Learning about the pregnancy and childbirth beliefs from cultures around the world is nothing short of fascinating, don't you think? Whether you follow them or not, we have our "standard" ones in the U.S. -- don't tell people you're pregnant until after the first trimester, for one -- so don't you ever wonder what other unwritten protocols mamas-to-be follow? There are some truly unbelievable ones out there!
Here are 25 pregnancy beliefs from around the world.
(Note: Everyone from these cultures doesn't necessarily adhere to these beliefs.)
Image via Gary Waters/Ikon Images/Corbis
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Comments 8
I stopped reading after this
Pregnancy in the Italian Culture
Some Italians believe that once a woman begins telling people she is pregnant, she must tell everyone else right away. It's thought that if she doesn't, the baby will never speak, or won't speak for a very long time!
I'm italian, grew up in Italy, and never EVER even heard mentioning this!
But we do belives that cravings brin birthmarks
Pregnancy in Germany - The government policy is intended to wart potential ridicule of a child with a name that's too different."
Huh?
Also, the "UK belief" was common practice everywhere to determine gender before ultrasound. It's actually pretty accurate.
I live in Germany and 3 of my 5 children were born here. It's true about the list of accepted names for children. We had trouble naming my 3rd born daughter. They didn't want to accept our chosen middle name, but my husband somehow talked them into it.
I know that denying cravings won't cause birth marks, but I was told this as a child and whenever I notice a pregnant looking at something I am eating I always give it to her. Even women I don't know. They never say "no thank you" more than once. I remember the bakery owner sending one his kids running out the door with wrapped up pan ducle whenever a pregnant woman stopped to look in the window.
The Malta Belief was true for me. It rained on my wedding day and my labor with my son was very smooth and pretty quick only 11hrs.