Every culture has its own rules & superstitious during pregnancy. Sometimes it is not just scientific enough. Chinese culture is apparently known to be highly superstitious. Check out these pregnancy practices followed in China.
One can’t have watermelons
Watermelon has a rich supply of water, vitamins & minerals which is considered healthy all over the world for both the mom & unborn. But Chinese people believe that it is a cold fruit which can disrupt your blood circulation & in turn the nutrients won’t be absorbed well that could result in loss of baby.
Mango can’t be eaten
While rest of the world knows mango is a highly nutritious fruit, Chinese culture believes it can cause skin issues for the baby such as Eczema & thus forbids pregnant women from eating it.
Staying quiet until after 12 weeks
The western world wouldn’t stay quiet to announce the pregnancy news to their near & dear ones soon they get to know about it. But in China, they believe that the pregnancy could be risked if announced before second trimester. It is in fact followed as a rule! Therefore loss of baby that happens upon announcing will be dealt silently by the couples.
Must not use scissors & nail clippers on bed
No one in rest of the world would see any problem in cutting nails on bed. However, it is forbidden in China for pregnant women because they believe doing so puts baby at risk of cleft lip or marks on face. So they tend to leave long nails until delivery.
Crib has to be ordered after delivery
Western couples just plan everything right away soon when they know that a baby is arriving. Crib, clothes & toys would all be waiting for the baby. But in China, expectant couples believe that having an empty bed in home before baby arrives brings bad luck and hence they don’t buy the crib before baby’s birth.
Must only think positively
Having negative thoughts is a part of life & every human brain does that. It is very normal to have negative thoughts sometimes. However, in China, culture believes that having any kind of negative thought will affect the baby within. Hence Chinese pregnant ladies are told to read happy stories, poetry & get involved with pleasant activities like painting to ward off negative thoughts. This seems to have scientific significance though!
Couples can’t have fun
Getting physical will not be an issue to the baby believes the western world. So says the research! But in China it is still believed that getting physical during pregnancy makes the baby a social outcast in future. Hence couples don’t get physical until delivery.
Willow bark tea is a must
Willow bark tea is believed to help relieve discomfort during pregnancy including labor pain. They believe consuming it during pregnancy gives good looks & good health to the baby.
One must not rub a pregnant belly
There doesn’t seem to be any problem at all with this one right? But Chinese culture believes rubbing the pregnant belly will spoil the baby after birth making them to be fussy.
Expectant couples can’t touch blocked drains
When the drains block unexpectedly anyone would rush to clear it despite expecting a baby. But Chinese expectant couples do not touch a blocked drain until the baby is born even if they end up with plumbing issues due to this. Belief is that removing the blockage could result in baby being removed from the uterus. Hence they don’t mind living with poor plumbing instead to survive the pregnancy.
Do not look when someone is painting walls
This could sound ridiculous to everyone, right? But in China they believe that just by watching someone who is painting the walls can result a scar on the baby’s face. If they see it by any chance, they have to get away from it as soon as they can & hope that no damage happens to the baby!
Must not raise hands over the head
Earlier among westerners too it was believed that pregnant women raising hands over head could cause the cord to wrap around baby’s neck. But research proved it is not true. However it is still believed till date in China that raising arms over head causes negative influence on the baby.
Pregnant women must not express her beauty
As long as it chemical-free & safe, women in the west wear cosmetics even in pregnancy. But Chinese culture dictates women to be modest during pregnancy & must not show off their beauty in anyway. So it is inappropriate for them to wear cosmetics & getting hair fixed in salon during pregnancy.
Wait until the baby arrives for the baby shower
This is very strange for any pregnant lady. Baby shower is a mandate custom in many of the cultures that is done during pregnancy. But just like postponing the purchase of crib until delivery, Chinese belief suggests bad luck if baby shower or any sort of celebration related to the baby is done before its arrival. Hence the shower is done after safe delivery of the baby.
Wearing of radiation-proof dress
Surprisingly, women in China wear radiation-proof dress or aprons when they work or while using appliances at home because they fear radiations from mobiles, computers or any electronic devices could affect the baby, though there is no supporting research evidence for this.
Restriction for attending weddings or burials
Like the westerners who believe pregnant women attending funerals would bring bad luck to the unborn, Chinese people too think that pregnant women must not attend burials as the emotional impact could affect the baby inside. This is applied to weddings & other social gatherings too which will trigger intense emotions either positive or negative. It is believed that the unborn cannot handle the intense feelings of the mother.
Clothes & shoes must be loose-fitting
Contrary to the western world, where women wear stretchable maternity clothes to feel comfortable, Chinese women must wear loose-fitting clothes & larger-sized shoes to ensure baby is comfortable as tight fittings would restrict blood circulation.
Stay away when anyone uses hammer
There is no such belief for others except for the loud noise from hammer that could stress the baby inside womb though research is not supportive of this. In China, it is not the noise that causes problem but women are prohibited from staying near anyone who is using a hammer as it is believed to cause permanent ugly scar on the baby.
Take shellfish off the menu
Though Salmon, Trout & various Shellfishes are considered safe seafood to eat during pregnancy, Chinese women believe eating Shellfish in pregnancy could cause rashes to the baby.
Be mindful about the color of food
Color of food doesn’t even matter to rest of the world while belief in China states that if pregnant women eat chocolate or dark-colored foods, it could result a dark complexion in baby. Likewise, light colored food like milk & mozzarella cheese lightens baby’s skin color.
