Historical Pregnancy Advice Through the Ages

Pregnancy has always been surrounded by a swirl of old wives’ tales, folklore, and curious customs — and while today’s advice might come from midwives and medical professionals, our ancestors had… some very different ideas.

In this blog, I’m sharing a few of my favourite strange-but-true pieces of pregnancy advice from the past — from red ribbon charms to the supposed dangers of strawberries. They’re weird, sometimes a bit wonderful, and a reminder of how far we’ve come.

Red Ribbon Protection Spell

Tying a red ribbon around your bump was once believed to ward off evil spirits. While it may not stand up to modern scrutiny, I have to admit… it would look pretty cute.

Ugly Sights = Ugly Baby

Victorian women were warned not to look at anything unpleasant during pregnancy, for fear the baby might “absorb” those negative vibes and come out less than beautiful. Yikes.

The Key to a Smooth Birth

Wearing a key around your neck was thought to guard both mum and baby through pregnancy and labour. Whether it worked or not is up for debate — but fashion meets folklore sounds pretty on brand.

No Arms Above Your Head!

This one advised pregnant women to avoid raising their arms, in case it caused the umbilical cord to wrap around the baby’s neck. Completely unfounded, of course, but one of those myths that stuck around for years.

Strawberries Cause Birthmarks

Once upon a time, strawberries were said to cause birthmarks if eaten while pregnant. No actual science involved — but poor strawberries got the blame all the same.

Pregnancy myths like these might seem silly now, but they were part of how people tried to understand and protect something so magical and mysterious. It makes you wonder which of today’s advice might raise eyebrows in another hundred years!