20 facts about pregnancy and childbirth in Russia that surprise parents in the US
'25.07.2019'
Source: Nan
The BabyGaga website has published a selection of facts about pregnancy and childbirth in Russia that most surprise Western parents: long parental leave, unpopularity of partner childbirth, superstition and signs. Nan we decided to translate this text in its entirety: it is always useful to look from the outside at what is familiar to us, and at the same time to learn about the previously unknown.
The Russian approach to pregnancy and childbirth is an amazing mixture of the most progressive ideas and the most outdated superstitions. Of course, there is a superstition in every culture, just in Russia there are unexpectedly many of them. As if pregnancy itself is not a difficult task, future mothers are faced with a huge list of prohibitions that relate to various aspects of life and are designed to ward off misfortune.
Superstitions extend not only to pregnancy: the first months of a child’s life are also associated with a huge number of signs and instructions on which the health and safety of a baby supposedly depends. Here are the 20 things about pregnancy and childbirth in the largest country in the world, which still surprise us and confuse us.
Do not wait for dad in the delivery room
If you live in a country where the presence of fathers in childbirth is not only welcomed, but is considered the norm, you will be surprised to learn that everything in Russia is not at all so.
Even today, women in Russia are trying to keep an atmosphere of mystery around their clans. Although, perhaps, it is men who prefer to stay at a distance, but, be that as it may, the statistics show: only 22% couples decided to give birth to a partner last year.
It is said that curses are the cause of birthmarks in a child
Superstitions associated with birthmarks exist in many countries and religions. Somewhere they are considered marks from past lives, somewhere - a happy sign. In China, they believe that in the form of the birthmark one can learn a lot about the character of a person. In Russia, however, they say that the cause of birthmarks is swearing during pregnancy.
Of course, this superstition has nothing to do with science. However, if you consider curses as an indicator of stress, then for mom and child it is really harmful. So, it is better to slow down.
Baby shower - bad luck
In Russia, pregnancy is a very personal matter. Therefore, it is considered impolite to ask the expectant mother about when childbirth is expected or what sex the child will be. For the same reason, there is practically no such thing as a baby shower in the country.
It is believed that receiving gifts for a child before his birth is a bad omen. In order not to tempt fate, all celebrations are postponed until the moment when the child is safely born.
Pregnant women can not sit with their legs crossed
Of course, for a certain period a woman is uncomfortable even just to sit, what can we say about crossed legs. But in Russia, moreover, it is believed that such a posture can put pressure on the head of a child, because of which he feels discomfort. And although there is no evidence of this, sitting with legs crossed can provoke swelling or cramping in the legs, so perhaps avoiding this posture is not such a bad idea.
Buying clothes for the unborn child - a bad sign
Buying all these tiny booties and the sweetest clothes usually gives expectant mothers a lot of fun. But not in Russia, where buying clothes for a baby before his birth is considered a bad omen.
This proverbial wisdom is inherent not only to the inhabitants of Russia (in fact, it is very common in many Asian countries) - and its sources are not without meaning. Similar beliefs arose in a time when medicine was still poorly developed, and pregnancy and childbirth were fraught with many complications. Both were risky business, so moms really had to rely on luck.
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Do not talk about pregnancy before you can see the belly
It doesn’t matter whether the first one is your pregnancy or the fifth, there’s little to be pleased to share the news with others. But in Russia it is assumed that you will remain silent as much as possible.
In the US and the UK, many couples wait until the end of the first trimester before telling their family and friends about the pregnancy. This is a reasonable approach, given the increased risk of losing the baby in the first three months of pregnancy. Russian women simply spread this logic for a slightly longer period.
There are financial incentives for pregnancy.
The population of Russia is decreasing. In response, the government is trying to stimulate fertility with financial aphrodisiacs. According to Bloomberg, in 2017, Russia planned to spend a billion dollars on 8,6 to motivate families to give birth: this amount includes mortgage subsidies and payments to new or growing families.
After registering, a pregnant woman receives about 11 dollars from the state, but parents receive additional money for the birth of their second and third children.
No gifts before the baby is born
As you already understood, in Russia they believe in bad omens. One of them is to buy presents for an unborn child.
If pregnant women all over the world get a lot of pleasure, unpacking numerous gifts from friends, relatives and colleagues, here future mothers are forced to wait until the child is born. To buy a gift while a woman is pregnant is to tempt fate, and such impulses are disapproved.
For nine months forget the haircut
For many women, nine months of pregnancy is an invaluable opportunity to take care of themselves. This is a great time to pamper yourself - and perhaps the last chance to look amazing before feeding clothes and bags under your eyes become your constant companions.
However, when it comes to hair, expectant mothers in Russia are advised to stay away from hairdressers. Yes, you understood correctly: any haircuts are prohibited. Superstition says that by cutting her hair, a woman increases the risk of premature birth. Considering that pregnancy already affects the hair in the most unpredictable way, the rejection of a hairdresser for nine months is a rather sad prospect.
Many women go to give birth in the US
Hundreds of pregnant Russians go to the USA every year — and not at all to admire the species. Florida in particular has become the center of attraction for the so-called "pregnant tourism", in which women travel to the United States to give birth and provide American citizenship to their newborns.
In Moscow, having a baby in Miami is considered a symbol of high status. And it is absolutely legal if all documents are executed correctly and without deception. Of course, this is an expensive event (it costs the family the amount from 20 to 50 thousand dollars) - but children born this way receive new opportunities and advantages in traveling.
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Only family members can see the newborn in the first two months.
It would seem that the desire to show a kid to the whole world is absolutely natural. Just look at this little face! Isn't my girl beautiful? Isn't my son a miracle?
Well, Russian parents are much more careful with inviting outsiders to look at the newborn. In fact, at first, he is often hidden from everyone except the closest family members. Firstly, showing a child is considered a bad omen, and secondly, mothers are seriously afraid of infections.
Do not name the child in honor of living relatives or friends
In some cultures, the idea of naming a child after a living family member or friend is an homage and one of the most priceless gifts one can give to a person. In others, it is considered a bad omen and even disrespect. Russians definitely lean towards the second point of view.
However, they are not alone in this. For example, some communities of Ashkenazi Jews also believe that children can be called only in honor of already deceased relatives.
Be prepared to spend at least three days in the hospital after giving birth.
Most Russian women give birth in public hospitals: firstly, it’s free, and secondly, home birth is not welcome because of the risk of complications.
Usually mother and baby spend in the hospital from 3 to 7 days after birth. Some hospitals allow early discharge - but the mother must sign a document that takes all the responsibility on herself.
Public hospitals are also known for other restrictions that may seem strange to the rest of the world. In some of them, for example, fathers are not only forbidden to attend childbirth - it may take three or more days before he is allowed to see his wife and child.
Look no matter? You will probably have a girl
Pregnancy does not go to the body for nothing: not every expectant mother looks or feels great. In this regard, there is another superstition that explains acne and lifeless hair: perhaps you are pregnant with a girl.
According to this sign, girls “steal” the beauty of the mother, which is why pregnant women do not look the best. Science does not support this superstition and explains changes in the appearance of hormonal surges. However, belief is still tenacious.
Look great? Most likely, you will have a boy
So, girls, according to superstition, "suck" the beauty of the mother. If a woman during pregnancy looks more beautiful than ever, she is probably waiting for a boy. In a society that is still rather strongly inclined towards patriarchy, this is a belief - another evidence that boys are preferable to girls. But wherever this superstition comes from, it has nothing to do with reality.
Mothers are entitled to three years of maternity leave
Some views on pregnancy and childbirth in Russia may, what is there to hide, seem outdated. But when it comes to maternity, maternity and childcare leave, this country is extremely progressive.
Not only does the woman’s workplace remain for up to three years, working mothers are entitled to 140 maternity leave days, fully paid in the amount of 100 percent of their salary (in fact, no - Ed.). This paid holiday starts 70 days before the expected date of birth and continues 70 days after them. For comparison, in the US, mothers are given only 12 weeks of unpaid leave.
On the subject: Everything is possible for pregnant women in the USA: personal experience
Compliments to the newborn attract the "evil eye"
In most countries of the world, saying nice things about a newborn is considered a good tone rule. But it turns out, not everyone agrees. Russia is one of the countries where superstition forbids saying compliments to a newborn baby. Here, parents will prefer you instead of praise to say: "Oh, how ugly." Honestly.
It is believed that compliments attract the attention of otherworldly forces to the child, who, having heard pleasant words, will want to harm him. If someone praises her child, a mother in Russia can knock on a tree or spit three times over her left shoulder to ward off evil forces.
Birth of a child is marked through 40 days after returning from the hospital
As we have already found out, in Russia, pregnancy is treated with extreme caution: no gifts, no purchases for an unborn baby, no “baby shouerov”, so as not to tempt fate.
But this does not mean that pregnancy and the birth of a baby are not considered happy events here. Of course they are! But tradition dictates waiting for 40 days after the child has safely arrived home before the family can celebrate this event. So in the end, moms will still have a chance to enjoy the holiday.
There are not enough children in Russia
The high mortality rate, low birth rate and rather low immigration rates led to serious problems with the population in Russia.
The United States Census Bureau estimates that by 2050, Russia's population may be reduced from the current 143 to 111 million — this means a loss of more than 30 million people and a decrease in population by more than 20 percent.
Russia needs children, and as soon as possible. That is why the government has introduced financial incentives to encourage parents to have more children. There is even a special award - the Order of Parental Glory, which is awarded to parents of seven or more children (biological or adopted).
No baby photos in the first month
We live in the digital era. Technology covers all areas of our life. Sharing all the events of his life has become the norm: if life is not lived in social networks, is it lived at all? And now for a moment imagine that you gave birth to a new person and for a whole month should refrain from putting his photo: this is what mothers have to put up with in Russia.
Again, the omnipresent Evil Eye is to blame for this superstition. It is believed that kids who are photographed at the age of up to a month are more vulnerable to the effects of evil forces.
