Reaching Overhead in PregnancySouthern Folklore About the Umbilical Cord
I don't remember this umbilical cord one comin' up before. But maybe because it's a little freaky. I don't remember this umbilical cord one comin' up before. But maybe because it's a little freaky. Origin
This superstition has deep roots in the South and Appalachia, where expectant mothers were warned not to stretch, hang clothes, or reach for items above their heads. It reflected old fears about umbilical cord complications, long before medical explanations were understood. While similar beliefs can be found in other places, Southerners passed this one down as firm advice, often repeated by grandmothers and aunts.
Notes
Kin Topics
Related Pages
- Granny Woman
- Folklore: Carrying High vs. Low - Southern Pregnancy Folklore
- Folklore: Heartburn in Pregnancy - Southern Folklore About Hairy Babies
- Folklore: Linea Nigra - Southern Pregnancy Folklore About Baby Gender
- Folklore: Pregnancy Cravings - Southern Folklore About Baby Gender
- Folklore: Wedding Ring Over a Pregnant Belly
- Can’t Rightly Tell
- Southern Accent: Milk
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 7). Reaching Overhead in Pregnancy
Southern Folklore About the Umbilical Cord . HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/reaching-overhead-pregnancy-cord-superstition - MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Reaching Overhead in Pregnancy
Southern Folklore About the Umbilical Cord ." HillbillySlang.com, 7 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/reaching-overhead-pregnancy-cord-superstition. - Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Reaching Overhead in Pregnancy
Southern Folklore About the Umbilical Cord ." HillbillySlang.com. October 7, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/reaching-overhead-pregnancy-cord-superstition.
Dislaimer
What you're reading here is old Southern folklore and storytelling - not medical advice, and not meant to guide health, or pregnancy decisions (especially pregnancy decisions!). These tales are part of how folks once made sense of the world, passed down from grandparents and midwives.
If you have any medical questions or concerns, talk with a qualified healthcare professional.
Learn more on the Folklore hub page.