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Filipino Traditional Beliefs in Pregnancy


I’ve got two kids already and I’ve heard a lot of traditional beliefs that my folks passed on me when I got pregnant. It somehow affects an expectant mom’s life because the restrictions are made and it created confusion and fear.

When I got married, my husband and I moved to a new house right beside my in-laws’. My mother-in-law is a native of Cagayan province and she grew up with a numerous myths and beliefs that she used to tell me when I got pregnant until I gave birth to my youngest child. Unfortunately, she passed away when my youngest is only 3 months old.

Here are some of them that I’m sure some other moms out there also knew:


  • ·    Do not eat dried fish (tuyo), sardines and eggplant because your baby’s skin might be flaky.

  • ·    If you want a girl, sleep on the left side of your husband and to the right if you want a boy. (It is definitely not true! I did sleep on the left side of my husband every single night because we want a girl but obviously, I got two boys.) 

  • ·   Do not sleep with your arms raised over your head because you’ll never get enough breast milk the moment you gave birth.

  • ·   Do not scrub your neck and armpit while taking a bath because it might get dark forever.

  • ·   When you are pregnant, your baby is a girl if pregnancy hasn’t changed any on your looks and if you became a little ugly and dark, it is most likely a boy. (Whaaaat???!)

  • ·    When your tummy gets itchy, scratch it a little with a comb so you don’t get stretch marks.

  • ·    Do not let your husband put a towel around his nape because your baby’s umbilical chord might curl up on its neck.

  • ·    Do not do a house renovation or even a little house reconstruction while you are still pregnant because you’ll have a difficult pregnancy.

  • ·    When you finally gave birth, your placenta must be buried together with a pencil and a book so that your child will be smart and intelligent.

  • ·    Do not take a bath for ten consecutive days after you gave birth because you might get sick in the head or might die. (I’m sure the doctors will get mad at you after you acquire infections because of it)

  • ·    Eat lots of malunggay leaves because it will increase your breast milk production. Well, it is already scientifically proven because malunggay has a component that could increase your breast milk production.



Some of these Filipino traditional beliefs have no actual proof yet that it is true but it is up to us if we’re going to follow them. In my point of view, I only follow doctor’s orders because in the first place, our health and the life of the baby inside us is the most important thing that we should consider.






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