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Old wives’ tales about pregnancy and labour still run rampant, even though they have little scientific basis. Jonathan Schaffir of Ohio State University in Columbus asked 102 pregnant women coming to a prenatal clinic whether they believed in 10 folk suggestions for inducing labour, such as getting a fright. Two out of three pregnant women believed that walking would help induce labour, while nearly half believed that having sex would (Birth, vol 29, p 47). Most women had gleaned these facts from friends or relatives, but 12 per cent said doctors or nurses had told them.