https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:48:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2525107 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 14:30:04 +0000 autumnlove 2525107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't follow any but my mom always talked about not raising my arms above my head and only drinking hot liquids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2525081 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 14:12:36 +0000 BSB 2525081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thankfully, no. My mom lives across the country.<br /> She did come out after the babies were born and there were certain foods I was not supposed to eat. My sister who came out at the same time would buy them for herself and give it to me. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2525065 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:57:15 +0000 PinkElephant 2525065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not Asian but my first two were born in Hong Kong. My coworkers scolded me for eating spicy food (baby would have red skin/be ugly), and when I visited clients in rural areas, no one would let me drink anything that wasn't hot (9 months pregnant in June in the subtropics!) My domestic helper (who was from the Philippines) didn't want me to eat cold fruits like watermelon or mango. My boss was really protective of me and worried about me getting tired/walking too much, but that was more just because his wife was also pregnant and he was a nice guy. :)</p> <p>Oh and he said I must be having a girl because I looked well, and girls go with the mom but boys make them look not so great. Not sure if that was his personal belief or an overarching local one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2525057 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:48:42 +0000 ineebee 2525057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents are pretty lax, but even the few things they told me not to do, I ignored it. My dad told me not to watch anything scary or sad on TV/movies. My mom told me not to sit on anything cold. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2525056 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:48:29 +0000 snowjewelz 2525056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: My mom had a huge party where tons of aunties came over and the peeled ginger and made pots and pots of the vinegar! I ate that stuff w/ pigs feet and egg for weeks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2525046 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:43:22 +0000 catlady 2525046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm only half Asian but I also definitely remember my dad saying something about funerals. Luckily, no one I know has died while I've been pregnant.</p> <p>Not a pregnancy thing, but the only other thing I can remember is that right after LO was born, my dad asked me to visit my mother's grave to formally introduce her. He said it was customary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2525043 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:41:11 +0000 PurplePumps 2525043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yikes! No more iced coffees for me!! (That was so refreshing though!) :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2525034 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:32:49 +0000 snowjewelz 2525034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: In Asian culture women shouldn't drink iced anything for that reason too to reduce cramping during periods and for overall uterine health! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2525032 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:32:05 +0000 snowjewelz 2525032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My family is pretty lax so nothing weird. I know a mom that wasn't allowed to attend a funeral b/c she was pregnant and she was really upset about it.</p> <p>All these aunties tried to push me to eat certain things and not eat other things to make sure my baby has good skin. DD came out w/ perfect skin and I didn't listen to anything they said :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2525030 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:30:42 +0000 agold 2525030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: I'm not asian, but I did do IVF and ice water was a no-no for quite a while. Something about causing the uterus to contract. I forget who told me this, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2524999 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:18:32 +0000 PurplePumps 2524999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ksnow: Oh oops! I never heard of the ice water thing.... (as I continue to gulp down my iced decaf coffee).... I wonder if iced coffee count? haha</p> <p>@sunny: She kept telling me to take it easy too. There was no rules against going to the cemetery that weekend, but she told me not to cause it was a 6 hour round trip drive and she thought the drive was too tiring, so she told me to just stay home and relax. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2524980 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:08:29 +0000 sunny 2524980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents just emphasized taking it easy. They recommended that we cancel a trip with a lot of walking and that I rest and sit as much as possible. I know most women continue to exercise during their pregnancies but I think active exercising would have given my mom a heart arrack.</p> <p>My mom had a lot more post partum rituals that seemed specifically Chinese. She didn't want me drinking anything cold (I wanted ice water after my first and she tried to get me to compromise by removing the ice). She also cooked a lot of chicken soup with wood ear and ginger vinegar with pigs trotters. After my second pregnancy I was a lot weaker and constantly cold. I actually found the food very nourishing and helpful for staying warm. So even though the pigs trotters grossed me out I ate a giant batch of them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2524970 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:02:39 +0000 Raindrop 2524970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ksnow: Oh yeah no ice water while trying to get pregnant and being pregnant for sure! :) Something about it messes up your chi I think. I totally drank ice water and stuff during these times though. Mahaha.</p> <p>I wasn't allowed to cut anything - my hobby is quilting so basically my mom forbid me from quilting while pregnant. She said that it might cut the baby. Sure ...</p> <p>Also don't get spook was a big one... one time my brother almost spooked me... and he got a mouthful from my mom. So no scary movies for me. She said that it scares the baby too and it's not good for it.</p> <p>If I think of more I'll come back and post. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2524964 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 12:58:57 +0000 ksnow 2524964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not Asian but had my first while living in Japan and a lot of restaurants would react strangely When I'd order ice water. Some<br /> Would refuse to bring it to me and give<br /> Me hot tea instead! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-moms-what-weird-rules-did-you-have-to-follow-while-pregnant#post-2524934 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 12:38:24 +0000 PurplePumps 2524934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anyone is welcome to answer, but I'm pretty sure Asians have a ton more crazy rules and superstitions than most... :grin:<br /> I told my mom I was pregnant after the second beta at exactly 4 weeks. I wanted to wait until 8 or after we saw the heart beat, but we were going to the cemetery the next day ("hang san", or tomb sweep) so I told her to make sure there wasn't any rules against that. (My cousin was pregnant during my grandfathers funeral and she wasn't allowed to go to the burial.. so just wanted to double check!)<br /> Then she tells me not to do any major house work this year!! That I can't paint or change anything drastic cause "too much change is not good now". Whaaaat??? I figured this summer would be the perfect time to finish all the outdoor work we neeed to do while we could still dedicate all our time to it. :bummed:<br /> And then she tells me I can't eat lamb now. Huh?? What's wrong with lamb!!<br /> Then I thought I remember something about not buying furniture and setting up stuff for the baby too early. And we haven't even touched on if she expects me to not leave the house for a month and all that. I feel like I have to run everything by her now otherwise she might go nuts if she finds out I did something I wasn't "supposed to". I don't totally believe, but I usually do just follow along.</p> <p>What other rules do you know of? Did you follow it all? </p>