There are countless pregnancy superstitions, and they don't just concern the supposed gender of the baby or the upcoming birth. There are also those related to the baby itself, or, for example, its appearance. What did our grandmothers and great-grandmothers believe in years past?
Pregnancy: A Blessed State Full of Superstitions and Beliefs
If a woman announced that she was expecting a child, all the aunts and grandmothers would immediately start observing. It was once believed that a woman's appearance, her growing belly, or even what she craved could reveal much about the baby's gender.
It was believed that a girl would be born if the expectant mother:
- "Lost her beauty" (the daughter takes away the mother's beauty);
- Gained a lot of weight, especially in the hips and buttocks;
- Experienced morning sickness and had a constant craving for sweets;
- Had a round belly that was positioned quite low.
On the other hand, it was said that a woman was pregnant with a boy if she:
- Became more beautiful and hardly gained any weight;
- Experienced evening sickness;
- Craved sour snacks (e.g., pickles);
- Had a high-positioned belly.
What Can and Can't Be Done During Pregnancy?
It turns out that superstitions and beliefs regarding the baby's gender are not the only ones. Pregnant women were subject to a long list of prohibitions and rules. For example, the expectant mother could not hang laundry, as the baby might get tangled in the umbilical cord, nor could she wear belts (for the same reason); she was also not allowed to walk under a ladder, as it was believed to bring bad luck during childbirth.
Additionally, if a woman wore makeup during pregnancy, she could be sure that her child would go down the wrong path in the future. And if she dyed her hair and was touched by a ram, the child was believed to be born red-haired and curly.
Equally interesting is the superstition that if a woman screams during childbirth, she will have more children because she is calling them in this way.
