Breaking Superstition

I know it’s common in the States as well, but here in the DR, everyone (particularly women) feel the need to give you advice on how to care for your baby. The advice comes from not only people you know, but also perfect strangers that just feel you are doing something wrong. It might also be particularly bad with me as an American and Jonathan because Dads need all the help they can get right? Jonathan is learning some things still yes, but he is doing great so the advice is really not needed.

Anyway, there are several big things done here in regards to baby and mama care that I did not do. This triggered a good amount of the advice and some concern from both strangers and Jonathan’s family so I thought it would be interesting to address some of these superstitions that I broke and/or did not know about.

First the pregnancy superstitions I broke:

Do not eat pineapple: This one has a couple of reasons I can find. The first is one that was confirmed by a Dominican friend of mine. Eating pineapple is said to burn the skin of the baby. An online source says that it is also believed that it causes miscarriage. I ate a TON of pineapple during pregnancy, in fact I still eat a lot!

  

Do not go in the ocean: I am not sure how common this belief is anymore. I went into the ocean with another very pregnant Dominican lady so it may be a superstition that is dying out. Anyway, it is said going into the ocean will cause you to lose the baby.

Do not look at a dead body: This one I can see being rooted in common sense. Sometime in the beginning of my 2^nd trimester there was an electrical fire at a neighbor and former church members house. Sadly, she died in the fire. Jonathan went over to be with the family and I went with him. I did not realize the body was still on scene (she was covered though). It is said looking at a dead body will cause you to lose the baby. However, I can see it being rooted in the fact that touching a dead body with all the bacteria and such can cause that, so they may have expanded it to looking at a corpse over the years.

Always give a pregnant lady what she craves: this superstition says that if a pregnant lady does not get the food she craves, the baby will have a mark on their butt in the shape of that item. So if the mother wants eggplant for example, and does not get it, the baby will have an eggplant shaped birthmark on its butt for the duration of their life. My question is: what if the pregnant woman craves pineapple like I did?? Now Jonathan usually got me what I craved because he is sweet, not because of the super superstition. And the few things I did crave and did not get, have not shown themselves as a mark on Amos anywhere.

            Now the postpartum superstitions I am not adhering too:

Do not wash your hair for 40 days: This one is interesting and has been confirmed by multiple Dominicans. It is believed by not washing your hair your actually protecting your baby from getting sick, and having gases. I guess because washing your hair makes your head cold and opens you up to get sick and therefore the baby. The 40 days is to keep the woman at home to recuperate and help her heal so not washing her hair helps with that? Anyway, I confirmed this with a friend of mine and her Mom-in-law said yes, but this is not followed much anymore which is why “children are not as strong as they used to be”. When I got home from the hospital the first thing I did was shower and wash my hair (I was unaware of this superstition, not that it would have changed anything though). My Mother-in-law was concerned about me when she saw I had washed my hair and questioned my Mom about my well-being. The truth is, when my hair is clean I feel better, I cannot stand dirty hair. However, Amos is super strong and healthy so my Mom-in-law is no longer concerned.

Do not walk outside after dark: I had to walk to the end of the block shortly after getting home from the hospital to go get an antibiotic shot at my aunt’s pharmacy. It was around 7:30 so it was dark. My aunt was very concerned and told me not to do that again and she would come to me to give the shot because of the “dew of the night” whatever that means. From what I can gather, it is cooler at night and therefore I am more prone to get sick and so is the baby. I think…but even at night it is not below 70 degrees so I am not concerned about that.

Do not take the baby out after dark: okay, so this one makes sense to some extent. I don’t want to take a newborn out much anyway but after dark adds complications with just seein bumps and things. However, the superstition says taking a baby out after dark makes them have green poop. This is believed by Jonathan’s family so they were amazed when I did indeed take Amos out after dark at one point. Amos is fine and does not poop green for those of you who were concerned about that.

Do not touch a newborn: I am still amazed at how people don’t touch babies! I can’t help it but no one touches Amos because they are dirty. It makes sense but the extreme to which they take it is surprising. I don’t mind people touching my baby with just normal everyday activity “dirt”. Now if you are covered in dirt that’s different but just daily stuff I am fine with.

Always cover up the baby: Okay, this makes sense in the States but here? Not so much. I am montoring the babies temp, but he does not need to be bundled up all the time. However, people are convinced unless they are they will get cold and sick. So far one month with Amos and no issues, but I also am blessed to have a very strong and healthy baby.

I am sure there are more superstitions I am breaking but these are all I am aware of. I think it’s interesting to learn these things about the culture. However, I realized by breaking the superstitions I am also proving two things. 1) Superstitions are just that, superstitions. And 2) My God is bigger and in control.

Until next week, may Adonai bless you and keep you.