Five Things Pregnant Women Can Not Do
In Chinese society, there are rules that women have to follow once pregnant. Here are the most common ones.
1. Avoid scissors
The Chinese believe that pregnant women should not handle scissors, particularly in the bedroom or near the marital bed. Although it’s practical advice on one level, as pregnant women can be notoriously clumsy, the superstition is that handling scissors will somehow disturb the unborn baby and cause birth defects such as undeveloped limbs or harelips.
2. Never touch a pregnant woman on the shoulder
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| Don't tounch the shoulder of pregnant women |
There is an acupuncture point on each side of your shoulder.Strong force at the point may result in miscarriage. Although it’s hard to avoid in the first trimester before you are showing, and even later in pregnancy from behind, and generally when someone taps you on the shoulder it’s to get your attention, so not sure quite how you’re supposed to avoid this one.
3. Look only at pictures of beautiful children
Pregnant women are supposed to look only at pictures of beautiful children, perhaps to invoke the power of the law of attraction, and ensure they give birth to a healthy beautiful baby. OK, so maybe you can’t avoid seeing ugly images for none whole months, but I have to agree with this one, it’s got to be better to immerse yourself in positive images than to dwell on the negative during what is already a stressful enough time for your body if nothing else.
4. Avoid funerals, or wear a red scarf
The flip side of the last one, I suppose, is the advice to avoid funerals, or if you have to attend one while pregnant , wear a scarf. The scarf must be red, the colour of luck, and is worn around the stomach to protect the unborn child. The mother may also wear a lucky amulet to ward off any ill effects of dealing with death while carrying life as well.
5. A pregnant woman should not touch a bride
Some families may actually discourage pregnant women from attending weddings, and if they are allowed to attend they should on no account go near or touch the bride. It’s not about bringing the happy couple bad luck, it’s about the pecking order on the wedding day. Since no one should upstage the bride, and the fetal gods guarding the pregnant woman may outrank those protecting the bride, it’s simply considered bad form for the bride to come in contact with a pregnant woman on her special day.
See also
- The Relationship between Full Moon and Birth Defects
Have you ever heard that conception on the full moon's date may cause birth defects on the baby? Here is the story.
- The Myth of the Fetal God
Don't hurt the Fetal God, the spirit next to the fetus! It is watching and protecting your unborn baby!
- Legends and Facts on Newly Delivered Women
There are many Chinese traditions on newly delivered women. Find out if they are still believable!
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