Mulheres Portuguesas e Parto Portuguese women and Childbirth **The context of this page is for educational purposes only. Please do not use the information provided for self-treatment of any kind. If you are pregnant please seek medical attention from a Health Care Professional for the well-being of yourself and your child.** As a group, we interviewed 7 Portuguese women and asked them to tell us about their experience with Pregnancy and Child-Rearing. We believe as student nurses that culture sensitivity is a very important aspect in maternal and child care. By incorporating our knowledge of these cultural beliefs and values, we will be able to provide optimal and diverse care for patients of all different cultures. Cultural Beliefs Prenatal:                                                                                                 All the women we interviewed believed prenatal care was very important and went to the doctor regularly. The women went to their prenatal visits alone for the most part except on rare occasions when their husbands would accompany them. During pregnancy it was important to pray and to take care of their body. They believed it was important throughout pregnancy to eat healthy foods and take vitamins to ensure a healthy baby If a woman had needs or concerns about her pregnancy she would ask her mother for advice. Concerning food, if you want a boy, eat long vegetables such as cucumbers and carrots and if you want a girl, eat round fruits and vegetables like apples and grapes. Eat bland non-spicy foods when you have nausea. If a woman is pregnant and her abdomen is rounded she will have a girl and if her stomach is pointed she will have a boy. Some women believe that if you attach a ring to a string, hang it above the woman's abdomen and if it swings side to side it will be a girl and if it swings in a circle it will be boy. Concerning clothes; a women should not wear anything that is tied in a circle. Necklace or things placed around the neck mirror the umbilical cord wrapped around the babies neck. Don't cross your legs when you are pregnant because it cuts off the air and the baby may suffocate. Your baby will be born with an abundance of hair if you hold furry pets too often during pregnancy. Don't cut your hair until baby is born or the baby will become hairy. Most Portuguese children are born on nights with a full moon.       During Delivery:     All the women we interviewed delivered at the hospital. A woman is quiet and prays, she will squeeze her husband's hand during labor.   Most women wanted their significant other to be with them.  No one beside the women’s husband was there. Family members await the birth in the waiting room. Some of the women wouldn't take any pain medication because it might hurt the baby, while others asked for some pain relief.   Post Partum:    Rest is important. The family comes and helps while mother takes care of the baby. Some women prefer to not talk about their birth experience. The baby is named after a saint or a person from the Bible. Once baby is born, if it cries excessively, it is believed that it has a displaced stomach or "bucho verado”. The baby will be taken to a natural healer for treatment with oil and prayers; it is meant to stop the pain in the tummy. Don't leave baby clothes on the clothesline after dark because baby will get sick. Some believe that if the baby is sick, any symbolization of a rooster must be turned around or flipped to counteract the baby's sickness. Others believe that if the baby sleeps during the day and is up at night, the parents can hang a picture of a rooster upside down over the bed to help reverse confusion of night and day.     We appreciate your feedback! Please email us your comments. Return to the Transcultural Index Posted November 5, 2008 Thanks to the following sites for the graphics on this page: The flag: http://www.3dflags.com The mother holding her child up: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/992546 The baby blocks & mother feeding baby: http://www.babycrayons.com The baby with the blanket, toy giraffe, & toy ball: http://home.att.net The two babies crawling: http://www.snowcrest.net The rubber duckie border: http://parenting.leehansen.com