Why Have I Never Seen a Pregnant Chinese Woman?

Pregnancy is an important time for both mother and baby. It’s a good idea to see your doctor or midwife regularly throughout the pregnancy so that any health problems can be treated early on.

Eat a healthy diet with fish and shellfish (high in healthy fats) and vegetables, and avoid drinks with added sugars or caffeine.

3. They don’t want to

Chinese people have very specific health beliefs and practices. For example, many foods and drinks are classified as either ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ and are believed to have different effects on the body. For this reason, pregnant women are often told not to drink cold drinks or eat cold foods like pineapple and watermelon.

They are also often advised to cut their hair short during pregnancy as long hair is thought to steal nutrients from the fetus. And there are lots of folk sayings around the sex of the fetus, such as ‘if it’s a girl, your skin will become plump and beautiful’ and ‘if it’s a boy, you will be stronger’.

In addition to these taboos, Chinese women often face discrimination at work for taking time off to have a baby. For instance, in 2019, Fan Huiling from Guangdong and a woman from Jilin were both fired from their jobs after announcing they were pregnant.

4. They are afraid

Pregnancy is not always easy in China, and women face discrimination at work if they announce they are expecting. Fan Huiling from Guangdong and a woman from Jilin were both fired from their jobs in 2019 for notifying their employers they were pregnant, and many other women report being sidelined or demoted when they returned to work after taking maternity leave. There are also a number of taboos around pregnancy, including not eating or drinking cold drinks (because it is believed to be the number one cause of miscarriage) and cutting your hair short because it is thought to steal nutrients from the fetus.