The Most Popular Pregnancy Myths Revealed in New Survey

Much of pregnancy has remained a mystery over the years. From predicting your baby’s sex to bringing on labor, generations of parents have passed down advice that’s more folklore than fact. And while modern science has helped debunk plenty of these myths, some remain stubbornly hard to shake.

A recent survey of more than 2,000 parents and parents-to-be conducted by Talker Research set out to discover which pregnancy myths still stand the test of time.

The most common? Heartburn means your baby will have a full head of hair—a belief held by nearly 1 in 3 parents of parents-to-be. Despite one 2006 study finding a small link between the two, most experts agree the two aren’t directly connected. In second place, 21% of survey participants admitted they believe that eating spicy foods can bring on labor—another myth that has yet to find a foundation in scientific studies. Plenty of parents also mentioned several myths that had to do with baby’s sex.

The most popular sex prediction myths included:

• Severe morning sickness means you’re having a girl. (In reality, both boy and girl moms reported similar levels of nausea.)
• Craving sweets signals a girl; salty cravings mean a boy. (Survey results show sweet cravings were nearly equal for both—29% of boy moms vs. 28% of girl moms.)
• Carrying low means a boy. (Not quite—12% of girl moms said the same.)
• A fast fetal heart rate (above 140 bpm) means a girl. (Only 10% of girl moms reported this.)
• Tracking the moon can influence your baby’s sex. (Nearly one in five parents—16%—said they paid attention to moon phases while trying to conceive!)

And those weren’t the only creative beliefs that popped up. Other unique myths parents shared include:

• Dreaming of fish means someone in your family is pregnant
• Breaking a mirror curses your baby with bad skin
• Seeing certain animals reveals your baby’s gender
• Thunderstorms can induce labor
• Listening to hard rock music negatively affects your baby
• If baby is born lying on their side, they’ll be a genius

While some myths have a tiny kernel of truth, most don’t stand up to science. But they do keep circulating for a good reason. “Pregnancy is full of unknowns and anticipation, and it’s natural to seek insights and answers during this time,” Melissa Gonzales, Women’s Health president at Myriad Genetics and head of SneakPeek (who commissioned the study), said in a press release.

So the next time you find yourself betting on boy or girl, finding the silver lining in heartburn or dreaming of fish, know that you’re far from alone. Just remember that when it comes to what’s really fact versus fiction, expert insight can go a long way. Freshen up your perspective with these 16 common pregnancy myths busted by experts.