Learning English

Advice for new mums in Britain

A lot of people who visit Britain complain that the food is boring. But they might change their minds after reading these ideas - old and new - about what new mothers should eat!

Coal
People traditionally believed that pregnant women craved coal! It was thought that they needed the minerals it contained. This belief has died out in recent years.

Stout
Breastfeeding mothers were traditionally advised to drink stout (a kind of black beer) every day to promote the production of milk. It’s true that the barley in stout increases milk production, but we now know that if a pregnant woman drinks too much alcohol, the baby won't be healthy. So experts now advise non-alcoholic ways of getting the same nutrients.

A full English breakfast
If you like a fried breakfast, you'll be pleased to hear that it has been linked to good health. Scientists in Britain now believe that the bacon and eggs in a traditional English breakfast are good for pregnant women. They say they contain a nutrient that helps unborn babies’ brains grow. So these days, some British people believe that if a pregnant woman regularly eats a full English breakfast, she'll have a healthy baby.

We want to hear from you

Traditions in your country

If a woman is having a baby in your country, what will she be told to do? What will she be told to eat and not eat? What activities will she do? How will the baby's name be chosen? And what should new mothers do once the baby is born?

Thank you for emailing your comments to us. We enjoyed reading them. This task is now closed.

Here are a few of the comments that we received.

Rafael, Venezuela

When a woman is pregnant old women always recommend eating a lot of plátanos which is some kind of large and non-sweet banana typical of South America, although they recommend eating soup with beef ribs and chicken leg.

When the child is born is pretty common to give an homemade hot fruit liquor to the people who come to visit the child, it's a pretty strong liquor so it's serve in a really small cup. This is to celebrate the new member of the family and it's called "Miaito" which means child piss.

Valentina, Italy

In Sicily when a woman is going to have a baby there are many things that she doesn't have to do.
The strangest is that if she want to eat something like usually happens when pregnant
she must not touch her paunch because the child will be born with the stain of what the mother wanted.
For example if she wanted a coffee the child will be born with a stain of coffee in the point of the body that the mother has touched.
There are many stains of strawberry in the body of many persons in Sicily!

Natalyia, Ukraine

I was a workaholic in the past. I'm an engineer and I like my job.
Two years ago my husband and I became parents. We waited this moment more then five years, so it's happened!
First of all, we changed our home, nowadays flats are more safe and has more places for games. Secondary, we changed our life-style, for exemple, before our daughter was born we ate and slept when we wanted... in the past.
For the people who are going to be a parents I have two advices, more patience and more care.
The thing you mustn't to do is don't say to another parent how they should upbringing their child.

Maria, from Gagarin, Russia

As in many countries as in Russia, when woman is in the family way, she wishes her baby to born healthy and become the happiest baby.

All the members of the family are looking forward to giving birth to a baby. The father and the mother choose carefully first name for their baby. They may name it (he or she) after their relatives, e.g. the grandparents.  Thus, parents want their baby to inherit lucky ‘fate’. Additionally, parents try to choose Christian name for their son or daughter so the first name of baby sounds good and combine with the patronymic name and the surname.

There is not tradition of buying things (baby's loose jackets, nappies, etc) till the happy event. After the baby's birth, all the relatives congratulate new parents on the happy event warmly and bring them a lot of presents.

Have a great day!

Korea

1. In Korea.a pregnant woman thinks good things,do not see ugly and bad things.
 
2. She eats fresh nutrious food, do not eat or see food aversion.
 
3. Go out for a walk,meditation and pray listen classical music.
 
4. Baby's grandfather naming by generation name.

   (Ex:  baby's brother name  Eung ho.  new born baby's name Eung jo.)

5. New mother stay in heated room(even in summer) do not expose her to cold air.

  for 3~4 weeks. nowadays new mother stay in a postnatal care center for 2~3 weeks.

  (expensive. $4,000 in 2 weeks)

Anazilda, Brazil

In Brazil, people say that some tipe of food can increase milk production, so pregnant women are encouraged to eat them:  black beer, canjica (a tipe of sweet made of corn, milk and coconuts) and a lot of other caloric food.

People also believe that if a baby goes out of the hospital using a red shoe, it wil have good luck, so future mums earn a lot of  little red shoes of their friends.

But the stranger superstition is that, to stop baby sobbing, you must put a little piece of red thread, wet with saliva, over its forehead.

Antonio, Brazil 

Here in my country most pregnant women - and doctors too - have been preferring surgical delivery, the cesarean section. It's most convenient for both, as they can mark the day and time for labour. But health officials are concerned, they say that natural childbirth is better for mothers' and babies' health. Beside being cheaper.   

Huda, Egypt

holle my name is huda am from egypt i d,like to told you abut our  child tradition in egypt its alot .                
after pirth we make the mother eat chikeen meat for 40 day .dreenk chikeen sup fenugreek and mogat its egyption drink for women she just perth and all this good for brest feeding its increases milk prodction. after 7 day we meak celebrate for anew baby and invited all relativs  neighbors friends and colleagues thay coms and give the baby money . most the women in my countrey after pirth the baby she stay at her family house for 40 day.

Tamar, Israel

Hello from Israel ,my name is Tamar and I am mother of 3 sons .In Israel there are many people arrived from all the world, and all of them have their traditions to learn and advices to take. For example, women from Yemen take hilbe ,it helps to promote production of milk. Another says that if you want your baby smells good you need to eat etrog, kind of orange, which we eat in Sukkoth holiday .And advice from me to pregnant women-if you want your baby will like healthy food in future, you need eat healthy food in pregnancy time.

Oriana, Italy

In my country, Italy, a woman who is going to have a baby has to be careful and do not make efforts, most of all physical efforts like to hold heavy bags or to make stairs. Everybody will tell her to walk slowly and to be quite. Stressed situation are forbidden to pregnant women!

If you are pregnant, everybody will give you their seats in the public transports, will tell you how you look fine and full of harmony. It could  really be a pleasant period of time!

Anyway if you are pregnant you can’t drink alcohol and you have to eat double: one for you and once for the unborn baby! If you are having a baby will be told you to make long promenades and drink much water you can!

The baby’s name will be chosen from a very long list of names suggested by all the family except by the mother or the father! When the happy event of birth will come, the name will be putted in secret by the parents and expose to the family who will be so happy anyway!

Once the baby is born, grandmothers will go every day to help the new mother cooking, putting on order, talking about how the baby is pretty, huge and how much he seems to granddad or she seems to granny!

Pavel, Russia

Thank you for very actual unit for me, because i became father 5 days ago! Everything gone excellent! Now I have a daughter called Elizabeth. I am from russia, our childbirth traditions aren't much differ from another world but we have some own features. First of all when woman becomes pregnant she told not to drink alcohol and not to smoking. This two things don't rise any controversy, everybody understand negative effect from this. But what about for example food controversy are growing. This is more individual for every women. First three month is commonly known as a most important in the new child formation. So in this period pregnant women told to be very careful with illness and always be in good health. Especially in cold russian winter where you could catch ill very easy. The next months are told to walk more. It is very helpful for child to breathe air. Usually in russia pregnant women take maternity leave after 6 month. So final months they ate trying to take more rest, and prepare to childbirth. But all different views are come together in one strong opinion that most important for mother in that period be in a good mood condition.

BBC Learning English says: Congratulations Pavel on becoming a father! We wish you lots of happiness as you listen to the patter of tiny feet around your home.

Diogo, Brazil

Folcloric thoughts are still in the head of different groups of people in Brazil when we talk about pregnancy. Many of them in order to find out the baby gender. Some may sound even fun, as the "fork or spoon" tradition. In this case, one person of the family should hide a fork and a knife, each one under a pad of a chair. Then, it's asked the mother-to-be to choose a place to sit. If she sits on the fork, a boy will be delivered. If the spoon is chosen, a girl would come. People also says that the form of the bump is the best way to know it. If the belly is round, like a full moon, a girl is coming. For a boy, the stomach must be pointing, projected to the front. Well, I think it all serves for some laughters, but there are other safe ways to discover the baby gender with no fails.

Demetrio, Italy

Generally, in South Italy, included Sicily Island,  it's traditionally believed that pregnant women have to drink beer and eat foods much watered-down ( especially small pasta and broth) to promote the production of milk. 

Also is strongly advised to consume supplements of Vitamin A, Iron, Folic Acid and Zinc to prevent birth defects of the brain and spine. 

Additionals and healthy activities are walk slowly at least 30 minuts per day and do also costantly activity restful, like swimming or others hobbies.

Best regards, Demetrio

Jūratė, Lithuania

Lithuanian women when carrying a baby are encouraged to eat as much as they wish and whatever they wish. It is believed that pregnant women craving salty or spicy food will most likely have a boy and those who are into sweets will have a girl. Some mothers-to-be avoid to buy things for their babies before giving birth as they are afraid to attract bad omen. This superstition may come from the old times when the death rate at childbirth was quite high. It is believed that mothers have a special link with their babies souls so, it's up to mothers to chose a name for their child. The most popular names in Lithuania are those of ancient pagan gods, nature spirits and national historical heroes. There is also a strong tradition to baptize a newborn child in church and throw a baptism party afterwards. That's why many Lithuanians end up having two names: one is pagan and the other is christian.

Rebecca, Lome, Togo

Wherever you are in Africa, things go in the same way. People normaly have many childreen, more than 10 sometimes.

Especially in my city, delivering is expensive. I don't know exactly how much but  because of th at, many togolese prefer to deliver at home. After the birth, the parents choose a great name for their baby. For example, my sister named her baby girl Blessing because having that baby was a struggle. Then, it's a tradition to let the mother in law give the first bath to the baby. To celebrate the event, many parents choose to go out with their baby at church and thank God for that gift! 

Thanks

Cristina, Padova, Italia

I think in Italy there are childbirth traditions similar to those ones all around the world.

When the friends know that a woman is in family way, they give her a pair of little wool shoes as present: so they wish the baby will be able to walk very soon!

Once, during the pregnancy period, they said the mother-to-be had to eat for two, but nowadays it isn’t the same thing any more: she has to eat healthy, but don’t drink any alcoholic drinks.

Often it happens she wants to eat something strange or singular: we call it “avere le voglie”; once they said if these fancies weren’t satisfied, the baby would have some small marks on its skin: so relatives and friends tryed to satisfy the “mum” as soon as possible.

Of course in Italy too the problem of the name of the baby is a question that keeps busy the family for several months: once they chose the names after the grand-father and the grand mother, but nowadays the couples are freer than in the past. My husband’s name, for example, is the same of his cousin, because it comes after the common grand-father. So, when they were children, it created confusion!

Once babies were born at home: my brothers and I, we were born at our own home. The doctor and the midwife went to us when mom broke the waters and people thought it was right normal.

When the baby is born, we hang a tape on the front door: a light-blue tape for a boy and a pink one for a girl.

Someone gives to the newborn baby a tiny embroidered shirt, the “camicino della fortuna”, which can be white or red colour:  it will bring good luck to the baby.

Pao Ting, Taiwan

In most of Chinese society, the new mothers are asked to take a full month rest indoor.(we called it YueZi)

And the meals for this period of time, are combined with Chinese medicine.  This is believed to help the womb's health.(get recover faster for the next baby :D). Furthermore, they are not allowed to wash their hair for month.

For the newborn baby, the parents have to prepare the full-month gift for relatives and friends. Normally the full-month cake for a baby girl, and cooked chicken thigh with sticky rice for a baby boy. On the forth month of the baby, parents are asked to prepared a traditional activity to help the baby to stop leak the saliva from the mouth. The baby has to wear a cookie ring-shape necklace with with red string, and the family members shared the cookie which is touched a little bit of saliva of the baby. They believe this can help the baby can grow up healthy and without delay.

Victoria, Ukraine

Hello dear friends.

Let me tell you about one childbirth tradition in Ukraine. 

You cannot refuse any request of a pregnant woman. Because if you do, your house will become infested with mice.  Although it is just a superstition, but can you imagine how helpful it is for pregnant women?

So….don’t make eye contact with her because if she ask you for something , you won’t have another alternative but do as she wishes….or be ready to fight mice :)

Thank all the BBC Learning English team for being so good teachers.

Victoria

Ivan, Italy

 Hello my name is Ivan,i'm from Italy i live in a small village in the north of Italy.

When a woman is going to have a baby all her relatives and family friends will "spoil" her with gifts for the baby two or three months before he/she will born.

People are very kind with the mother and the family especially if she live in a small village like mine, everyone know everyone and everybody  will give help and support to the mother and the family.

The mother of the pregnant will be always in the  daughter house to help her with the housework and  the cooking.The mother will eat healthy food, don't get to stressed, be in relax and don't drink alcohol or smoke cigarette.

The old fashion family use to give the grandmother or grandfather name to the baby,now most of them are free to choose the name that they like.

When the baby will have one or two years old,if the family are catholic he/she will get a baptism in the church, it is a big event for the catholic family,all the guests will give a load of  presents to the baby and after the ceremony in the church every one will go to have lunch, they usually go to a restaurant or in some relatives house.

If the family of the child work and don't have time during the day to look after him/her, the grandmothers will take care of the baby.

Gian Piero, Italy

Italy's legislation provides almost everyone with tax-free delivery into hospital. Every working woman in the family way, is allowed to go on maternity leave for almost six months, starting from the last month of pregnancy.

Unfortunately the social and economic situation of the country is difficult at the moment. It's hard to find a job, especially in the regions of southern Italy and people cannot always afford to marry and give the birth to a child, and that is why the happy events are going to be fewer and fewer.

Luckily, for my son and his wife the situation isn't that difficult and a few months ago a beautiful baby boy was born. His name is Federico. They didn't call him after any grandparent or close relative as people used to do in the past, but just gave him the name they like the most.

Mariela, Peru

In my country, there is a high rate of surgical delivery, the cesarean section, mainly when you are giving birth in a private clinic because I think It's more convenient for the doctors, in economic terms.

Regarding to celebrations to welcome to newborn, two months before the bith, parents' friends and relatives organize a party for the newborn, and guests have to give some gifts for the future baby. In the party, there is a small show where the clown make some jokes to the future father.

In my country, it is common to say that "when a child is born, he or she brings good luck for the family".

Erika, Brazil

I live in Brazil and in my country, people don't usually plan when to have a baby or when is going to be the best time to conceive a new child in the family.

I have friends who are parents to be in July and others already are taking good care of their child.
When a woman is pregnant, she has a lot of wishes and craves for new or strange foods.

People say that we can never let a pregnant woman crave for nothing, because if we do that, something with our eyes will happen like an allergy , that is why everybody likes to do thing in favor for pregnant woman.

In Brazil people don't choose the baby’s name after grandparents or any other relatives, it might happen sometimes, but not often. It’'s more common to choose the names that the parents like the most.
Someday I myself will have a baby in the family way.

I hope this baby takes after me and my husband, besides I'd like to take at least one year in a maternity leave so I can have more time with my baby and enjoy every moment a lit bit more, after all it is one chance in a lifetime to feel that great experience to carry a baby for the first time in a mother's womb.

Manoel, Brazil

In Brazil, when a woman is in the family way she has to eat a lot, because people thinks the baby needs much food to grow up.

Breastfeeding mothers are still advised to drink black beer, like Malzbier, to promote the production of milk.

Mothers are advised to not smoke so the baby will be healthy.

Laura, Colombia

I want to talk about the childbirth traditions in Colombia. 

Here, when a woman is pregnant the ancient people recommend her to eat only the necessary to be well and to walk a lot because that is good for the circulation and to have the best delivery. 

Also, the woman who is going to have a baby shouldn't drink alcohol because this could be cause a lot of damages to the baby. But, when the baby's born, she should drink alcohol because it helps to produce a lot of breastmilk. 

When the mother has between 6 or 8 months pregnant, she do a babyshower and the family and friends give a lot of present to the baby. It's like to say welcome to the new member of the family.

I hope this give you a good idea about the childbirth traditions in Colombia.

Reynaldo Angga, Indonesia

Apa kabar, I live in cultural country that is Indonesian. in my country we have a habit when a women get pregnant they will be eat a lot of raw manggo fruit the reason is because to reduce queasiness. After that the pregnant women, they want be like a princess every day, so every desire that they have requested must be fulfilled, and if it not, then the baby will have a habit and that’s drooling.

In my family tradition when the women reached 7 month after get pregnant the family will be inviting  and gathering other family related to celebrate and praying together for health of the mother and the unborn child.

Next

Childbirth isn't just about the mums. What are the dads expected to do, and how has that changed over time? Find out in News Report next!