Pregnancy Taboos in China

There is a belief referenced in memes and TikTok videos that Chinese women don’t get pregnant and instead lay eggs. This is based on several Chinese beliefs and superstitions influenced by Taoism, Confucianism, and traditional Chinese medicine.

This stigma is hammered in by China’s state-run media. It can even hurt a woman’s career as many have been sidelined, demoted or replaced upon returning from maternity leave.

1. It’s taboo

Pregnancy taboos in China include a variety of restrictions and beliefs on what the pregnant woman should and shouldn’t do. These taboos are based on the belief that a pregnant woman’s behavior and emotions have an impact on her unborn child. For example, a Chinese woman is advised not to cut her hair because it’s believed that the hair can steal nutrients from the baby. Also, it’s important for a pregnant woman to stay happy, because the negative emotions such as worry, fear and anger can harm the fetus.

In addition, some taboos are based on the food that pregnant women should eat. For example, it’s forbidden to eat cold foods because they are believed to break the body’s yin-yang balance. In addition, it’s important for a pregnant female to eat enough protein because it is believed that the fetus requires a lot of protein. Finally, it’s important to avoid eating anything that could potentially cause a miscarriage or fetal abnormalities. These taboos are especially prevalent among older generations.

Other pregnancy taboos include avoiding certain activities such as going to houses that have been empty for a long time because they are thought to contain unclean spirits. Also, it’s not recommended to eat fish or dog meat because they are believed to be harmful to the fetus. Finally, it’s taboo to visit places where people were injured or died because the injured persons might be buried in the ground, which is thought to be bad for the fetus.

Despite the prevalence of antenatal taboos, not all Chinese women adhere to them. Those who do observe these practices often experience adverse outcomes, such as depression in late pregnancy and during childbirth. In one study, about one-quarter and one-tenth of Hong Kong Chinese women who adhered to antenatal taboos experienced major depressive symptoms. Therefore, health-care practitioners should be aware of the complex cultural tension created by adherence to traditional antenatal taboos in contemporary society.