Filipino Superstitious Beliefs When It Comes to Conceptions and Childbirth

1. Pregnancy- If a pregnant woman's abdomen is pointed, her baby will be a boy; if it is round, the baby will be a girl.


* Give an expectant mother anything she craves for, or she will have a miscarriage.

* If a pregnant woman wants to avoid the unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy, she should step over her husband while he is sleeping and all of her symptoms will be transferred to him.

* If a pregnant woman eats a fruit from a tree, all the remaining fruits will remain sour.

* A pregnant woman who eats "twin" bananas will give birth to twins. To prevent this, she must split the twin bananas behind her back.

* A pregnant woman shouldn't have her picture taken, or her child will die at birth.

* Visitors who do not enter the house but linger at the door instead will cause a pregnant woman a difficult delivery.


2. Delivery- When a woman is about to give birth, place a lighted candle under her bed so that any witches passing by may be seen.

* After the baby is delivered, the umbilical cord must be rubbed on the newborn's cheek to produce dimples.

* When a baby lies on her stomach for the first time, place a pencil, paper, and a book under her so that she will be intelligent.