Chinese Health Beliefs About Pregnancy
There’s no doubt that the Chinese have their own set of health beliefs. These include not eating pineapple, as it is believed to cause miscarriage.
Women are also discouraged from attending weddings while pregnant. This is because it’s considered unlucky to touch the bride. It’s also thought to bring bad luck to the baby.
1. They don’t want to attract bad luck
Pregnancy comes with a lot of superstitions in China. For example, a pregnant Chinese woman is never supposed to rub her belly, as this is believed to invite evil spirits and ghosts into the child’s life. This is also why you can’t find a Chinese woman at a funeral when she’s pregnant; it is believed that this will disturb the spirits of the deceased and cause the baby to suffer. The same is true for a pregnant Chinese woman who uses glue, as this is seen as very unlucky.
4. They don’t want to get sick
Pregnancy is a big deal in China and Chinese people take many precautions to ensure the health of both mother and child. In many families, women are forbidden to eat foods deemed “cold” or poisonous during pregnancy. They are also discouraged from drinking alcohol and smoking for fear of losing their babies.
It is considered unlucky for someone to tap a pregnant woman on the shoulder, and it is not unusual for a family member to keep an eye on her at all times. They may even prepare special food to ward off miscarriage.
While Hong Kong is renowned for its safe maternity services, it’s not uncommon for women in mainland China to travel to the city to receive them. This is especially true since immigration rules now allow most women to come to Hong Kong on tourist visas, and the booming business of maternity tours makes it easy for tour companies to sell packages that include transport, accommodation in serviced flats near hospitals with obstetric units, and help getting to hospital during labour.
5. They don’t want to have a miscarriage
When a woman becomes pregnant, her family members try to protect her for fear of a miscarriage. They may even avoid touching her for fear of causing a bad effect on the baby. For instance, if someone taps her on the shoulder or brushes against her while she’s walking down the street, it would be considered very unlucky because it could cause her to miscarry.
A Chinese mother, Li Yue, recently captured the hearts of social media users after her story went viral. Li has two uteruses and cervixes, which is called uterine didelphys, a rare condition that affects about 1 in 2,000 women. Her condition has caused her to experience a lot of pain and complications. However, she has been able to keep her twins alive thanks to the support of her husband and parents.
