Pregnancy Myths and Early Chilcare: Research Reflections from the Rural Punjab, Pakistan

Pregnancy is considered a special period in a woman’s life. There are myths about pregnancy that describe gender predictions, dietary beliefs, pregnancy signs, and risk of magic or witchcraft. Majority of these myths is in connection with the early childcare. In traditional societies midwives and experienced women practice and teach these myths to young mothers. Mother who feel special and vulnerable, at the same time feel secure in following these socially transmitted myths. Rural Punjab, a province of Pakistan has a culture rich with beliefs and myths. Myths about pregnancy are significant in rural culture and pregnancy care is seen as mother and childcare. This paper presents my research reflections that I did as a part of my Ph.D studies about early childcare beliefs and rituals practiced in rural Punjab, Pakistan.

• Azher H. Qamar

• Myths
• Pregnancy
• BabyCare
• Culture

[1] M. M. Leininger, "Cultural Care Diversity and Universitality Theory and Evolution of the Ethnonursing Method," in Cultural Care Diversity and Universitality: a worldwide nursing theory, M. M. Leininger & M. R. McFarland, Eds. Jones and Bartlett, 2006, pp. 1-42.
[2] N. Douglas, and T. Wykowski, From belief to knowledge: achieving and sustaining an adaptive culture in organizations. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2011, p. 27.
[3] P. Brooker, A Glossary of Cultural Theory. London: Arnold Pub, 2003.
[4] E. Csapo, Theories of mythology. Blackwell Pub, 2005, p. 163.
[5] C. Chappell, "One Upon a Time ...Stories, Beliefs, and Myths" in Transpersonal Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice, N. Wellings and E. W. McCormick, Eds. London: SAGE Publications, 2000, pp. 53-73.
[6] Y. Bohn, A. Hill, A. Park, and M. J. Peltier, The Mommy Docs' Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Birth. Da Capo Press, 2011.
[7] R. Franklin, Baby lore: superstitions & old wives tales form the world over related to pregnancy, birth & babycare. Diggory Press, 2005.
[8] J. Murchison, Ethnography Essentials: Designing, Conducting, and Presenting Your Research. San Fransisco: Wiley, John & Sons, 2010.
[9] M. Denscombe, The good research guide: for small-scale social research projects. Berksihre: Open University PRess, 2007.
[10] P. Liamputtong, Ed. Childrearing and infant care issues: a cross-cultural perspective: Nova Science Publishers, 2007.
[11] M. Hammersley, and P. Atkinson, Ethnography: principles in practice. London: Routledge, 1995.
[12] C. B. Rosdahl, and M. T. Kowalski, Textbook of basic nursing (9 ed.): Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008.