The Adventures of Baby Arthur

by Liz & Lincoln

My unscientific opinion tells me that Chinese women have it the toughest when it comes to dealing with the incessant old wives's tails and pregnancy myths. Some of the myths or traditions undoubtedly have some merit. For example, neither mother nor child are to step foot outside the home for one month following childbirth. While under house-arrest, the mother is required to eat copious amounts of ginger, whether it be in a soup, tea, or dish. Well this could make sense - Ginger has many health benefits for digestion, circulation and more. A mother could easily need an entire month to recover after childbirth while an infant's immune system is weak. So it could be best not to go outside right?

Well there are probably dozens of other myths which make far less sense. Some of them are downright funny! Many women follow pretty much anything they hear to "err on the side of caution" and Liz was no exception to this instinct. On many occasions, a quizzical look from me was enough to make her feel better about not following something retarded. My cousin on the other hand was not as fortunate as she followed EVERY MYTH you are about to read about. What a poor poor soul!!

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor! All facts were found by speaking with doctors, other parents and researching the web. I only used reputable websites for facts and not any other blogs, posts or personal opinions.

The Myths

Myth: Do Not Eat Pineapples. Pineapples are spiky and considered poisonous. It's also cold, which is bad. Do not eat watermelon, lychees or mangoes either.

Fact: Pineapples contain a chemical called Bromelain which may bring on labor. However, you would need to drink a huge quantity for it to have any effect. Liz's OBGYN did suggest that she reduce the amount of sugar and juice intake to prevent unhealthy weight gain. Other than that, there does not appear to be any kind of medical basis for this. Rating: Stupid

Myth: Do Not Eat Seafood. They cause rashes on the baby. Do not eat snails, or the baby will drool alot.

Fact: It's a well known fact that seafood is important for a balanced diet, but certain seafoods may have elevated mercury levels and should be avoided. I'm still laughing over the snails myth! Rating: Plausible, but not because of the rashes or drooling!

Myth: Do not eat bananas or lamb because they will give the baby seizures.

Fact: I couldnt find any medical explanations for not eating bananas or lamb other than sticking to a balanced diet and making sure all meats are well cooked. Although Liz hates lamb, she did eat bananas by pound. Rating: Stupid

Myth: Do not hammer anything or do any kind of work around the house, because the baby will be ugly.

Fact: Umm. Ok, I didn't bother looking for any kind of medical explanation for this other than medical advice from Liz's doctor about not over exerting herself. Exercise is very important for a pregnant woman and cautious use of any kind of construction tool is prudent for anyone. There are about 15 Chinese explanations for this, ranging from the child's spirit floating around the house to how loud noises can be harmful for the baby. Not that it matters anyway, as if Liz would ever pick up a hammer!! Rating: Rip Roaring Laughter

Myth: Do not use scissors because it will cause a split in the baby's lip.

Fact: Keep that sharp object away from that belly! Rating: Rip Roaring Laughter

Myth: Do not cry or your baby will always cry.

Fact: Hormonal changes during and after pregnancy may lead to changes to brain chemistry and depression. Roughly 10-13% of pregnant women have been known to suffer from depression. While the crying itself may not physically cause the baby to cry more, depression certainly has an affect on everyone involved. Visit WomensHealth.gov for more information. Rating: True

Myth: No cold food or drinks. No opening the refrigerator or standing next to it. No showering for a month and only ginger baths.

Fact: I can find no medical explanation. However, the belief of the so called "hot-cold" balance within the body and the environment is centuries old in Chinese culture. After giving birth, a woman is believed to be in a cold state due do the loss of blood and needs to be replenished by keeping warm with soups, many ginger based dishes, hot ginger baths, etc. Maybe this has merit, but not taking a shower or washing your hair for 30 days is just disgusting! Rating: Yuck!

One can conclude that many myths are cultural in origin and have been passed down over the course of hundreds or thousands of years. Here is a good article on some of the differences between western and other cultures around the world. Liz did not follow a single one of those myths listed above and Baby Arthur continues to be a robust little boy!

Right or wrong, it's up to you to decide!

hfckpu67rg

Labels: health, pregnancy