Cultural myths about pregnancy: Culture’s role in expectations

saludifyBy Hope Gillette, Saludify

Cravings for pickles and ice cream, daily morning sickness, and ravenous hunger are just a few of what researcher Danielle Bessett, an assistant professor of sociology, calls “cultural mythologies of pregnancy,” tidbits of knowledge that come–not from a medical provider–but from years of media exposure, family influences and rumors floating around social circles.

Bessett told Saludify she uses the term “mythologies” to capture the fragmentary knowledge about what happens in pregnancy that goes unrecognized by most pregnant women.  This shouldn’t imply that the myths were false or untrue, but rather that they formed women’s expectations without their being aware of it.

“…Some drew heavily from ethnic-religious traditions, while others had little or no personal experience with pregnancy,” said Bessett in a university press release. “Some had complicated reproductive histories. Depending on these varied biographical and structural locations, women affirmed, grieved, critiqued and contested key aspects of pregnancy mythology.”

What Bessett found in her research was women who were expecting certain aspects of pregnancy–like outlandish cravings–sometimes became concerned when they didn’t happen, assuming something was wrong with the fetus.

In addition, women tend to focus on cultural myths about pregnancy and become surprised when normal, lesser-known symptoms (like nosebleeds) occurred.

Pregnancy mythologies both gave women pleasure and caused anxiety, explained Bessett.  Many women looked forward to cravings, for example, and interpreting symptoms such as this as a reflection of their fetus’s preferences.  But not having an expected symptom could cause women to worry about the well-being of their baby, which in turn could cause anxiety.

“Overall, pregnancy mythologies tended to be romanticized, and women tended to be surprised by more unpleasant or painful pregnancy symptoms,” she said. “This could cause anxiety for individual women if they experienced what they feared was a problem, but–at a broader social level–it also may contribute to an erosion of policies that can support and accommodate women’s varied reproductive experiences.”

Hispanic women, for example, are one demographic represented in the research where cultural myths about pregnancy came into play.

The University of Hawai’i indicates Latin American women have an extensive belief system when it comes to pregnancy and cultural myths about pregnancy include:

  • “Hot” foods should be avoided during pregnancy as it will make a baby more susceptible to rashes.
  • Odorous foods are often avoided during pregnancy to ensure the baby will not have bad body odors.
  • Eating sesame soup and cream will produce better breast milk.
  • Staying active during pregnancy will produce a child with a good temperament.
  • To avoid labor complications with the umbilical cord, pregnant women do not wear anything around their necks.
  • Older female relatives are seen as a primary source of pregnancy advice for Hispanic women.
  • Women who are excessively tired and gain a lot of weight during pregnancy are thought to be having a girl, as the girl will drain the beauty from the mother.
  • Talismans are affixed to clothing to prevent malformations in the infant.
  • Intercourse for Hispanic women is often halted during pregnancy because it is thought to be harmful to the baby.

While many of the cultural myths about pregnancy for Latinas can prove beneficial by Western medical standards–like being active–some may cause feelings of guilt due to cultural expectations.

A child born with a genetic issue, for example, may cause the mother to blame herself for something ultimately out of her control.

For this reason, it is important for all women to know what to expect during pregnancy as advised by a medical doctor. This will alleviate the concern mothers have that their physical symptoms are manifestations of what a fetus feels or is undergoing.

“Whether pleasurable, inconvenient or debilitating, pregnancy symptoms are not simply treated as pregnancy side effects in our culture, but rather as a significant connection to fetus and fetal subjectivity,” said Bessett in the press release. “Many symptoms were frequently seen as tangible manifestations of the fetus’s desires, needs or personal characteristics.”

Despite the important role cultural myths about pregnancy played for women in the test group, Bessett tells Saludify belief in these pregnancy mythologies was not associated with a lack of prenatal care or lower [medical] attendance.

Women reported doctors as their top information sources for specific information about pregnancy; mythologies were a different kind of knowledge that informed their broader expectations.

This article was first published in Saludify.

Hope Gillette is an award winning author and novelist. She has been active in the veterinary industry for over 10 years, and her experience extends from exotic animal care to equine sports massage.

[Photo by Etolane]

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