Crazy pregnancy/delivery advice...

bensmommy518 · November 2013

So I was at a party this weekend for a theater company I do stage crew for. These people like to drink so I was probably the only sober one in the room. One of the ladies there must be about 80 years old and two martini's in, she started telling me all about her deliveries 50+ years ago.

Apparently her son was born 2 months early, full term, at 7lbs and her daughter was over a month late but only about 6lbs. Daughters need more time cooking becasue they need to get beautiful so that's why she was so late. Also according to her if your cycle before getting pregnant was short you will go past your due date and if it was long you will deliver early.

She kept trying to find out how long my cycle was before I concieved so she could predict when I would have this LO. When I wouldn't tell her she started talking loudly to my stomach to tell the baby to come in December so Mommy and Daddy could get the tax write off. On the way home from the party I couldn't help but laugh about it to DH.

Anyone else receive some crazy advice lately?

brideandbreve · November 2013

The "girls being late to be more beautiful" thing is a new one. I was a week early, so I'm a little offended, old drunk broad.

brideandbreve · November 2013

MarBee1214 said:

brideandbreve said:

The "girls being late to be more beautiful" thing is a new one. I was a week early, so I'm a little offended, old drunk broad.

hahaha....I have said since day one (since I felt I was having a girl) that the reason my face broke out and my hair dried out and I got so many stretch marks before I ever gained weight (like WTF? seriously?) was because she had to steal my beauty for 9 months so she could be pretty

Now that one I have heard, and I agree with that one! I looked like hell for the first 22 weeks of this pregnancy!

bethughknee · November 2013

My grandfather's wife has reiterated the "arms over your head" rule a few times to me, even though "she doesn't believe it." She swears she knows that it can't make the baby fall out but she really thinks that starting in December, I shouldn't lift my arms over my head anymore.

My boss (60 yr old man) also keeps telling me I should do whatever I can to go into labor before Dec 31 for the tax write off...but I should also keep coming to work because they will still need me around. I want her to come in January AND YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO, ASSHOLE.

bensmommy518 · November 2013

@MarBee1214 I was just as confused as you to hear he was 7lbs two months early and was "full term" I was also confused why her doctor would let her go what I assume was 44 weeks when I thought there was the risk for placental deterioration after 42 weeks. All I can assume is that she was 1. drunk, and 2. confused.

I just sat there with my "smile and nod, smile and nod" mantra running through my head.

@brideandbreve I was also early but then again, my mom had been told at her ultrasound I was going to be a boy.

ScarlettDahlia · November 2013

MarBee1214 said:

bethughknee said:

My grandfather's wife has reiterated the "arms over your head" rule a few times to me, even though "she doesn't believe it." She swears she knows that it can't make the baby fall out but she really thinks that starting in December, I shouldn't lift my arms over my head anymore.

My boss (60 yr old man) also keeps telling me I should do whatever I can to go into labor before Dec 31 for the tax write off...but I should also keep coming to work because they will still need me around. I want her to come in January AND YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO, ASSHOLE.

What is it with people and the freaking tax write-off?
People act like its going to be the worst thing ever if I go up to or past my due date because then I won't get the tax write-off. Big whooping deal

Right?! I'd rather LO come on time than have to worry about him coming early, just so we can get the tax write-off.

And I really side-eye people who try to get LO to come early so they can get the tax write-off. So you want your LO to come a month beforehand? Grrr

MrsGraham06 · November 2013

And...you'll get the tax write-off, it just depends on WHEN. You will get it.

katags · November 2013

@bensmommy518
Regarding the 44 weeks past due date thing, it's only fairly recently that they've started inducing people before you're 2 weeks late. My sister (she's 32 now) was born a month late via emergency c-section. My mom never went into labor on her own, and the only reason they did the c-section was because my sister was in distress. Her lungs had over-developed and she was breathing in the amniotic fluids. Now, at a month past due and only 6 lbs, I'm assuming her due date was off a week or two. They definitely didn't do dating ultrasounds back in those days

Oh, and for world prematurity day, an acquaintance posted on facebook that her son was born 6 weeks early and was 8lbs. I was surprised, and trying to figure out how huge he would have been had he waited until term!

ccip82 · November 2013

This isn't advice, but every time I talked with my aunt when I was pregnant with DD...she would bring up the story and describe how she tore "from end to end" delivering my cousin...

Gee thanks...Just what every first time mom wants to hear...

MissMeegs · November 2013

Heh, I admit I won't mind about getting a bigger tax refund if LO arrives a couple weeks early. But my biggest priority is that he's healthy!

LabPupLuv · November 2013

That reminds of my ML who told us DH's younger brothers, identical twins, were born at 32 weeks exactly and the smaller brother was just 4 pounds and the other was 5 something, but she brought them both home the next day! Whaaaaaat???? Um, our babies are not 4 pounds at 32 weeks and we wouldn't be taking them home the next day. I think her memory is off by several weeks!

ANDplusalso, she said one was breech but that c-section wasn't even mentioned and that the doctor just turned that baby once the first one was out like it was no big deal... They used forceps.

Tell me, will our memory be as bad as these other mothers when it comes time for us to tell our stories?

bensmommy518 · November 2013

@katags I totally did not realize that. I guess it makes sense that a lot has changed regarding birth since she had her children, it just seemed really odd to me.

I cant imagine having such a big baby that early - to me I still think there must be something off on the dating - like what she thought was her last period really was spotting and she was further along than she realized. This lady said he was born 2 months before his due date but was fully mature, hence the early but "full term"

Deblondie1 · November 2013

@LabPupLuv I agree that the weight of the twins at 32 weeks is most likely off. But the flipping of the breech twin could be true. Drs and midwives didn't immediately jump to c/s for a breech baby years ago. They learned how to deliver him or her.

LabPupLuv · November 2013

@Deblondie - That's good to know about breech delivery! LO is still breech but I'm hoping he flips. My dad was born breech back in the day and I heard it was harrowing and pain for both parties!

goldenB · November 2013

Deblondie1 said:

@LabPupLuv I agree that the weight of the twins at 32 weeks is most likely off. But the flipping of the breech twin could be true. Drs and midwives didn't immediately jump to c/s for a breech baby years ago. They learned how to deliver him or her.

@LabPupLuv

I agree with Deblondie.

Also, my friend is carrying twins and at 33wks they were measuring 4lbs and 4.5lbs (albeit via ultrasound, so that doesn't necessarily that it's accurate).

I am 30wks (with one baby) who apparently weighs 4.3lbs and is in the 90th percentile (my dates are definitely not off since I had a dating ultrasound and I was charting before we conceived).

LabPupLuv · November 2013

@goldenB - I can see how one baby might be larger at an earlier stage, but it's my understanding that twins are always smaller. So if one baby would rarely be 4 pounds by 32 weeks, I have to scratch my head at her story that one twin was 4 something and the other 5 something by then... But what do I know? I was just guessing she had her ovulation date off since the pregnancy was a surprise and they didn't do a dating US.

LabPupLuv · November 2013

@Amylou333 - oh wow! I didn't know that. How interesting. I can't imagine how big those babies would be at full term if they were already t 5.5 each at 30 weeks. Ouch.. I have an US today where I will be able to find out how big LO is at 32 weeks, so he might be 4 something by now too.

karah4816 · November 2013

goldenB said:

Deblondie1 said:

@LabPupLuv I agree that the weight of the twins at 32 weeks is most likely off. But the flipping of the breech twin could be true. Drs and midwives didn't immediately jump to c/s for a breech baby years ago. They learned how to deliver him or her.

@LabPupLuv

I agree with Deblondie.
Also, my friend is carrying twins and at 33wks they were measuring 4lbs and 4.5lbs (albeit via ultrasound, so that doesn't necessarily that it's accurate).
I am 30wks (with one baby) who apparently weighs 4.3lbs and is in the 90th percentile (my dates are definitely not off since I had a dating ultrasound and I was charting before we conceived).

my twins measured 4.3 and 4.7 at my ultrasound at 32 weeks

MrsGraham06 · November 2013

I was in water class when pregnant with DD, with a woman carrying twins. She was induced at 38 weeks (I think) and both twins were nearly 8 pounds. Her OB told her that if she went to 40w, they would have been 8 1/2 lbs each, easily.

RedSaffron · November 2013

I mentioned before that SO is Filipino and they have some out-there advice and pregnancy no-nos from MIL, let me open my doors..

1. No eggplants- it causes the baby to be itchy in the womb and the babys face will turn blue while crying after birth.
2. Don't share food with a pregnant person-it will cause the other person to feel drowsy or tired.
3. I have to drink a shot of patis (fish sauce) before giving birth to have a fast delivery.. (um..NO!)
4. Do not stay mad at a person or your baby will come out looking like them.
5. Eating a lot of fruits will give you a smart baby. Eating a lot of "white" foods like rice, rice cakes, or milk will give your baby white skin.
6. Do not eat spicy foods, it causes the baby to suffocate in the womb.

Nviener28 · November 2013

@brideandbreve-

I disagree. The first couple of months- my MIL was convinced I was having a girl because I was breaking out and getting a little puffy. I always had a feeling she might be wrong... and apparently she was! there is a little penis growing in there... I guess he may be stealing my beauty?! lol or maybe he's stealing both my DH & my beauty together, thats why I looked so horrible! now that stuff is coming back again here and there.. but that's a different story lol.

about that story with the old lady- sounds a little loony. I think usually older mothers like to exaggerate a little when they're excited lol. I'm sure a month to her is actually only 2 weeks. and the 2 moths early means maybe 3 weeks at most. You think back then they had the capability to save premature babies like they do now?? I don't think so!

lmills730 · November 2013

RedSaffron said:

I mentioned before that SO is Filipino and they have some out-there advice and pregnancy no-nos from MIL, let me open my doors.. 1. No eggplants- it causes the baby to be itchy in the womb and the babys face will turn blue while crying after birth. 2. Don't share food with a pregnant person-it will cause the other person to feel drowsy or tired. 3. I have to drink a shot of patis (fish sauce) before giving birth to have a fast delivery.. (um..NO!) 4. Do not stay mad at a person or your baby will come out looking like them. 5. Eating a lot of fruits will give you a smart baby. Eating a lot of "white" foods like rice, rice cakes, or milk will give your baby white skin. 6. Do not eat spicy foods, it causes the baby to suffocate in the womb.

Oh boy....my baby's in big trouble

.

Durve2008 · November 2013

I had a coworker warn me against an epidural. She told me that she knew someone where it went very wrong...and proceeded to tell me about the very strange complications (I will spare everyone the details). I don't know why people have to tell you stories like this...to put all that fear into you. Geezz...thanks for that, lady!

twobluelines · November 2013

Nviener28 said:

@brideandbreve-

I disagree. The first couple of months- my MIL was convinced I was having a girl because I was breaking out and getting a little puffy. I always had a feeling she might be wrong... and apparently she was! there is a little penis growing in there... I guess he may be stealing my beauty?! lol or maybe he's stealing both my DH & my beauty together, thats why I looked so horrible! now that stuff is coming back again here and there.. but that's a different story lol.

about that story with the old lady- sounds a little loony. I think usually older mothers like to exaggerate a little when they're excited lol. I'm sure a month to her is actually only 2 weeks. and the 2 moths early means maybe 3 weeks at most. You think back then they had the capability to save premature babies like they do now?? I don't think so!

Actually @nviener28, sometimes they did... the Dionne quintuplets were born 2 months premature, in a farm house... and they all survived.

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