeeding phase, the appearance of the breast varies from woman to woman. The individual structure of the connective tissue has the greatest influence on this. For many women, their breasts quickly look the same as before. For others, it takes a few months to two years until the additional glandular tissue has regressed and the body stores more fat in the breast again. It is therefore not possible to generalise that breastfeeding mothers will develop sagging breasts.
Is it true that breastfeeding teas stimulate milk production? Many mothers in Germany turn to fennel-aniseed-caraway tea. This herbal mixture is said to stimulate milk production. Malt beer, home-baked lactation balls or breastfeeding oil are also said to do the same. In parts of Africa, breastfeeding mothers consume millet wine or salted peanuts to increase their milk production. And in parts of Asia, they try to achieve this effect with banana blossom and chicken meat. These examples show: Alleged milk-producing foods are therefore purely a question of faith, which is answered differently depending on the cultural background. In any case, they provide a lot of calories. In any case, there is no scientific evidence of the desired effect of breastfeeding teas and the like. But there is certainly no harm in breastfeeding mothers drinking so-called "lactation teas" and indulging in "special foods". Foods with a high energy density are particularly important for mums who have little time to eat during the postpartum period. However, it is important to remember that the necessary energy during the breastfeeding period must come from a healthy, varied diet.
So what really influences milk production? The frequency with which the baby is put to the breast, the baby's correct sucking technique and the mother's hormones actually determine production.
If you want to prepare yourself well for the topic of breastfeeding, you can also do this in my Online breastfeeding course make. In addition to the videos, you will also receive a detailed e-book in which you will learn everything you need to know about breastfeeding and breast milk.
Superstitions about the baby
Is it true that crying strengthens the child's lungs? I really have to do away with this belief. Because babies' lungs don't need training to cry! Already with the first breath they work excellently and do not need any "support" for their further growth. On the contrary, the demand to let babies cry was widely publicised in the Third Reich. The aim was to prevent children from becoming "effeminate". In this way, they would one day become better soldiers.
But a baby can only be recognised by its crying or Screaming that something is not right. It is essential for the baby's survival that its parents respond immediately to its signals and needs with closeness and care. This gives the child a sense of security, strengthens the parent-child bond and allows babies to develop a sense of security. Basic trust grow. This has absolutely nothing to do with "spoiling"! The importance of loving care for babies has now been scientifically confirmed.
Is it true that babies' hair should not be cut before their 1st birthday? In many cultures, head hair is traditionally attributed with supposed power - above all as strong protection against all kinds of dangers, evil forces and other misfortune, but also as a guarantee of happiness and good development. Funny, isn't it? This is why it has become customary in many places not to cut a child's hair before a certain age. In some cultures, for example in America, Europe and Germany, tradition warns against reaching for the scissors before the first birthday. In other cultures, the first haircut is not recommended until the third birthday or even later. This is often accompanied by special ceremonies, rites or celebrations and usually marks the child's transition into the next phase of life. In this context, we also know that the first cut ringlets or delicate highlights are carefully saved.
However, there are also opposing cultures in which babies' heads are shaved early - often with similar reasons, by the way: To keep evil away from them and to ensure happiness, health and good development.
Whether baby hair is handled this way or the other way round - of course, all of these practices, prohibitions or commandments are pure superstition! After all, a child's successful upbringing depends neither on the time of the first haircut nor on the length or texture of the hairs, but solely on good living conditions for the child.
So if parents think baby's hair is now ready for its first cut, they can do it with a clear conscience whenever they feel it's right. You can find more information about baby's hair here.
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