Making Babies around the World - Pregnancy Cultural Customs

Here in US there are many practices pregnant and new mums follow - eating special foods and waiting a month after the birth to shower. As many of these customs are well known to our readers, I thought it would be interesting to share with our readers other cultural customs related to pregnancy.

Japanese Customs

What to eat: Japanese women are very conscious of their diet, being sure to 1 on too much or too little, during their pregnancy.

What not to eat: Many Japanese believe eating sweet foods will hinder the baby's bone formation and that spicy foods will unsettle the baby's soul; and that sour foods will harm the baby's skin.

Rituals: During the fifth month of pregnancy the family will visit a priest to pray for a safe birth called an "annzan". The priest gives the mum-to-be a white sash that features a picJure-of a dog (from the oriental zodiac calendar). The dog symbolises an easy, safe birth. The sash is also wrapped under the belly for support.

The delivery: Some Japanese believe childbirth is a natural process that no pain relief should be administered. Keeping with this, delivering mothers are taught not to scream or yell during labour, but apparently grunting is acceptable. After discharged from the hospital, the mother and baby often stay at the mother's parents' home for a month, remaining in bed with the baby for 21 days. When guests visit during this period they join the family in eating the celebratory food osekihan (red rice with red beans).

To encourage breastfeeding: Mochi (sticky rice cake) is believed to increase lactation.

Just plain weird ...

Pregnant women should clean their toilet daily for a healthy and good looking baby. If a pregnant woman looks at fire their child will be born with a birthmark. Pregnant women are discouraged from eating any seafood with claws such as crabs or lobsters because it is was believed it will cause the child to become a thief. Ginger root is also forbidden because the baby may grow extra fingers or toes that protrude like the fingers of the root. Japanese families often save the umbilical cord in a wooden box.

Indian Custom

During the seventh month of pregnancy Hindu first time mums engage in the "Godh Bharna" celebration. At the celebration the mother and mother-in-law of the mum-to-be fill her sari with items symbolising good omens like a coconut marked with a red swastika, moong (split bean), supari (betel nut) and silver coins. Like Japanese mothers who use their Sarashi (long, winding strip of cloth) to speed up weight loss and toning of the abdominal muscles and skin after childbirth, many Indian new mums use their sari to bind their stomach after delivery. This binding is also believed to promote good posture during breastfeeding, reposition the womb and eliminate stretch marks.

From around the globe - a mixed bag of pregnancy customs

What not to eat: Spanish mums-to-be are not allowed cucumbers or spicy food as they believe it will give the fetus wind.

Rituals: Spanish women, like Chinese, are told to stay inside for 40 days and avoid baths and hair washes - both for her and her child.

Delivery options: Hulda Thorey, mother of three and midwife, says in her native country, Iceland (like Germany and the Netherlands) most women want to have a natural birth. Hulda says in Iceland only around 25% of women use any pain relief medication. Cesarean rates are also very low in her home country, at approximately 20%.

Most expectant moms in Holland don't see an obstetrician at all during the pregnancy, but are instead referred by their family doctor to a midwife. A pregnant woman only sees a doctor in high-risk cases or if complications arise during delivery. In many countries, such as Holland, women are free to decide whether they want a home or hospital delivery.

To encourage breastfeeding: In Iceland (and many other European countries) breastfeeding is definitely the accepted norm, says midwife Hulda, "Iceland has very high breastfeeding rates and the duration usually lasts for several months."

In Columbia new mums are encouraged to drink as much fennel tea as possible.