On Fertile Ground: Latina Health Beliefs During Pregnancy

Have you ever avoided walking under a ladder or crossed your fingers for luck? Nearly everyone holds some cultural beliefs, rational or not, that influence the way we behave. Pregnancy is an especially fertile ground for folk, or lay, health beliefs. Do you know what your patients believe? Keep in mind that health beliefs vary considerably from place to place, even within the same country. A Mexican woman from a small village may have different health beliefs than a Mexican from a more affluent urban city. Origin, level of acculturation, education, and socioeconomic status all influence health beliefs.

Common Latina Pregnancy Beliefs:

1. Pregnancy is a normal life event - not an illness. Latinas often seek prenatal care later than other women for this reason.
2. Birth marks are caused by antojos (unsatisfied cravings). Birth marks may appear in the shape of items that were craved. For example, if a woman craves strawberries, her baby may have a “strawberry” birthmark. Women should, therefore, give in to cravings. Pica, or cravings for non-food substances such as ice, dirt, gravel or magnesium carbonate, is not unheard of among Latinas. Do you know what your patients crave?
3. Drinking milk causes large babies and difficult births. Some women eat less during the final weeks of pregnancy to avoid having a large baby or difficult labor.
4. Chamomile tea is good for labor. Ruda con chocolate (common/garden rue with chocolate) is used to speed up child birth and epazote (a Mexican herb) is used to clean the stomach after child birth. Other herbal teas are often used during pregnancy. Do you know what your patients are drinking? Ask!
5. Witnessing a lunar eclipse during pregnancy can cause cleft lip or palate.
6. Light physical activity such as walking is recommended. Lack of physical activity can cause the baby to “stick” (se pega) in the uterus and lead to a difficult labor and delivery.
7. Pregnancy is viewed as a family event and the pregnant woman may arrive at office visits with her mother, sister, aunt, cousin, grandmother or close friend. Pregnancy is largely women’s business. Don’t be surprised if her partner is not present - this doesn’t mean he is not supportive of the pregnancy.
8. Avoid going to funerals. This could harm the baby.
9. Pregnant women avoid putting their hands over their heads - this can cause the cord to wrap around the baby’s neck.
10. Avoid sexual intercourse - this can harm the baby or give the baby a flat head.
11. Multivitamins, including those containing folic acid, cause weight gain and are not necessary if you have a healthy diet.
12. Some Latinas will still visit a partera (unlicensed midwife) to resolve pregnancy complications, like when the baby is breech or for labor and delivery.
13. Many Latinas fear epidurals and anesthesia and think of them as life threatening - most go into labor with the intention of having a vaginal and drug-free delivery.
14. Most Latinas observe the cuarentena - 40 days of rest and recuperation after birth. During this time some will not take showers during the first days, won’t stand up or pick up heavy things, or eat hot meals or beans in order to prevent gas. Some believe that it is not healthy to leave the home for the first weeks and may miss the first post-partum appointments.