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Natalie from Port Perry Asks:

Is it true that heartburn during pregnancy means my baby has lots of hair?

It is a common belief that pregnant women who experience heartburn are carrying babies with a full head of hair, but is it a fact or an “old wives tale”?

In December 2006, a study was conducted at Johns Hopkins University; the objective was to dismiss the myth but to their great surprise (and mine) the study actually substantiated it! They found that a direct relationship existed between the severity of heartburn and the amount of hair the fetus was born with. The question then becomes “why?”

Those involved with the study believe it is because of the presence of estrogen and other pregnancy hormones which appear to exhibit a dual role. First, they cause relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (causing heartburn) and second they are responsible for the modulation of fetal hair growth. Increased heartburn in mom equaled more hair on baby!

Prior to researching this topic, I would have said that heartburn is more likely to be caused by the growth of the uterus and baby pushing the abdominal contents upwards. Perhaps I should eat my words!

Hmm, I wonder if they’ll give me heartburn?!

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18/01/10 - Twins; How do they develop?
17/02/10 - Why do babies yawn in the womb?