A child feeding the pigeons in Shijiazhuang, China
Last year I taught at a University in China and for as long as I can remember I have ALWAYS wanted to adopt from China and adopt children in general. China is full of tradition, so I chose to look at what traditions are performed during pregnancy and birth and after the baby is born verses what traditions I know about here in the US.
When a man and women get married in China, it is tradition to have him carry her across the doorway over a pan of burning coals (this is suppose to allow for an easy labor) (Brown, 2011). Carring a woman across the threshold in America is common, although it is not thought of as to help with labor.
It is believed that everything women do will influence her unborn child. She will read good poetry, beautiful stories before bed and eat light colored food (it is thought that light colored food will produce a baby with fair-skin, something that is valued in China). The soon to be mother is not to laugh too loudly, lose her temper, sit on a crooked mat, there is not to be construction in the house and is to never attend a funeral (Brown, 2011). I believe that this is somewhat similar to the US, women generally take great care of themselves before pregnancy and during. However, some of our acts are different. We typically take pre-natal vitamins, refrain from drugs and alcohol, take to our babies, get some exercise, etc.
In China, it is unlucky to have a baby shower, typically a baby shower is given afterbirth. Mothers and Grandmothers give the soon-to-be mom clothes before the baby is born (Brown, 2011). Different from the US, most people have a baby shower pre-birth for the first child, after the first child it is typically given after the baby is born.
Herbal tea is given to ease the labor and women are not to fear labor because it is considered their job (Brown, 2011). From my knowledge in the US, women are given ice chips and an epidural. :) I believe for some women it can be very scary going into labor and I believe, that it is okay to be nervous.
Women in China often give birth in a armchair or futon (Brown, 2011), whereas in the US, if you are giving birth in the hospital it is typically in a bed.
For the first month the new mother is, somewhat, left in isolation to get to know her new baby (Brown, 2011). Where as here, I believe, it can be very much of a team effort for the first month of a new baby.
I thought a lot of these traditions were very interesting, China is full of a rich history that is based on their traditions.
Brown, L.M. (2011). Childbirth traditions around the world: china. babyzone, Retrieved from http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/labor_birth/birthing_traditions/article/childbirth-traditions-china-pg2
Hi Abby,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the story of your birth and I really admire your desire to adopt a child.
The info you shared about how women take care of themselves, and the unique things they do during pregnancy, were very interesting to learn. I think the most interesting was the eating of light colored food. It made me think about how people in our country value being tan (as the summer is around the corner, this thought came to mind). The idea of not having a baby shower until after the baby is born, was similar to what I learned when I researched Ethiopia.
Thanks again for sharing,
Julie
Abby, you have a very interesting post. I have read about some of China's traditions. One of the beliefs that caught my eye was that the Chinese are encouraged to avoid looking at anything unaesthetic like clashing colors as this too could have a negative impact on her growing child.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your findings with all of us.
Valerie
Abby,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your birth with us. And thanks for wanting to adopt! One of the traditions you wrote about regarding China reminded me of a tradition I heard through my husband's family, who are Navajo. They believe that the pregnant woman should not see any dead animals on the road or attend a funeral, because it will cause her baby to cry and cry and not sleep well. I actually went to a funeral of his family's before they knew I was pregnant and could tell me. My baby never slept through the night till she was almost a year old, and still won't take naps or go to bed in a civil manner. Many some traditions ring true!