pregnant in the philippines. debunking the myths.

i like talking to people about my pregnancy and as much as i appreciate tips and opinions from people who are really concerned, sometimes it just puts me right off. who doesn't get annoyed by intrusive and unsolicited advice? it wouldn't be half as bad if the tips were really helpful - but those that have no scientific basis or are just downright mythological really get on my nerves. to add to that, people who give them just seem to have an air that they know it all - and that i don't. when people tell me, "hoy, you're not supposed to do that. that's bad for your baby." i feel like telling them off, "hello. can i be that stupid to do something to harm my baby? as if i don't know anything. if you must know, i prepare for my baby. i read. i ask questions from reliable people so i don't end up giving incorrect and unsolicited shit to other pregnant women too." *yes. i can be a btch* ;)

here are some of the most out of this world advice i've ever encountered (as in bordering on tinu-ohan na sa buktot, as they say.)

1. ayaw kaligo sa hapon or gabie kay panuhoton ka unya sakit pagpanganak. (don't take a bath in the afternoon or in the evening because it will cause panuhot it will really be painful when you give birth.) first things first. those ‘knots’ or ‘panuhot’ which they say is caused by air or cold when you take a bath in the afternoon or in the evening is called Myofascial Pain Syndrome. cold air or water or taking a bath has nothing to do with it. a knot, panuhot, or trigger point, is a small mound of muscle that is lacking nerve impulses and circulation. and no, even if one does have Myofascial Pain Syndrome (which is just a fancy term for muscle pain) it does exactly not cause the pain in childbirth. there will always be pain in childbirth - the cervix dilates, the uterus contracts. how can there be no pain in that? the things is, women have varying pain thresholds and different ways of managing pain. her overall health, physical stregnth and the position of the baby, anxiety may be determine how much pain she may feel during childbirth - and trust me, it's not caused by taking a bath in the afternoon. or the evening. moreover, being pregnant in the tropics brings its own set of challenges. increased metabolism + baby + increased blood volume = more heat generation. and overheating can be dangerous to both the mummy and the baby. guess what helps in bringing down body temperature (aside from staying indoors and drinking lots of water)? taking showers - whether it be in the morning, afternoon or evening. so go figure.
2. pag purong/kalo kung mu gawas sa balay kung gabie kay panuhoton ka. (wear a cap or turban over your head when going out at night because you'll get panuhot - again.) this brings us back to the panuhot or cold air theory. i suppose they believe that the cold will enter your system through the holes in your scalp? now, i don't think i still need to take that any further.
3. constantly eating or drinking cold food/drinks (ex. ice cream/juice/coke) will make your baby bigger. food or drink temperature has nothing to do with how the baby grows. what makes the baby bigger are the extra calories you take in. i think we have this myth because most of the pregnant women who like eating ice cream or drinking soda to the point of excess have big babies. (read, ice cream = too much sugar, too much calories.) again, it's not because of the cold - it's because of the extra calories you get from what you eat. even if you all you eat are non-cold food, so long as they're sugar and calorie laden -you're gonna have a big baby.
4. the food you crave for determines the color of your baby. love eggplants? = dark baby. constant buko craving? = white baby. now who would fall for this? the color of your baby is determined by you and your partner's genes, no other explanation. even if your both dark skinned there is a chance that you have a fair skinned baby if you have family members who are fair skinned. iron supplements can also give you a darker baby.

to be continued..(because it's really hot and i have to take a bath - again. hehehe.

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