For some reason, I’ve been going to a lot of baby showers recently–I have another one Monday night. It’s fascinating to see all the new-fangled baby contraptions available these days, and to learn what has gone in and out and in again in the way of advice to pregnant women and new mothers. Doctors still advise pregnant women against pretty obvious things—don’t smoke, don’t drink alcohol, and try not to eat an entire pint of Ben and Jerry’s every night. I did a little research, and found that pregnant women have been given advice as long as there have been … pregnant women.

Here are five tips to producing a healthy—and most importantly, male—baby. They come from the health manual Ad mulieres ferrarienses, written by Michele Savonarola. He was a sixteenth century court physician to the Este family, rulers of Ferrrara.1. “Most poultry is good for you, except for crane and peacock, which are hard to digest.”

2. “Eels are especially good for clearing the bronchial passages, and they also help with your singing voice.” [I guess it’s implied that eels are a good choice for a pregnant woman.]

3. Fruits are to be avoided: “When you crave a piece of fruit, just think that the most noble and beautiful fruit in the world is the human creature in your womb, so surely you can resist the vituperative claims of your palate for a vile, ugly, bad piece of fruit that will harm what you carry inside yourself.”

4. “In order to give birth to a healthy, warm, and dry-tempered male child, pregnant women should consume warm and dry foods.” [That means no Ben and Jerry’s.]

5. “Beware of using cold water, it is not good for the fetus and it causes the generation of girls, especially here in our region, so keep drinking wine.”

http://www.academia.edu/1359403/Fruit_of_the_Womb_Prenatal_Food_in_Renaissance_Italy

http://www.medievalists.net/2011/06/27/medieval-advice-to-pregnant-mothers-dont-drink-water-have-wine-instead/