Traditional beliefs around the world place great importance on rules for pregnant women to follow to ensure baby goes full term. Expecting mothers must put attention to observing these taboos, especially during the early months of pregnancy!
AVOID PINEAPPLE
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, consuming pineapple clears the lining of the womb. So eating pineapple while pregnant is a big NO-NO as it can lead to miscarriage! Avoid at all costs.
TIE A RED THREAD
In Russia, pregnant ladies and new mothers believe that babies can “catch” bad luck when the mother is out taking a stroll. To ward off bad luck, it is customary to tie a red thread onto the baby’s stroller. Pregnant ladies also tie a red thread on their clothes to ward off bad spirits!
PRAISE OTHER BABIES
If a pregnant woman criticizes someone else’s child, their own baby will look and act like the child or baby they criticize. During pregnancy, the best advice to follow is for the expecting mother to keep all her thoughts and negative opinions to herself.
AVOID USING GLUE
The Chinese believe that touching anything with glue or adhesive can cause the baby to develop an unsightly birthmark on the face. This can also cause the birth to be very difficult.
NEVER GO OUT OR GIVE BIRTH DURING SUN OR MOON ECLIPSE
A solar or lunar eclipse is considered very bad luck. You must never look at an eclipse! Expectant mothers are advised not to go outside or schedule any births during an eclipse. Babies born during an eclipse are considered a bad omen.
NO USING HAMMERS OR TOOLS
Do not knock the wall or heavy furniture as doing so can result ugly birthmarks on the baby. If you strike an animal during pregnancy, the newborn child will look and behave like that animal.
DO NOT SIT BY THE DOORSTEP
In Indonesia and rural parts of Malaysia, sitting by the doorstep or on the foot of the stairs while pregnant is believed to tempt wandering spirits to enter into the womb and cause labour difficulties!
AVOID FUNERALS
The Chinese believe that pregnant mothers and newborns should NOT go anywhere near funerals or cemeteries. These are places filled with spirits that can easily attach themselves to a developing foetus or a small infant! If you must go, the convention is to tie a red ribbon around the baby bump together with a strong amulet!
CANNOT USE SCISSORS
Avoid placing sharp objects such as knives or scissors on or near the bed. In fact, the expecting mother should refrain from using scissors even to cut paper or cloth. Doing so can result in the baby being born with a cleft lip. Sometimes this can lead to the baby getting scarred.
NO GRANDMAS IN THE DELIVERY ROOM, PLEASE!
The pregnant woman’s mother can be present at delivery of the first child, but should not be there for subsequent children.
WEDDINGS & LARGE PARTIES CAN BE TOO MUCH!
The Chinese believe that weddings and large parties can cause their foetus to meet up with jealous ghosts that cause miscarriages or deformities. Avoid them towards the last trimester.
