Chinese Pregnancy
Chinese PregnancyTraditionally in China, when once people got married, they wouldimmediately get ready for having a baby. That is why symbolicthings such as dolls or lotus seeds would be put on the beds ofthe newly weds on their wedding day...
... so as to bring in themeaning of having a baby as soon as possible.When once a married woman becomes pregnant, things for the babywill start to be prepared. Prams, cot, baby clothes, etc will bereadily prepared to welcome the arrival of the new born.>From now on, the health of the mother is of utmost importance.Therefore, the mother should reduce her workload, eat healthily,and employ prenatal education. Prenatal education has come intobeing for over 2000 years in China. It was believed that a goodpregnant mother should eat only meat which was cut only insquare cubes, sit only on properly built chairs, walkunswingingly, talk softly, etc. By doing so, the foetus would beable to learn the most valued virtues. Although in present daysthe above mentioned practice is no longer common, pregnant womenin China still behave very carefully so as not to do anythingwhich affects the foetus. Still now most people believe that thestructure of the house or flat should not be changed while awoman in the house is pregnant since it will cause the foetus nogood but harm.The first month after giving birth The first month after givingbirth is very important for a mother. She needs the most restand the best nutrition. Otherwise, her body will not be able torecover and can easily get ill. In this month, she can't gooutdoors, can't be exposed to wind, can't wash with cold water,can't drink cold water, can't read books etc. However, if amother really has to wash herself, she should do so by usingwater boiled with dried ginger skin. In some places in China, amother must not wash her hair because otherwise she will get achronic headache.Compared to the west, western women can leave home after a weekof giving birth and can go to work after two weeks. It isunimaginable in China. In China, after giving birth, a woman should eat plenty of fishsoup and pig knuckle soup. The pig knuckle soup is boiled for along time with ingredients such as a lot ginger, eggs, pigknuckles in plenty of sweet black vinegar. It is believed thatthis soup can compensate for the loss of calcium and othernutrients needed by the body. It is a tradition to give out andshare such soup to friends and relatives but one can only do sotwelve days after the baby is born. Chicken is also ideal formeals after giving birth. In order to help a mother to recoverfrom giving birth, it is recommended that she should eat ricecooked with ginger daily since it can enhance all bodilycirculation. Apart from the above, it is also a tradition thatafter the baby has been born for one lunar month, eggs dyed redshould be given to friends and relatives. However, anythingsalty should be avoided since it will hinder the production ofbreast milk of a mother. It is only after the baby has weaned then the mother can startconsidering controlling her body weight. Some practices may seem quite unimaginable. However, they arestill practiced in most places in China. Even in Hong Kong,women would follow the above traditions as long as familyexpectations are involved.
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