According to folk belief, to ensure the baby's health, one must adhere to the following pregnancy taboos.
In folklore, there are many taboos surrounding pregnancy. Mothers-to-be, take note!
Pregnancy Superstition 1: Pregnant women should not attend funerals
Explaining this issue, Dr. Vũ Duy San – Department of Anatomy (Hanoi University Hospital) stated that Doctors often advise pregnant women to limit attending funerals because they fear the cold air from the deceased affecting the health of the mother and fetus. Folk wisdom has long been wary of the cold air in the home of the newly deceased, and this phenomenon is indeed real. Falling ill due to exposure to cold air is common, especially for those with low immunity, high blood pressure, pregnant women, and those with weak resistance... Cold air is a sign of a contaminated environment due to the spread of the deceased's body. When someone dies, their body emits a type of cold air that easily causes chills. Therefore, pregnant women should take note of this to avoid affecting their health when attending funerals, especially in the first and last three months of pregnancy.
Pregnant women should avoid attending funerals because witnessing grief, loss, etc., can affect their health. In cases where pregnant women cannot avoid funerals, they can chew raw ginger, drink a little garlic wine, or consume betel leaves before and after the funeral. This method helps pregnant women boost their immunity and resist cold air.
Pregnancy Superstition 2: Pregnant women should not squat when their belly is large
According to Dr. Phạm Thị Thái, squatting will affect the lower abdomen of pregnant women. In addition, pregnant women should pay attention to the water temperature when washing their hair, ensuring safe bathing without affecting the fetal temperature, which should be between 37 – 40ºC.

Pregnant women should avoid squatting
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Pregnancy Superstition 3: Pregnant women should not cut their hair
According to folklore, if you cut your hair, you will shorten the child's life. But there is no evidence to prove that cutting hair is harmful. Just be careful not to come into contact with hair dye. Although it is claimed that good hair dye will not have any negative effects, you still need to be cautious to avoid affecting the fetus.

Pregnancy Superstition: Avoid cutting hair
Pregnancy Superstition 4: Delay sharing good news for as long as possible
Another pregnancy taboo is to delay sharing your good news, especially if the pregnancy is less than 3 months old. This stems from the high infant and fetal mortality rates in the past. You shouldn't loudly announce it, especially on social media like Facebook, right from the first day of pregnancy, but you also shouldn't keep it completely hidden until childbirth.
> Learn more: Can pregnant women eat guava? Warning signs of gestational diabetes for mother and baby
Pregnancy Superstition 5: Avoid knitting or weaving
During pregnancy, you are advised not to knit, weave, or engage in anything that may lead to the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby's neck. This taboo stems from the concern that when women knit, they often become very focused and forget about everything else. They tend to sit still in one position, which is not good for the health of both the mother and the baby.

Pregnancy Superstition: Avoid knitting during pregnancy
Pregnancy Superstition 6: Do not buy baby items before the 8th month
According to folk beliefs, if you buy baby items too early, the baby may leave you. This belief stems from coincidences where many babies experience miscarriage or stillbirth. While there is no evidence to confirm this, many families still adhere to this principle.
Pregnancy Superstition 7: Avoid dining together with another pregnant woman
This belief suggests that dining with another pregnant woman can cause your baby to arrive earlier than expected, which is not good.
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