The Claim: Mother’s Heartburn Means a Hairy Newborn
THE FACTS It is an odd adage that has stuck around for ages: women who suffer heartburn during pregnancy will have babies with full heads of hair. But doctors have long shrugged it off.
Until now, that is. In December, researchers at Johns Hopkins University conducted a study intending to put the claim to rest. To their surprise, they ended up confirming it. The study, published in the current issue of the journal Birth, followed 64 pregnant women, about 78 percent of whom reported having some heartburn. After the women gave birth, two outside observers looked at pictures of their infants and rated their levels of hair.
Of the 28 women who reported moderate to severe heartburn, 23 had babies with average or above-average amounts of hair. Conversely, 10 of the 12 women who reported no heartburn had babies with little or no hair.
Other studies have shown that in pregnant women, high levels of estrogen and other hormones can relax the sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus, causing heartburn. The same hormones, other studies show, can influence fetal hair growth.
The lead author of the study, Kathleen Costigan, who runs the fetal assessment center at Johns Hopkins, said the findings came as a shock.
“We’ve heard this claim hundreds of times, and I’ve always told people it’s nonsense,” she said. “Since the study came out, I’ve had to eat a lot of crow.”
THE BOTTOM LINE Heartburn during pregnancy may mean a greater likelihood a baby will have a lot of hair. (New York Times)
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Although it doesn't necessarily mean that he will, if I follow the odds, Finn will be born with a load of hair. My goodness I have a lot of pain in my chest at nearly all times of the day but especially night. Sometimes I can't sleep, I just have to prop myself up on some pillows and slowly sip ice water. I had a bad time with SC and heartburn and she had a lot of hair. Heartburn not nearly so bad with Deedle and she was a baldie. So...I guess we'll see.
Another interesting thing is that I am having a lot of new hair growth myself. Not enough to get my hopes up that it is truly growing back yet, but it's all interesting, huh? Or maybe not at all. Maybe only to a bald pregnant woman.
16 comments:
I must say you ARE an interesting pregnant woman! You know, I had horrible heartburn with the first three which all came out with tons of hair; which you can attest to and then my little dude came along and not so much heartburn nor not as much hair.
So, there you have it!
Thanks for your comments on my crap post. You are always so wise and good and I just love that you give me a sincere thought out comment that I can do something with (good luck doing anything with this comment!)
I love you!
hmm. something i've never heard before - but maybe i'll pay better attention because, unlike my other two pregnancies where there was NO heartburn at all, i've definitely experienced it this time around. i hope this new little person of mine has hair. while cole had TONS of hair (minus the heartburn), poor miles barely has enough now to notice. but hair or not, i'll take it-- as i'm sure you feel the same of little finn. :)
I had heartburn bad with all - especially with the last two and while they had hair, I don't think it equalled the amount of heart burn I endured but then again I ate some many blasted chalky tums that I think I might have burned it all off of their little heads!
And "Finn". I just finished reading the Bayern books by Shannon Hale and Finn is one of my favorite characters of the series - so big and strong and reliable.
Mostly i just like that sweet picture.
Lots of heartburn, peach fuzz babies. I guess I'm in the minority!
I had the worst heartburn with my bald children..go figure. Happy Inaguration day
Oh, I'm sure hoping all that heart burn ensures YOU a full head of hair after all is said and done! I'm not sure about the whole heartburn/baby correlation thing. My mom had horrible heartburn with me and I was bald til I was two!! I had heartburn with both my girls and there wasn't much hair to brag about. Who knows about all these funny wives tails, they're fun to talk about though! Have you tried enzymes for your heartburn? Just wondering.
Hair or no hair that is going to be one sweet babY! I just met little Iz and am just dying to see my new Fin!
allie had massive amounts of hair--surprisingly no heartburn while she was in the womb, but since taking her first breath--non stop heartburn. Just kidding. I love my girl.
Oh that is hilarious. I am going to show my hubby right now. He is always laughing and rolling his eyes at me when I tell him crazy ideas like that.
I am a believer too, both of my kids, as you know, had tons of hair. I had horrible heartburn. Zantac really worked for me, if you haven't tried it yet. Oh and I love love the name finn!
I had vicious heartburn and the G had plenty of hair. Of course he rubbed it all off in back once he started moving around a little!
Great news about the growth, although I tend to agree, give me all or nothing, a little bit here and there is just a chore to keep shaved.
Prilosec...seriously. I think maybe I would have bursted into flames while pregnant without it...and the hairy kid thing...Holy cow the worse the heartburn the hairier my kid. Have you seen Micah? Imagine the pain that head of hair inflicted! Heather
Very interesting thought. I believe it.
My first I had almost no heartburn and he had a little fluffy on top.
My second I had such fierce heartburn they gave me some nasty meds in the hospital and out he came with a full head of black hair!
My twins, heart burn and lots of hair.
Not sure with this baby yet, too early, but it will be interesting to see.:O) I love your posts!
This post of yours really intrigues me. I had heartburn pretty bad with my last two kids and while I guess they had hair when they were born it was very fine and very short. When I think of babies being born with a lot of hair I think of those babies that have a good inch to an inch and a half of hair. My babies hair always falls out within about one day and then they are essentially bald until they are almost two. It is sad, so very sad indeed.
Jax I was going to die from heartburn LOTS OF HAIR. Arnoux and Abigaelle gave me heartburn everyday Lots of hair. So I agree with the old wife tale.
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