Traditional Health Beliefs: Vietnamese: Pregnancy & Childbirth

VIETNAMESE CULTURE

This web page is based on interviews with Vietnamese women and the content reflects their beliefs. The content contained within this page should not be used for self-care or treatment of any type. It is strictly for informational purposes only. If you are pregnant, please seek medical attention from a professional health care provider.

PRENATAL Scroll design

Generally, no prenatal care is sought and the due date is not known. A pregnant woman does not know when she is to give birth. When contractions begin, she will seek help from the village nurse or go to the hospital.
Sex is avoided during the first 2 months & the last 3 months of pregnancy.
There are no remedies for the ailments associated with pregnancy.
If the pregnancy is normal, daily activities are not interrupted and work is done up until true labor begins.
Necklaces are not worn because it is believed to cause the umbilical cord to wrap around the fetus' neck.

Leaf design 2 LABOR & DELIVERY

In the village, no one is present at delivery except for the village nurse. In the city, the expectant mother is admitted to the hospital & any staff members available (MD, interns, or nurses) will deliver the baby.
Hospitals are poorly funded with limited staff.
Giving birth is done lying in the flat position & the child is delivered naturally.
No pain medication is administered.
If her husband is present, it is believed that the baby will not come out or the mother will experience a difficult birth.

Leaf design 3 POSTPARTUM

The maternal grandmother provides all care for the mother & infant. Care is focused on the mother more than the infant.
The mother & infant will not leave the house for 1 month.
Strict bedrest for at least 1 month, up to 2 months is believed essential for recovery. Coals are placed under the bed to keep the body warm. Coals are also placed under a chair to tighten the uterus.
No type of work is performed by the new mother. Walking is done in small steps to prevent the uterus from falling out of her body.

Mother holding baby

Showers are forbidden for 1 month. Instead, sponge baths are given. Wine is added to the bath water so that the body stays warm.
Washing of the new mother's hair in the 1st month is believed to cause headaches & her hair to fall out.
Hot tea is ingested after each meal to help improve circulation.
Steamed pork is eaten throughout the 1st month after birth. A specific vegetable is added to the pork that is believed to clean out the dirty blood in the body. Fatty or oily foods are avoided.

Mother/baby playing

Cold drinks are avoided for 2 months because they are believed to ruin or rot the teeth.
A sweater is worn at all times. Cotton is placed in the ears to prevent air from entering the body. If the body is not kept warm, the body will chill easily as the woman grows older.
Sex is avoided for 3 months.
The placenta may be kept if the mother is strong & healthy. It may also be eaten to help promote health.

Flower design INFANT CARE

The infant is given a complete bath after delivery.
Males are not circumcised.
The umbilical cord stump is cleaned with a cotton swab and iodine or alcohol.
It is covered with gauze and the abdomen is bound.
Mittens are used to prevent scratching. The infant is kept bundled with a cap on to prevent cold air from entering the infant's body & causing illness.
The infant is mainly breast fed, but formula is available in the city.
Fingernails are bitten off, not cut.
It is believed that bad spirits will take the infant away or illness will befall him/her if praises are given to the newborn.

Flower design Baby in stroller Mother & child

This page was created by students in the ADN Program at Hawai'i Community College. We welcome your feedback. Please email us your comments.

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Updated October 7, 2005