Different Cultures- Different Rules

While we were on our cruise Donnie bought me a pre-natal massage on the boat.  It was a great massage and my masseuse did it a little different then at Urban Nirvana.  First when we sat down to talk before the massage she asked me if I was retaining fluid in my legs yet and I told her I didn't think so.  So she checked my legs and saw the "fluid bumps" on my legs that I get from working out.  I told her that the bumps she saw were from me exercising that morning.  She gasped and asked what I did and I told her a 5K on the elliptical, some weights, and some crunches.  I thought I almost gave the poor woman a heart attack.  She told me No and that I should no longer exercise except that I was allowed to walk.  I then tried to cross my legs and she gasped again and told me I couldn't cross my legs because it would hurt the baby.  During the course of our conversation I told her that we were having a boy and he was going to be our first child. She said that I was very lucky and I was going to have good fortune and live a very long life for having a boy as our first child.   So after our conversation it got me to thinking what are the rules/myths in other cultures for when you are pregnant.  (I believe that my masseuse was Chinese.)


One article that I read online from http://www.divinecaroline.com/life-etc/drink-wine-and-eat-fish-pregnancy-rules-around-world was very interesting.  Basically the article said that Americans are being too careful in their pregnancy rules.  For example, in Japan they continue to eat sushi throughout their pregnancies and in France they continue to eat all cheeses- both of which are no's-no's in the United States.  Different cultures also continue to drink while pregnant and it is not frowned upon is it is in the United States.  An article in the San Francisco Chronicle’s “Mommy Files” reports that in 2007, the British government ruled against even occasional alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and in France, “American-style” warning labels have been slapped onto all alcohol bottles. Even Ireland, home of that lactation-inducing Guinness, has just started to introduce a public-awareness campaign against drinking during pregnancy.  Previously women in Ireland would continue to drink Guinness for the iron.

I also found another cite online which pinpoints different does and don't for the Chinese and for Hispanic/Spanish cultures and I thought that they were both worth sharing. 

Chinese:

• Do not  use sharp objects on the bed because it can result in the infant being born with a cleft palate or lip. (i.e. scissors and knives.)
• Do not go near open fire i.e. barbecue, or any open cooking fire.  It is not clear why this is important except that this belief continues to be passed down by the elders. The instructions are to don't question just do this.
• Pregnancy is considered a "hot" condition, so to balance the scale between "hot and cold" or "ying and yang" cold foods must be consumed throughout pregnancy.
• Do not touch anything adhesive or anything with glue; for this causes the baby to have birth marks.
• Do not criticize others; otherwise the baby will act and look like the person you criticize.
• During the beginning months of the pregnancy, do not do any heavy work or lifting or have sexual relations with husband to avoid miscarriage.

    FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS

• Avoid eating shellfish because it can cause a rash on baby.
• Pineapple can cause miscarriages.
• Crab and squid cause the womb to be "sticky".
• If you eat too much the baby will be too large and the labor will be harder.
• Drink coconut milk so that baby will have good quality skin.

Hispanic:

Some Hispanic women avoid foods that are considered to be "hot" by their culture because it is believed to cause the child to be born with spots and to be more susceptible to rashes:  i.e. chilies and coffee.

Foods such as shrimp, fish, oysters, and other shellfish are sometimes removed from the diet and the number of eggs reduced to avoid giving birth to a child with bad body odors.

Women are encouraged to eat foods which are high in iron such as beans.  Women also try to avoid eating grease during their pregnancy and will eat sesame soup and use plenty of cream as both are believed to aid in the production of better breast milk.

Women are encouraged to stay active (especially by walking) as this is said to help develop a healthier baby with a better temperament.

To avoid problems with the umbilical cord women are encouraged to not wear anything around the neck, no clothing that contains elastic, and to not reach upward for things such as clothing on a clothesline.

If I had the time I really could try to research every culture and see all the different pregnancy rules and traditions.  It really is very interesting how everyone has an opinion about the do's and don't during pregnancy however every culture is also different in their do's and don'ts.  I am going to continue to eat healthy, exercise, and just listen to my body.   


What are some interesting cultural pregnancy "rules" that you have heard of?



http://www.hawaii.hawaii.edu/nursing/RNHispanic10.html
http://www.hawcc.hawaii.edu/nursing/RNChinese02.html