9 Unsubstantiated superstitions from various countries about pregnancy

Pregnancy is a very special moment and people close to you try to protect the mother-to-be from even the smallest of dangers. Cautions apply to any aspect, even the most unbelievable superstitions. Many of them are unfounded, but some are based on a subconscious fear for the baby.

O awesome.club investigated the most popular superstitions and will tell you how they came about and whether they are worth following.

1. Fish should not be eaten: the child will not speak for a long time

Practically all types of fish, especially river fish, may contain parasites that are dangerous for humans. The consequences of an infection can be more serious that the simple delay in the development of the child’s speech — an aspect about which, moreover, there is no scientific evidence. However, if the fish has been cooked or frozen to −20°C, then it is possible to consume it without any danger. The exception are types that contain mercury in a high concentration: tuna, swordfish, dogfish and among others. Consumption of such fish can be dangerous for both a pregnant woman and a nursing mother and her baby.

This superstition is very common in Western Europe. A folding ladder or simply a ladder placed on the wall forms a triangle and, as is well known, is the symbol of Holy Trinity. It is believed that, by passing through this triangle, the woman destroys the Trinity, causing problems. The connotations of this superstition are part of the desire to warn a woman of injury if the ladder falls. Supposedly, in the Middle Ages, this was a very present superstition.

And not just the windows. In the former Soviet Union, people open everything they can: windows, doors, closet doors, wardrobes, boxes and jewelry boxes. It is believed that these actions can help open the cervix, which, of course, has nothing to do with reality. However, one must open all windows and doors for other reasons. While the mother and her son are in the hospital, a thorough cleaning of the environment, starting with ventilation, would avoid many problems, fighting infections.

In China, India and other countries where white skin is considered a sign of beauty, there is a belief that you can influence your baby’s skin color by eating products with light tones. Of course, the superstition also works the other way around: if you eat dark-colored food, such as drinking too much coffee and tea, you will have a darker-skinned baby as a result.

This is clearly not true: skin color depends on the combination of genes. The superstition is probably related to the fact that brightly colored vegetables and fruits often cause allergic reactions.

This superstition is prevalent in many Arab countries, also in Israel, Eastern Europe and the Philippines. It is supposed that the spirits of the ancestors can call the baby, and the baby will be born with a bad character and will cry constantly. On the other hand, there is the desire to protect the pregnant woman from the stress and sadness of visiting a deceased loved one. But, if you didn’t plan on stressing yourself out or “messing” with occult forces, why not go to the cemetery?

Among the peoples of Eastern Europe, pregnant women sometimes hung an empty egg on a thread around their neck. It was believed that if nothing happened to the egg, then everything would go well with the pregnancy. Therefore, future mothers were warned of any danger: however, it was easier to worry about preserving the egg than about the pregnancy itself.

This is an existing myth in Southeast Asia. In several regions, the fear of eating spicy things happens because, supposedly, the child will have problems with his eyes. In fact, spicy dishes that are heavily seasoned are not the best food for a pregnant woman, but for other reasons.

Firstly, spices cause a lot of appetite and contribute to weight gain. Second, some spices have medicinal properties. For example, during the period of gestation, garlic is very beneficial, but in large quantities it can cause uterine contractions and irritation of the gastrointestinal mucous membrane. And finally, eating spicy food makes you very thirsty, which can result in edema, which pregnant women often suffer from.

Doctors and midwives in Eastern European countries believe in this superstition a lot and even they let down the hair of women who are about to give birth. They say that helps open the cervix. Yoga puts it this way: the womb is energetically connected with the mouth and lips, the face is still tense when the hair is not loose, and for the cervix to open you must relax completely.

Furthermore, this superstition has another explanation. If, during childbirth, a woman is in intensive care, her hairstyle should not prevent her from lying on her back. However, lately, it is customary to put disposable caps on women for hygiene reasons. So medical teams worry less about bacteria.

In the past, it was considered that a pregnant woman had to eat whatever her body asked for. That, in a nutshell, meant the lack of something in her body. This superstition is still held in many places, even here in Brazil — it is believed that the baby will be born with a physiognomy similar to the food that the pregnant woman stopped eating.

In Ghana, it is believed that if the mother-to-be does not eat what she wants, then the baby will be born with a sprained neck. In Italy, Turkey, Greece and Egypt fear that the newborn’s body will have a birthmark. In Armenia, they say the baby will be selfish when it grows up.

Current medicine advises planning your meals more consciously: you don’t need several more calories. The desire to eat something inedible is related to mental disorders and can be dangerous, since in this case the content of the “product” and its influence on the body are unpredictable. In matters of nutrition, the mother-to-be should trust her own common sense and the advice of her doctor.

Do you know any other crazy superstitions about pregnancy? Share with us!