Can The Solar Eclipse Make You Go Into Labor? You Could Wish Upon A Star

You probably don't remember last November's "supermoon," but I do. In fact, I was absolutely 100 percent certain that this supermoon — larger and lower in the sky than a regular full moon — would usher my little Scorpio into the world, meaning no more walking in endless circles or choking down musty evening primrose oil to jumpstart labor. (Spoiler alert: the moon came and went, without so much as a contraction from me.) With another astronomical event on the horizon, I wonder if my supermoon just wasn't strong enough. So can the solar eclipse make you go into labor? Will pregnant women rush the hospital on Aug. 21, eclipse glasses in hand?

According to U.S. News, the Great American Eclipse is the first total solar eclipse to cross the country in 99 years. Needless to say, moms who give birth on that day will have a heck of a story to tell. Biologically speaking though, there's probably no reason to think your uterus is connected to the spinning of the stars. As Dr. Eva Martin, OB-GYN and CEO of Elm Tree Medical, light-heartedly tells Romper:

"There are several studies on the matter that all show no relationship between lunar cycles (full moons) and the number of deliveries. But — anyone who has worked on Labor & Delivery will agree — things always seem to get busier and stranger on a full moon."

The connection between the birth and the full moon is deeply rooted in folklore, and there are some intriguing similarities between a woman's menstrual cycle and the phases of the moon. While doctors and nurses consistently report weirdness on werewolf night, such reports are likely the result of an 'illusory correlation' triggered by the persistent belief that weird things happen on a full moon, according to a bubble-busting Scientific American. In a similar vein, I'm sorry to report that no evidence suggests an event as magisterial as an eclipse triggers labor, and it's a shame. Astrologically speaking, being born on the eclipse probably packs a serious punch.

I wanted 2016's November supermoon to inaugurate my new life as a mom because, like all moms, I want great things for my kids. I also want to believe I have some place, however small, in the grand scheme. Science says I probably don't, but belief is potent (and science can't account for everything yet). If you're ready to give birth, go ahead and wish upon an eclipse. It can't hurt, and if your wish pays off, you'll have a birth story to last another 99 years.