Western, Chinese, Western Culture
I was explaining to Ian that Mango juice is too “wet & heaty” according to the chinese culture…And it is only the beginning. When you are pregnant, you think you could get away from any more “Chinese cultural advices” from everyone, think again:
- Don’t stand too long / Don’t sit too long / Don’t walk for too long – apparently you should just not do anything for too long!
- Don’t walk too fast / Don’t do too many exercises / Don’t be too active – now they are just telling you to sit in front of the TV all day and do nothing!
- Don’t wear high heels – the only thing that still makes you feel beautiful & sexy is prohibited.
- Don’t move your bed EVER during the course of pregnancy (some feng shui belief)
- Don’t use needles / a pair of scissors on your bed (make your pregnancy “dangerous”)
- Don’t eat crabs (it makes your child naughty), shrimps (baby’s skin will turn bad), watermelon at early pregnancy (prone to miscarriage and too “cool”), mango (“wet & heaty”), banana (same reason as watermelon), papaya (they’ve lost me on this one!), goose / duck (poisonous apparently) and the list continues…
Being the rebel that I am, I am still doing/eating all the above. (just don’t tell my mom & dad!) But according to the western world, there are a million things I can’t do either. There is an entire book about it by my bedside! At least it is more scientific and high heels are allowed in that book, so I am tending towards the western way… Maybe it’s what Ian always says, Stacey does whatever suits her!
Baby adventure is going well and we are starting the search process for a nanny (for the first month) & maid. I have been reading lots of British/American/Aussie mags about pregnancy and it is a wonder how any woman can do the whole baby venture on their own. I absolutely applaud you! You are a wonder woman.
Me – I have surrendered right at the instant when you are supposed to be feeding every 2 hours for first few months but still carry on being a human during the day?! Maid comes to the rescue! So, let’s hope we have some luck in the searching process.
In the meantime, we are keeping sane in the starting summer heat.
Love from Hong Kong at 17 weeks.
May 29th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
This is too funny.. I can tell your fustration girlfriend!
I say, eat anything you please, but “not too much”.
Anything too much is not good, even for people who are not expecting.
Hey, when you are at the stage where you get night cramps on your legs while you are sound asleep and you wake up with the pain, I read that eating bananas should help. So, that was what I did.. ehehhe..
But not too much, cause according to the Chinese, it’s relieves constipation, but according to the American doctors, it helps your diarhea.. because when the kids have a stomach virus and can’t keep food in their stomach, bananas are one of the food they recommend!!! So, sometimes the Chinese and American contradicts each other.. I tend to lean on the American since they have studies to back their saying.. hehehehe
so bananas should be ok.
Oh and from your last blog, I agree, maternity clothes are absolutely HIDEOUS! Unless you are willing to spend a fortune.. Old Navy’s maternity is not too bad.. but it’s more for casual.. career maternity clothes are even harder to find..
By the way, you are doing great, hang in there.. 4 more months.. it will go by quickly..
Jenny
May 29th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Ok, correction, 6 more months to go, not 4.
May 30th, 2007 at 8:00 am
That’s lovely news guys. Forgive my ignorance but are you going to find out the baby’s sex before the birth?
All the best
R
May 30th, 2007 at 11:15 am
hey stacey
I knew i shouldnt have eaten all of those crabs, no wonder Caleb is so naughty!! Very interesting findings, I havent heard of half of those, but good to hear you are not listening to them, and still eating what you like!
Have you got names sorted out, or are you going to keep us all in suspense?
Anyway enjoy this time of your life, enjoy shopping now, cause its a bit harder to carry all those bags, whilst holding on to a bub! But I suppose Ian can always baby sit while you go shopping!
Ok take care, love to Big Bro!
love Sam
June 7th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
YOu are totally right !!! Too many restrictions, but I rebel all the rules during pregnancy. My baby boy is big and healthy, so do not worry about all the culture things…I ran the treadmill everyday and I went to prenatal yoga classes. I wore the high heels shoes until 9 months…..
If your belly getting bigger….You will experience acid reflux and cramps on your leg soon…Don’t forget to drink lots of water. I did not really experience too much cramps – water can reduce the cramps.
All my friends have headaches to search the maids & nanny. Because they are worry too much….Now they are pleased with their maids. Searching process is complicate….Good luck in the searching process.