Chinese Pregnancy Myths/Tales

Hello Ladies...

As many of you know that I'm originally from Indonesia, so nationality-wise, I'm Indonesian, but racial & cultural wise I'm Chinese... You must be wondering, how did a Chinese end up in Indonesia?

Well, I'll tell ya a short story, my great-great grandfather was from China, at that time, when he was in his 20s, he faced a terrible poverty and barely survived in his country, so he decided to sail across to an Island, that finally became Indonesia, started a simple yet fulfilling life there.. He started farming and never left Indonesia ever... One generation became two then became three then here I am... An Indonesian with a strong Chinese culture :)

When my mother found out I was pregnant, I was forced to absorb so many ridiculous Chinese-Pregnancy myths/tales.. Something that I think it doesn't make a very good sense and of course no-logic behind it, I mean like totally!!

It's understandable if you heard about supposedly, a pregnant woman should not color her hair, well.. it maybe has something to do with the bad chemical left on her scalp or..

It's also understandable if you heard about, a no-no back-sleeping position for a pregnant woman..

I guess my list on the understandable pregnancy tales or myths go on and on, more & more.. At least it's Understandable why is there such a myth!!

Okay, I get back to my points when I was told ridiculous things I should NOT do when I'm expecting a baby, most of it, I got those myths or tales from my Mama... and of course, there's totally NO LOGIC at all... I just got to follow what my Mama told me to do.. ya never know if it's spiritually a good thing when I follow those rules, oh well!!

FIRST, a pregnant woman SHOULD NOT ever shift her bed, it's a big NO-NO... meaning that my bed position is untouchable, I can't shift it at all, not even 1mm. My husband is prohibited to shift the bed too.. Well it's not only applicable to a bed but to all furnitures in this house, including, table, sofa, drawer, etc...

SECOND, a pregnant woman and her whole family members living in the same house SHOULD NOT ever do any hammering or anything related to fixing a house or knocking something using hammer and nails.. It's a big NO-NO...

THIRD, a pregnant woman SHOULD NOT do any sewing on her bed, period!

FOURTH, a pregnant woman SHOULD NOT cut her hair! I was extremely shocked when I heard this from my mama, GEEZ!! I have made myself so UNGLAMOUROUS! My super long hair is reaching my butt bone real soon and it's totally gross!! Oh Mama!!

FIFTH, a pregnant woman SHOULD NOT eat cooling fruits like orange, papaya, banana, mango, watermelon, pear, pineapple, lime, lemon, sugar cane, etc, anything cooling! No herbal tea too!! Basically it's a NO-NO to eat any cooling foods! I find it ridiculous, fruits are very healthy, full of fibres & vitamins and most of the fruits I am not allowed to eat when I'm pregnant!

SIXTH, a pregnant woman and her family members living in the house SHOULD NOT move out to a new place during her pregnancy, period!! No matter what, no moving house!

SEVENTH, NO baby shopping (baby clothes, baby bed, etc) until the 8th month of pregnancy, baby stuff can only be bought one month before delivery.. No baby name picked too until the very last month of pregnancy.. Too bad, I can not do my baby shopping earlier when my bump is still tiny, every time I see cute baby clothes, I can only say "Awwwww", I'm going to get that later!!

Here we go, those are what I heard from my Mama, funnily she didn't mentioned that pregnancy should not be announced before 3 months to non-family members!

Although, it doesn't make any sense, but I respect my culture no matter what... It's amazing that it has been passed from one generation to another generation for thousands of years and even in this century, we still hear myths like that!!

Share with me what are your pregnancy tales or myths? I'm interested to hear interesting myths or tales from other cultures too

Loves,
Netty