Brit mums-to-be still believe eating curry can bring the bay on early

LONDON - A survey of more than 1,200 British women has shown that most mums-to-be still believe that eating curry and drinking raspberry leaf tea can bring on labour.

Conducted by the charity Tommy’s and Johnson’s Baby, the study has shown that nearly one in five women thinks that tucking into spicy food will help bring on labour, while 38 per cent believe that raspberry leaf tea is the answer.

It has also revealed that 13 per cent of women believe that they are having a boy if they carry the baby “all at the front”, while 7 per cent think that drinking coffee in pregnancy affects the baby’s skin.

“Eating curries or drinking raspberry leaf tea will not, unfortunately, induce labour,” Sky News quoted Tommy’s midwife Sharon Broad as saying.

“There is no evidence to support this. I still speak to many women, however, who continue to eat spicy food and take raspberry leaf tea in late pregnancy hoping that either will bring on labour.

“Carrying a baby boy with your pregnancy bump all at the front, damaging your baby’s skin by drinking coffee or hurting your baby by sleeping on your back are also modern myths.

“It’s true that in later pregnancy sleeping on your side, supported by pillows, will be more comfortable and help boost your blood circulation,” she added.

As regards women’s confusion over the types of food that are safe to eat in pregnancy, the survey has revealed that 62 per cent are unsure what types of cheese they can eat, 56 per cent do not know what kind of fish they can have, and 50 per cent are unsure about eating mayonnaise.

According to the study report, women are also confused about whether or not to drink caffeine, and whether or not taking folic acid offers any benefits.

A third of women do not know about what sandwich fillings they can eat, and whether or not pate is safe to consume.

“The key to an enjoyable pregnancy that isn’t filled with terror is to use trusted sources such as Tommy’s or NHS Direct to find out what you can and cannot do,” said Broad.

“There is so much information out there that women often can’t absorb it.

“Much of it’s quite scary and many of the women feel frightened at a time when they really need to be at their most calm,” she added. (ANI)