Here's What The Experts Had To Say About These 5 Early Baby Old Wives' Tales

Should you avoid hot sauce or spicy curries during that final trimester? "I have myself heard this from more than one patient! While eating spicy foods may give you indigestion, which could feel like labor, there is very little truth to this," says Dr. Williams. Get that extra-hot burrito if it's what your heart desires.

Worried about hanging up your running shoes the second you get a positive pregnancy test? "Exercise alone has not been proven to bring about labor. However, we do know that women who exercise regularly tend to enter spontaneous labor on time and tend to have a smoother labor course than those who live sedentary lifestyles," says Dr. Williams. Research also supports this idea, and in general, exercise does not increase the risk of preterm birth, according to a study of 2,059 pregnant people in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Discuss your pregnancy exercise goals with your physician to make sure it's all on the up and up, but you'll most likely be fine to keep on swimming, rowing, or whatever else you enjoy.

Caffeine consumption during pregnancy can be a quite the subject, as any pregnant coffee drinker knows. For the most part, caffeine itself is not causally related to babies coming early, Dr. Gaither says. Research-wise, there was no link between caffeine intake and preterm birth in a large analysis of several studies dating from 1966 to July 2010, according to findings in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. However, there's some evidence that consuming caffeine during pregnancy can lead to other potential issues, including an increased risk for childhood acute leukemia or lower birth rate, according to Romper. Talk it over with your doctor to get a sense of what amount of caffeine (if any) is recommended for your particular pregnancy.

Sure, it may seem like things get a little wilder when the moon is at its brightest. But that doesn't mean your baby is going to have an early debut. "It is quite the romantic and magical idea, delivering your baby on a full moon night. When I was working the labor wards, we used to think that full moons caused women's 'waters to break," says Dr. Williams. "However, when we looked at it more objectively, we found this is just not the case." If you like the idea of connecting your baby with the celestial realm, however, then consider the baby names inspired by space, such as Luna, from Romper.

Should you avoid those prenatal massages? A little Googling shows that some people claim an ankle or leg massage will bring about early labor, as noted in a blog by the Massage Therapist Development Center. "There are some midwives who do foot massages once a woman goes into labor, using a principle of acupressure. Unfortunately, we just don't have enough data," says Dr. Williams. For the most part, a prenatal massage can help reduce stress and relax muscles, as noted in Romper. If you have any doubts about whether prenatal massages are safe for your particular pregnancy, then discuss it with your doctor. But for the most part, a relaxing rubdown is not likely to cause early labor.