When it comes to pregnancy, we’ve all heard the old wives’ tales and popular myths. Interestingly enough, many of these can be found in some way, shape or form throughout the world, while some are unique to different countries. While the myths can be misleading, many cultures have incredibly special traditions and beliefs that benefit both family and baby.
Boy or Girl? Popular Myths
Many myths exist around determining a baby’s gender, especially because they predate the technology we have now that predicts the sex of the baby early into pregnancy. These include how a mother looks, how she carries her baby and if she experiences morning sickness.
“Girls steal away their mothers’ beauty. By contrast, if a pregnant woman grows more attractive through her pregnancy, she can thank the little boy in her womb,” Britannica.com cites a common myth. However, this is just a coincidence as surging hormones and less sleep usually have more to do with symptoms like acne, dark circles and other stressors.
Another myth suggests that the way a mother carries her baby determines the gender.
“Conventional wisdom says, if a woman carries her baby high in the uterus and her stomach has a round appearance, she is expecting a girl. Likewise, most individuals say a boy is carried low and relatively more sideways,” said University of Arkansas Medical System General Obstetrics.
“Although male babies tend to be bigger, that shouldn’t affect the way they lay within the uterus. How a woman carries a child during pregnancy is more dependent on the mother’s uterus, rather than the gender of the baby.”
Finally, people swear that women carrying females tend to experience more morning sickness than those with boys. While there have been some small studies linking extreme forms of morning sickness and carrying a female, there is no conclusive evidence suggesting that it’s true.
Other Popular Myths
Certain cultures suggest that a pregnant woman should avoid stepping over ropes to avoid a nuchal cord, where the umbilical cord is wrapped around baby’s neck, according to Britannica.com.
Another myth is that moms should avoid spicy foods so that the baby’s eyes don’t burn in the womb, which could cause blindness. Blindness can also be risked if a mom cuts her hair during pregnancy.
Of course, none of these myths are based on any scientific facts and are just superstitions that have been passed along for generations.
Finally, one of the more popular myths suggests that the lunar cycle can affect childbirth frequency. We have all heard that a “full moon” results in more childbirths. “Even some medical staff who work in labor and delivery wards believe this one, possibly reinforcing in the popular mind the plausibility for an actual connection. Despite extensive investigation, however, scientists have yet to identify an association between full moons and birth rates,” said Britannica.com.
Cultural and Global Traditions
While myths and superstitions abound across the world, many cultures also have special traditions to celebrate mom and baby. Several cultures emphasize the postpartum period as a way for new moms to rest and rejuvenate. Studies have shown that an emphasis on mom easing into motherhood (also known as the fourth trimester) helps improve physical and mental health as well as allowing parents and baby to bond, according to Stanford Medicine.
“[In Latin America,] to help ease them into motherhood, moms observe la cuarentena (“quarantine”) — a 40-day period when they recuperate from labor by abstaining from sex, physical activity and spicy foods,” said TheBump.com. “To let them rest and focus on caring for their infant, female relatives and friends pitch in with household responsibilities like cooking, cleaning and taking care of other children.”
Postpartum gifts are a popular tradition in many cultures, whether delivered by family or the government itself. For example, in Finland, “since the 1930s, new moms in Finland have received the ultimate care package from the state, filled with baby necessities like clothes, diapers, bedding, bibs and a first aid kit, all in a cardboard box that can do double duty as a crib,” said TheBump.com.
In Nigeria, “on the seventh day for a Yoruba girl and the ninth day for a boy, they’re given water (to have no enemies), palm oil (for a smooth, stress-free life), kola nut (for a long and healthy one) and salt and pepper (to keep things exciting and spicy).
Postpartum care [includes] a baby’s first bath, given to him by his grandmother. This first washing symbolizes that the mother isn’t alone is raising her child, and that the community will always be there to help her.”
Incorporating Different Traditions
While you may have your own traditions, you can always borrow some ideas from other cultures and adopt them as your own. Here are some special traditions from around the world:
• Tree of Life: According to Cordblood.com, in Ireland, they plant a tree to mark the baby’s birth. Visit Irishcentral.com to figure out which tree aligns with your child’s birth month.
• Protective charms: Many cultures use charms to help protect babies from “mal de ojo,” or the evil eye. I received a bracelet with this charm when I was a baby, in keeping with my mom’s Cuban culture. In Israel, Jewish folklore details a red string to ward off that evil eye, which can also be attached to a baby’s crib, according to CordBlood.com. Finally, in Ethopia, it is customary for newborns to be given bracelets or necklaces blessed by a priest and worn by the baby to “fend off evil spirits and negative energies,” said FirstCryParenting.com.
• In China, for 30 days after birth, moms rest with regular massages and food carefully selected for the mother to “balance the yin and yang in their bodies,” said Goodcells.com. After that period, families will throw a party known as “a Red Egg and Ginger Party” to celebrate their new arrival. Eggs are dyed red and given to the parents to symbolize prosperity and good fortune, and ginger is served in meals because of its healing properties, according to Givejoy.com.
• Bali has several interesting traditions for new babies, including a placenta ceremony where family members clean, package, wrap with cloth and bury the placenta outside. The placenta is considered to be a twin to the newborn and contains a protective spirit, according to ThreadsofLife.com. In addition, they do not allow babies’ feet to touch the ground for 210 days after birth, said ParentCircle.com. Once they do, they are considered to have crossed “over into the earthly realm.”
Whether you borrow these traditions, or make your own for your family, it’s always special to celebrate a new baby and your new family as well.
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