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Video authorization from：（@Kelsi May凱西莓）
Kelsi May凱西莓 YouTube Channel：https://bit.ly/3jUjCVV
Kelsi May凱西莓 FB : https://www.instagram.com/kaiximay/
Kelsi May凱西莓 IG : https://www.facebook.com/kaiximay/
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【Taiwan Immigrants' Global News Network】translated by CHI CHIA I
Kelsi from Canada made a Taiwanese friend in senior high school, and that was when her interest in Taiwanese idol dramas and pop music blossomed. She then embarked on her journey to learn Chinese from drama, TV series, and books by herself. In university, she applied for a scholarship to study Chinese in Taiwan, and she met her current husband Louis that summer. Now, she is a wife residing in Taiwan.
As a travel lover, Kelsi created a YouTube Channel - Kelsi May凱西莓, sharing tourist attractions in Taiwan as well as cultural differences between Taiwan and western countries. In this episode of "New Immigrants in Taiwan" column, Kelsi shared the taboos and myths on pregnancy in both Taiwan and western countries based on her personal experience.
In Taiwan, pregnant women tend to avoid using scissors, needles, and nails. (Photo / Provided & Authorized by Kelsi May)
“In Taiwan, I found out there is a saying that pregnant women tend to avoid using scissors, needles, nails, and attending funerals and weddings,” Kelsi says. “Because these behaviors might accidentally disturb the peacefulness of the fetus and affect baby’s health.”
Besides, to make sure the babies have a light skin color, many Taiwanese would consume pearl powder and avoid soy sauce.
According to research, there is no evidence to prove this statement yet. “But this might be a way to prevent pregnant women from taking too much soy sauce,” Kelsi says. “Because high intake of sodium, a nutrition in soy sauce, can cause edema or high blood pressure during pregnancy.”
To make sure the babies have a light skin color, many Taiwanese would consume pearl powder and avoid soy sauce. (Photo / Provided & Authorized by Kelsi May)
Similarly, there are such myths in western countries too. For example, it is said that there will be red birthmarks on babies if their mothers eat strawberries during pregnancy. However, this is a wrong concept.
On the contrary, there is no taboo against consuming cold food during pregnancy in western countries. Kelsi says that “When I was an expectant mother living in North America, medical staff would ask the pregnant to put ice in the mouth to keep hydrated.”
In western countries, it is said that there will be red birthmarks on babies if their mothers eat strawberries during pregnancy. (Photo / Provided & Authorized by Kelsi May)
From Kelsi’s sharing, it can be understood that there are interesting myths in Taiwan as well as in western countries. Although the myths are not proven, many people still avoid those taboos and rather be safe than sorry.
For more videos and posts, please follow: Kelsi May凱西莓YouTube、FB、IG
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