Customs about Pregnancy Around the World

Africa A common practice among pregnant women is that of geophagia, the consumption of soil, clay, or chalk. The desire to eat soil has been perceived as a craving for the developing fetus, as well as a symptom of pregnancy. Geophagia is sometimes done to treat morning sickness.

China The parents of a pregnant woman are to send her a tray of sweets and small items of jewelry. A pregnant woman is not allowed to scratch, because scratching will cause birth marks. When a woman reaches her ninth month of pregnancy, her mother sends her rice, one rooster, and two hens (hen for easy birth; rooster for a boy; hen for a girl; rice cooked with pieces of chicken, almonds, and raisins and is sent to friends and family) Chinese women believe that if they eat pale food their baby will be fair-skinned.

Hispanic Cultures (Central American, Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Spanish) Pregnancy is desired soon after marriage. If there is a lot of nausea during pregnancy, the newborn will have a full head of hair. It is common for grandmothers to move in during the last weeks of pregnancy and for weeks following the birth. Many believe that if you don't eat the food you crave during pregnancy, your baby will have a birthmark shaped like that food. Milk is avoided because it causes large babies and difficult births. A pregnant woman exposed to an eclipse will cause the infant to have a cleft lip or palate.

India Women are considered less valuable than men, thus they are given less food; many suffer from malnutrition. Pregnant women are expected to continue manual labor throughout most of their pregnancy. Children are often very close in age, so a woman’s body hasn’t had adequate time to recover from one pregnancy before she is pregnant again.

Russia Prenatal care is expected only when the pregnant woman feels that something is wrong. Pregnant women are often protected from bad news which is believed to be harmful to the baby.

SE Asia (Cambodia, Laotian, Vietnamese) Postpartum women are to avoid raw vegetables and ice; rather they are to eat pork and beef. Bottle feeding is believed to imply higher status. Cuddling is uncommon. Babies are sniffed to show affection. In order to avoid bad luck to the family, pregnant women are to avoid weddings and funerals.

Labor – Stage 1 During Stage 1, the baby moves into the birth position, it is broken into 3 phases: Latent Phase: contractions become more frequent (5-20 minutes apart), cervix dilates to 3-4 centimeters. Active Phase: cervix dilates to 4-7 centimeters. Contractions become longer and more severe (3-4 minutes apart). Transition: cervix dilates to 8-10 centimeters. Contractions are very strong, lasting seconds and occurring every few minutes. Most women feel the urge to push during this phase.

Labor – Stage 2 This stage of labor begins when the cervix is completely opened and ends with the delivery of the baby. The second stage is often referred to as the "pushing" stage. When the baby's head is visible at the opening of the vagina, it is called "crowning."

Labor – Stage 3 The delivery of the placenta (the organ that has nourished the baby inside of the uterus).

Cesarean Section : The birth of a fetus by performing a surgical incision through the maternal abdomen and uterus.

Meet the Newborn

Head Temporarily misshapen from pressure during birth. Soft spots (fontanellas) on top and near the back of the head.

Hand and Feet Appears bluish, gets pinker as baby’s circulation system improves Look bowed or bent, thanks to the cramped quarters of the womb

Umbilical Cord Cut to 1-1 ½” and clamped after birth. Stump dries up and falls off 1-2 weeks after birth.

Face Temporarily flattened nose Milia, are immature oil glands, look like tiny white dots

Eyes At birth a baby sees at a distance of 1-12 inches Swollen, puffy, or red looking after delivery Grayish-blue eyes at birth

Size The average newborn weighs 7-8 pounds and is 20 inches long

Skin Reddened area of the skin “stork bite” Vernix, white creamy substance covering body Lanugo, fine soft hairs all over body

APGAR: Test performed at 1 and 5 minutes after birth to determine the physical condition of the newborn.

JAUNDICE: What is it? Yellow color of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by excess bilirubin in the blood. How is it caused? Occurs because bilirubin builds up faster than a newborn's liver can break it down and pass it out of the body. What is Bilirubin Red blood cells are constantly being made and broken down; bilirubin is a yellow product formed to help this process. Bilirubin is normally cleared out by the liver.

Treatments? Phototherapy is used, baby is exposed to high-intensity lights. The light helps the liver get rid of excess bilirubin in the body.

In a newborn with Jaundice, this system is not working well enough to clear all bilirubin; so babies develop a yellow color because of excess levels of bilirubin in body.

Startle (Moro) When: Birth to 3-6 months What: Triggered if baby is startled by a loud noise or if his head falls backward. Baby spreads arms and legs out widely, extends neck, and then quickly bring arms back together.

Palmar Grasp When: Birth to 5-6 months What: Place your finger or an object into your baby's open palm, which will cause a reflex grasp or grip.

Stepping When: Birth to 3 months What: Hold baby under his arms, support head, and allow feet to touch a flat surface, baby will appear to take steps and walk.

Sucking (Rooting) When: Birth to 4 months What: when an infant's cheek is stroked, baby responds by turning head in the direction of the touch and opening their mouth for feeding.