It can be hard to find robust, quality, evidence based information on the internet…and sometimes it’s even harder to find it in your careprovider’s office. That’s not to say the majority of Doctors, Midwives and Nurses aren’t incredibly dedicated to the families they work with but like every profession not everyone stays current with education and professional development. Following are some of the strangest things I’ve heard (and some of these are also published in pregnancy books for expectant parents). Let’s take a look at advice that might make you go hmmmmm. If you get advice that makes you think twice - listen to your gut and check it out after your appointment. Hopefully this won’t be your experience but whenever a care option is suggested to you that you’re not 100% sure about - ask more questions.

In no particular order of weirdness let’s take a look…

As a first time mom your uterus doesn’t know what to do that’s why most of our first time mothers need Syntocinon/Pitocin to make it work properly (quote from a TV interview) - Former lead Obstetrician.

You won’t have this problem with your next baby as your uterus has graduated from womb school (my words) now and we can trust it to do it’s job properly (same Former lead Obstetrician).

If we don’t clamp the cord immediately all of your baby’s blood will run out of her and back into you.

Some women prefer to let the baby's cord stop pulsating and to attempt to breastfeed in an effort to make the third stage as physiologically normal as possible. There are no great advantages to be had however, and it is probably simpler not to delay. (Former lead Obstetrician from same hospital of previous Former lead OB).

Why would you not give your baby the recommended antibiotics for his eyes - your vagina has all kinds of bugs in it (applicable for US parents).

I might have to do an episiotomy - your baby has a lot of hair. It causes friction and delays your baby’s birth.

There is no advantage to keeping the waters intact, indeed not having the waters broken could slow your labour significantly.' - Former lead obstetrician from above…

Pre-eclampsia is caused by diet - Obstetrician and Author

Squatting or kneeling on all fours confers no advantage, gravitational or otherwise. In fact these positions make it more difficult for medical staff to see what's going on and to help accordingly (former lead Obstetrician) - seeing a pattern here?

From AIMS.org.uk - Interestingly, at a World Health Organisation conference in Fortaleza, Brazil, Professor Caldeyro-Barcia remarked that 'there was only one position worse than lying on one's back for birth and that was hanging by one's heels from a chandelier'.

So what’s the weirdest thing your careprovider has said to you?