pregnancy... and traditions

[gretchen_darren 67]

PLease don't flame me, burn me, or otherwise get annoyed. BUT...... last night I noticed there are some filipino traditions different from American traditions..... so I am trying to understand some of them....

It seems in the Filipina world, the Filipina throws the baby shower? Or something like this?

I also understand there are certain foods they do and don't eat during pregnancy? Just interested to get other people's perspective..... new territory for me.... been trying to be a hubby ko for her.... lots of going to Doctors, dentists, etc. Just trying to learn... do have other questions... but trying to understand this one first.....

[Wally G! 58]

Hi Darren

So happy you are happy there with your wife and new one to come. I will ask the wife later some of the Filipina traditions, culture and believes on pregnancy.

But here are two things I looked up

http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Philippine_Beliefs_and_Superstitions

http://filipinotraditions.ph/filer/Filipino_Beliefs-Pregnancy_and_Childbirth.pdf

Edited April 17, 2012 by Wally Greene

[Hank_ 9,174]

Just asked Amy and her best friend... the best friend of the expectant mother is the one that should do the baby shower. Really no different then the norm for in the states. So Gretchen's friend there should do the baby shower.

Edited April 17, 2012 by Hank_Amy

[gretchen_darren 67]

I thought that was the case.... some interesting things.... taking pictures of her has been somewhat easy, but then again, haven't taken pictures that often..... just so family back in the Philippines could see her.

Interesting to note, she follows a lot of traditions from a "grandma" as well as "aunts" and "cousins" here in town. More so, then what the Doctor tells her. Sometimes, I find out these conversations, but oftentimes I am in the dark. I am learning that there are conversations men are not to know about as well as conversations men as just supposed to not bother inquiring about. Some days, I still put my foot in my mouth.

The local family told her she was having a girl long before even the Doctor told us. Gretchen was more into "female" things including make-up, painting her nails, perfume, styling her hair, wearing skirts, etc..... life is just so much fun.....thankfully we are not having twins...but it seems many back in the village have been wishing we were...

[Shawn C 11]

Some I didn't see in the wiki page were the ones involving how the outside environment can affect what the child looks like (touching a lighter skinned person will give their baby light skin, my ex wouldn't look at the monkeys at the zoo when she was pregnant with my daughter because she didn't want her to look like a monkey...)

[six7one 17]

I may be in this boat too I'll know today if my mahal is carrying a special present for us. I'm so excited!

[gretchen_darren 67]

Some I didn't see in the wiki page were the ones involving how the outside environment can affect what the child looks like (touching a lighter skinned person will give their baby light skin, my ex wouldn't look at the monkeys at the zoo when she was pregnant with my daughter because she didn't want her to look like a monkey...)

Now I know why she doesn't want to go to the zoo. .... but all the monkeys aren't in the zoo.... everyday you meet quite a few....

but still don't understand not wanting to go to the pool. I expect a "character" of a girl. Mahal ko and I both like 3 stoooges, stargate sg-1, spongebob, ASAP, it's showtime, and HYY. We also like Jackie Chan. There are some other differences, but when she watches her TFC shows, I just cuddle up and hold her. Maybe I pick things up, some times not.... But there are times when the baby loves to kick me.

And for lighter skinned people, lots of lighter skinned people around us, but also many Filipinos. Expect our daughter to be lighter skinned then my wife, but darker skinned then me.

six7one -- best of luck to you.... you are in for a fun ride.... just be swinging on a star

monkeys aren't in a zoo

[six7one 17]

Now I know why she doesn't want to go to the zoo. .... but all the monkeys aren't in the zoo.... everyday you meet quite a few....

but still don't understand not wanting to go to the pool. I expect a "character" of a girl. Mahal ko and I both like 3 stoooges, stargate sg-1, spongebob, ASAP, it's showtime, and HYY. We also like Jackie Chan. There are some other differences, but when she watches her TFC shows, I just cuddle up and hold her. Maybe I pick things up, some times not.... But there are times when the baby loves to kick me.

And for lighter skinned people, lots of lighter skinned people around us, but also many Filipinos. Expect our daughter to be lighter skinned then my wife, but darker skinned then me.

six7one -- best of luck to you.... you are in for a fun ride.... just be swinging on a star

monkeys aren't in a zoo

Thanks. So excited to find out in a few hours.

[kev_n_jena 89]

PLease don't flame me, burn me, or otherwise get annoyed. BUT...... last night I noticed there are some filipino traditions different from American traditions..... so I am trying to understand some of them....

It seems in the Filipina world, the Filipina throws the baby shower? Or something like this?

I also understand there are certain foods they do and don't eat during pregnancy? Just interested to get other people's perspective..... new territory for me.... been trying to be a hubby ko for her.... lots of going to Doctors, dentists, etc. Just trying to learn... do have other questions... but trying to understand this one first.....

Darren,

Here are a few things I heard during my wife's pregnancy. They're not really traditions per se.

1. Don't drink or eat cold things or your baby will be BIG!

2. If your tummy itches the baby has a lot of hair.

3. As you said, if the woman is glowing, it's a girl, if she's "poor" looking it's a boy.

4. If your neck gets dark it's a boy.

5. If you eat dark food like chocolate your baby will have dark skin.

6. When you are a young girl, if you watch a woman or animal giving birth you will have a hard labor when you give birth. Make sure to look away or cover your eyes.

We went through prenatal classes together and educated ourselves as best we could. As far as the above suggestions and ideas and many more that I can't recall, Jena always discussed them with me and we always had a good chuckle.

Good LUCK!

[A and T 82]

Difference in traditions vs crazy stories people will tell you.

i dont think they usually have a Baby shower, i think thats more of a USA thing . My wife is preg and we plan to have a shower though, i was told its not that common here. But its still a good idea, if friends want to buy you gifts, why not? It saves you money from buying those things later on. Plus all the women get to hang out and talk, i think its really good for my wife and hopefully i can treat them all to a good foods etc.

Ive heard so many crazy stories, one thing the philippines has no shortage of is crazy baby rumors.

My wifes neck is very dark now, and she is having a boy, might be truth to that one

[gretchen_darren 67]

the only story which hasn't come true is my wife dreamed of having twins early in the pregnancy.... so far only one ultrasound, and they only found one baby. So, maybe that one is not quite true... but then again... maybe not this time, but maybe next time.

yes she is always scratching, rubbing her tummy... so have to wait and see on the hair.

she does not each much in chocolate or other dark meat.

she did see her mom give birth to her two younger siblings... so have to wait and see. Her younger siblings are the ages of my boys. So sometimes it is hard for her since the step-children are the ages of her younger sister and brother.

Only about 10 weeks to go. Silence will be gone. But she will be back to "normal" for her. Just glad the baby will be born BEFORE the main summer heat of Phoenix arrives.

[andrew&evelyn 6]

the only story which hasn't come true is my wife dreamed of having twins early in the pregnancy.... so far only one ultrasound, and they only found one baby. So, maybe that one is not quite true... but then again... maybe not this time, but maybe next time.

yes she is always scratching, rubbing her tummy... so have to wait and see on the hair.

she does not each much in chocolate or other dark meat.

she did see her mom give birth to her two younger siblings... so have to wait and see. Her younger siblings are the ages of my boys. So sometimes it is hard for her since the step-children are the ages of her younger sister and brother.

Only about 10 weeks to go. Silence will be gone. But she will be back to "normal" for her. Just glad the baby will be born BEFORE the main summer heat of Phoenix arrives.

Itchy tummy during pregnancy doesn't mean you are having a baby with lots of hair Been pregnant 2 times and both my pregnancies I had always itchy tummy and both my babies came out bald..well not really bald but less hair.During pregnancy as you go farther along your tummy stretch to accomodate the growing baby that when it got itchy. I used a lot of Palmers cocoa butter lotion to ease the itchiness and also to prevent having stretch mark.

[John&Juvy 36]

My mother was worried when I had lots of pictures of my self at my baby shower lol. They said it is bad to take a picture of your self when you are pregnant.

[unlockingsky 94]

why not engage in a conversation with her parents?

what you get here might be a general tradition.. then there are regional traditions and village traditions.

i am just drawing from my wedding experience because i was born from another country, my father and mother are from two different cities in china. so i had two traditions conducted during my wedding. what i read on the internet was a variation to what i had for wedding tradition.

Edited April 18, 2012 by unlockingsky

[rlogan 2,036]

I am learning that there are conversations men are not to know about as well as conversations men as just supposed to not bother inquiring about.

This is a pretty simple tradition. The wife invokes it whenever she wants to keep something secret. You should show reverence to the tradition. Immediatly upon invocation of secrecy you must attend mass at the strip club with a fat wad of bills and present your mistress with a large piece of golden jewelry.

Do tell us what subjects are traditional to conceal from the husband. Besides the ones on premeditated murder, fraud, and such. Because all of us are keen on learning about Filipino traditions.