What to Believe When You're Expecting: A New Look at Old Wives' Tales in Pregnancy

by Jonathan Schaffir

Overview

Pregnant women encounter advice from many directions about how to have a healthy pregnancy – not only from health care providers, but from relatives, friends, and the Internet. Some of these pieces of advice (on topics that range from inducing labor to telling the baby’s gender to improving breastfeeding) have been handed down from woman to woman for generations, and don’t appear in any medical textbooks. Dr. Jonathan Schaffir explores the origins of these old wives’ tales, and examines the medical evidence that proves which ones may be useful and which ones are just entertaining. On topics ranging from getting pregnant to the best way to recover from childbirth, the book settles the questions of what a woman should believe when she hears such advice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538102084
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	10/06/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	168
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Jonathan Schaffir, MD, is a practicing obstetrician with more than twenty-five years of experience caring for pregnant women and delivering babies. He is also a medical educator and teaches on the faculty of the Ohio State University College of Medicine. He is the former president of the North American Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynecology, an interdisciplinary society that brings together various professionals who have interests in sociocultural and psychological aspects of obstetrics and women’s health. He has extensive experience researching and writing in the field of obstetrical folklore and has been quoted in outlets such as Parents, American Baby, Self, and Child magazine. He has also appeared on local news programs to comment on these studies when they have been published.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Getting Pregnant 11

3 Choosing a Baby's Gender 25

4 Gender Prediction 39

5 Food Aversions and Cravings 51

6 Prenatal Influences 61

7 Length of Pregnancy 75

8 Inducing Labor 83

9 Easing Labor 95

10 After Birth 105

11 Breastfeeding 113

12 Afterthoughts and Conclusions 123

Notes 129

Bibliography 147

Webography 157

Index 159

About the Author 161

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2017
Pregnant women are inundated with well-meaning but not always scientifically proven or correct advice. Obstetrician Schaffir aims to examine whether the "old wives' tales" about pregnancy and childbirth are true or not (usually not), giving a better sense of the origin of these stories and whether or not they will work and why. Tales range from plausible to unbelievable, including examinations of the health benefits of women eating the placenta postbirth, whether exercise is beneficial for an easier labor, and if spicy foods induce labor. While chapters are often full of clichés and gender stereotypes, there is plenty of solid medical advice, studies, and well-researched points to make this a useful read for women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Schaffir uses slightly dated language at times, but is also very witty. VERDICT Of interest to would-be parents who wish to clarify rumors and myths and tips from others.—Cheryl Yanek, Brooklyn

Library Journal

Have you ever heard that eating sweets means an expectant mother will have a girl? Or that pregnant women should eat dates in order to ease labor pains? Dr. Schaffir explores the origins of these and other stories about pregnancy and birth that have endured through the centuries. Chapters follow pregnancy from conception through birth, addressing varied topics including fertility, efforts to choose and predict gender, and labor. Schaffir examines research from throughout the centuries and puts specific studies into historical context. His years as an obstetrician and educator have given him insight into the tales that continue to persist despite decades of medical advancement. Throughout the book, Schaffir’s tone is approachable and compassionate towards expectant and hopeful parents. He is well versed in folktales from multiple cultures and world regions. Given that folklore about pregnancy and birth remains prevalent while other outdated medical advice has been left behind, What to Believe When You’re Expecting is a fascinating look at beliefs and stories for parents and nonparents alike.

Booklist

The folklore Schaffir reviews is entertaining and fascinating, especially when there’s a glimmer of truth.

Rhode Island Monthly

Dr. Schaffir has done all of us who care for pregnant women as well our patients, their partners, and their families an invaluable service. He has provided a superb, easy to read, in depth and balanced discussion of the many “old wives tales” related to pregnancy and childbirth. Combining anecdotes and scientific study, historical background and the latest data, Dr. Schaffir tells us, among so many other topics, about diet from pica to placentophagy, how chocolate might influence your baby’s disposition, what steps could be taken to start labor, and whether beer can help with breastfeeding. This book is a must read, a resource that should be available everywhere obstetrics is practiced.

Steven Gabbe

Have you ever heard that eating sweets means an expectant mother will have a girl? Or that pregnant women should eat dates in order to ease labor pains? Dr. Schaffir explores the origins of these and other stories about pregnancy and birth that have endured through the centuries. Chapters follow pregnancy from conception through birth, addressing varied topics including fertility, efforts to choose and predict gender, and labor. Schaffir examines research from throughout the centuries and puts specific studies into historical context. His years as an obstetrician and educator have given him insight into the tales that continue to persist despite decades of medical advancement. Throughout the book, Schaffir’s tone is approachable and compassionate towards expectant and hopeful parents. He is well versed in folktales from multiple cultures and world regions. Given that folklore about pregnancy and birth remains prevalent while other outdated medical advice has been left behind, What to Believe When You’re Expecting is a fascinating look at beliefs and stories for parents and nonparents alike.

Booklist