Half Of Parents Still Believe The Top Pregnancy Myths

Apparently, it is not just children who may be confused as to where babies come from...

A recent survey revealed that British couples will still put their faith in a few old wives tales when it comes to getting pregnant.

Such myths include drinking grapefruit juice or cough syrup, or planting a rosemary bush in your garden.

Even in this day and age, when the majority of us can tell you the story of the birds and the bees, some women trying for a baby say they think they will have a better chance of conceiving if they avoid mints…

Others have the fear that eating strawberries or seeing mice during pregnancy could give their babies birthmarks.

Another popular superstition is that a woman who gives gifts of silver will get pregnant, said family planning experts FPA as they launched specially created Fertility Awareness Kits.

While most of the advice has been passed down through generations, some myths are more modern, such as advising men to wear boxer shorts to keep sperm at a more ideal temperature.

Half of the couples surveyed did not know the basic facts about the best ways to conceive, such as when a woman is at her fertility peak in the month.

The health charity has launched new fertility guidance packs via its website in order to try and bust some of the myths around pregnancy.

Natika H Halil, FPA director of information said; “Many people trying to conceive have never been taught the basic facts about their own reproductive cycle.

“As a result couples may mistakenly believe themselves to be infertile, causing them to seek expensive fertility treatments and suffer a great deal of stress, when there is really no need.

“Equally, couples with a genuine problem may be waiting for nature to take its course, when in fact there is a fertility issue and they need professional help without delay.”

We don’t know about the Irish, but I’m hoping we have our facts straight…

Top Ten Myths On The Best Way To Get Pregnant

1.Yams help give you twins

2.Boxer shorts make men more fertile (looser clothing may actually help)

3.Drink grapefruit juice to get pregnant

4.Plant a rosemary bush to get pregnant

5.Women, give a gift of silver to get pregnant

6.Avoid strawberries - they give babies birthmarks

7.Don't look at mice, they give babies birthmarks

8.Drink cough syrup to get pregnant

9.Men should take their socks off in bed

10.Avoid mint