Republic of the Philippines

CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES

Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

MYTHS AND BELIEFS RELATED TO PREGNANCY

1. Myth: While pregnant, Pregnant Mom should "Eat for Two"

There is no proof that pregnant women should eat for two people. Depending on
the height, weight, level of activity, and stage of pregnancy, Pregnant Mom may need to
consume more than usual. However, in general, most pregnant women should only
consume 350 to 450 extra calories per day. That includes a few extra fruit snacks, hard-
boiled yolks, or berry drinks.
Eating for two does not necessarily mean eating twice as much, but rather
choosing foods that will provide your baby the nutrients it needs to be healthy.
Unnecessary weight gain brought on by overeating during pregnancy may not only make
it more difficult to lose weight after birth, but it may also cause issues with delivery..
Instead what matters is eating a balanced, healthful diet and exercise. This will help the
mother to have a healthy baby.

2. Myth: Pregnant women shouldn't exercise, take hot baths, or dye their hair.
While pregnant, taking a warm bath is very fine. Just be careful not to go too hot.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy may cause you to feel warmer than usual. Spa
baths should be avoided since they can increase your body's core temperature, which
may cause overheating, dehydration, or fainting.
The small amount of chemicals in hair color are typically regarded as harmless.
Many women still, however, choose to refrain from coloring their hair during the first 12
weeks of pregnancy. You can use vegetable dye that is semi-permanent or color your
hair as briefly as possible. When using hair color, hairdressers should wear gloves and
operate in an area with good ventilation.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

The majority of workouts a pregnant woman does before becoming pregnant are
generally safe, but consult a doctor or midwife first. If the pregnancy is uncomplicated, try
to exercise for 20 to 30 minutes on average, four to five times per week. Avoid activities
like horseback riding, skiing, and cycling that increase your chance of falling. During
pregnancy, these might get out of breath or feel hotter more quickly. In general, exercising
while pregnant should be done at a light to moderate level to allow for conversation.
You're probably exercising too hard if you have trouble breathing while speaking.

3. Myth: Eat twin bananas to get pregnant with twins

Many elderly people think that eating two bananas increases your risk of having
several. However, parents today are aware thanks to modern medicine Multiples are
caused by genetic problems:
a. When one egg is released, it splits into two, giving rise to identical twins. This could
happen utilizing fertility medications or not.
b. More than one ovulation occurs or multiple eggs are released. both or additional
eggs have been fertilized, resulting in fraternal twins. Drugs for infertility are not
necessary for this to occur.

4. You have a boy if your belly is pointy. If it's rounded, a girl is inside.
Contrary to popular belief, baby's sex is NOT determined by the shape of
pregnancy bump. Instead, a number of factors, including muscle tone, uterine tone, and
the position of the baby, influence how your stomach looks. I'm sorry to break it to you,
but if you think you're carrying a boy because your stomach is low.
Despite what you think, the baby really descended lower during delivery since
you're more near to delivery. If you want a reliable way to determine your child's gender,
then Consult your physician about getting an ultrasound.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

5. Avoid eating adobo or dark chocolate to prevent passing the color to your
offspring!
Similar to the myth that states, "If you see something ugly, your baby will be ugly
too!," what you see or eat does not always determine the physical characteristics of your
child. Going back to biology in high school, your baby's physical characteristics will be
largely influenced by genetics.
The unborn child receives a total of 46 chromosomes from the biological parents.
The other 23 chromosomes are from the father, with 23 from the mother. The dominant
gene always triumphs over the recessive gene in biology. As a result, the dominant gene
determines the baby's appearance.

6. Wag hakbangan ang buntis dahil malilipat ang paglilihi sa'yo."

In particular, "paglilihi" refers to the desire for a variety of particular foods, and in
some cases, pregnant women are constantly seeking out strange or unusual food
combinations, such as green mango with ketchup or chicharon with peanut butter. Yes,
these food combinations are unusual, but for pregnant mothers, they are truly desired,
and you must fulfill their cravings as soon as you can.
Wag mong hahakbangan si mommy kapag tulog," but this is untrue, says science,
if you don't want to understand how the "paglilihi in pregnant" process works. Because
the hormones associated with pregnancy are to blame for mom's peculiar cravings. And
it is entirely typical. The senses of an expectant mother develop during pregnancy and
become more acute and powerful. It's for this reason that many pregnant women don't
enjoy certain smells, such as those of perfume or certain foods.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

7. When you are pregnant and planning a childbirth, you shouldn't wear
necklaces, and other myths about labor
The umbilical cord is said to wrap around the baby's neck according to
superstitious thinking, whether you're wearing a necklace or not. Of course, this is not
supported by any facts. The umbilical cord can wrap around your baby's neck, a condition
known as nuchal cord coil, but it is brought on by the baby's own movement inside the
womb and other outside factors and has nothing to do with the mom's choice of jewelry.
Another pamahiin discourages pregnant women from sewing or stepping over
ropes in order to prevent labor complications. There isn't any evidence to back up this
theory, like there is for many other pregnancy myths in the Philippines. Numerous factors
can influence the course of labor, so it's crucial to attend your prenatal checkups on time
and to communicate with your doctor if there are any issues.

8. During your pregnancy, you shouldn't have any sexual relations.

This is totally untrue. It's completely acceptable to have sex with your husband
when you're pregnant, even if you're on bed rest or have explicit instructions from your
doctor to refrain from strenuous physical activity. In actuality, there is almost little chance
that having sex while pregnant will hurt the unborn child. It's a wonderful method for
couples to connect and become closer as well. So, don't worry too much about it. For
information on safe and comfortable sex positions for expectant women, check some
articles.

9. Usog
In the Philippines, "usog" is occasionally held responsible for infant illnesses. Usog
is comparable to the western notion of the "evil eye." This is why, in order to counteract
the effects, visitors should put saliva on their hands, draw a cross on the baby's forehead,
and pronounce the phrase "pwera usog." This is not only untrue, but it may also be
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

harmful to the child as saliva contains many bacteria that the infant's immune system may
not be able to handle just yet. You call it direct contact because you can become ill from
a simple kiss, but there are so many diseases that can be spread through saliva.
Saliva contains a lot of bacteria, both good and bad, so if your baby is
immunocompromised or hasn't finished his vaccination, he won't have the antibodies to
fight the infection. The same idea applies to pregnant women, whose immune systems
are compromised.

10. "Don't cut your hair" or "don't eat a raw egg" to make labor easier for you!
It is not surprising that these claims lack a scientific justification. Contrary to what
these pamahiing claim, labor is based on the mother's health. Doctors and health
professionals advise the mother to maintain her physical fitness and activity throughout
her pregnancy in order to have relatively easier labor. You'll be able to handle labor pains
better and require less medical intervention if you stay in shape and increase your
endurance. However, it is crucial that you always get your doctor's approval before
engaging in any physical activity while pregnant.
11. A pregnant woman shouldn't take a bath at night.
Many ancient ladies' tales claim that taking a bath at night while pregnant is unsafe
for both the mother and the unborn child. However, according to science, it is actually
safe for a pregnant mother to wash at night. In the Philippines, pamahiin, or pregnancy
superstitions, are heavily influenced by temperature. Pregnant women should set the bath
water temperature to warm regardless of the time of day or night. The likelihood of
hyperthermia in pregnant women who soak in water that is 101-102°F for 10 minutes is
highest. Therefore, it is advised that expectant mothers consume moderate water. In
actuality, a pregnant mother's body benefits from a nightly bath. After a long, exhausting
day that left them with pains and aches all over their bodies, it helps them to refresh.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

12. Avoid cold water while pregnant.

According to a myth, pregnant women should never drink cold water. This is
because drinking cold water increases a child's chance of developing diabetes. However,
according to scientists, if you want to feel the movements of your unborn kid within your
womb, sipping cold water while pregnant is an excellent idea. According to one study,
drinking cold water improves metabolism, blood circulation, and organ function. However,
pregnant women should only consume cold water in moderation.

13. Pregnant women who enjoy music are more likely to have children who love
music.
Someone advised me to listen to a variety of music during my pregnancy if I wanted
my child to have a musical personality. My child is most likely to pursue a career as a
composer, singer, or musician. Science asserts that there is no support for this
hypothesis. But music may help you set the mood for your baby and for your mental well-
being.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

NURSING CARE PLANNING TO RESPECT

CULTURAL DIVERSITY
The Cultural Assessment The first step to providing culturally competent care is a
cultural assessment,which should be as integral to the comprehensive assessment as
are the physical, psychosocial,functional, and environmental assessments. A cultural
assessment:

● identifies the patient's cultural understanding of the health problem and how
cultural norms may affect the plan of care;
● identifies patient beliefs, values, and practices that could assist or interfere with
nursing interventions;
● helps the nurse better understand the patient and his/her frame of reference.

Three Strategies for Gathering Cultural Data Three strategies can help home care nurses
obtain comprehensive cultural assessment data efficiently:
1. Ask the patient or family to express their knowledge of the health problem and how
they think it should be treated.
2. Consult cultural resources to gain insight about cultural patterns that may need to
be considered in assessing the patient's needs.
3. Embed questions into the pain, nutrition, medication, functional, and psychosocial
assessments to uncover the impact cultural norms have on these parts of the
comprehensive assessment. The remainder of this article will discuss each of
these assessment strategies
1. Ask the Patient or Family About Their Understanding of the Health Condition
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

The most important cultural assessment method is to ask questions that extract the
patient's culturally impacted explanation of the health problem (Kleinman, Eisenberg, &
Good, 1978):
● What do you call this illness? (Diagnosis)
● When did it start? Why then? (Onset)
● What do you think caused it? (Etiology)
● How does the illness work? How does it affect you? (Course)
● How long will it last? Is it serious? (Prognosis)
● How have you treated the illness? How do you think it should be treated?
(Treatment)

These questions can be expanded in order to address the particular issues or

problems. These questions also promote trust and enable the patient to feel heard and
understood. Nurses should question the patient conversationally not in a direct approach
because questioning the patient conversationally is more effective than direct approach..
One non direct technique is to ask the patient what another family member thinks is
causing the problem. Often, patients are more likely to reveal their cultural perspective
when it can be ascribed to another, especially when they fear the nurse could be scornful
of cultural beliefs and practices. After the patient describes how a family member thinks
the problem should be treated, the nurse can simply ask, in a nonjudgmental way, what
the patient thinks about

2. Use Cultural Resources to Understand the Patient's Culture Nurses can find
information about different ethnic and religious cultures by referring to books or Internet
resources. These resources typically identify the following key areas:Nonverbal
communication patterns.Nonverbal communication patterns are patterns-such as eye
contact, use of space between people, use and meaning of touch, facial expressions, and
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

hand and body gestures-send strong messages that can have very different meanings in
different cultures. Social etiquette customs and norms. Nonverbal communication
patterns are frequently sources of serious miscommunication between the clinician and
the patient.

Social etiquette customs and norms.There are different cultures, beliefs, and
behaviors that are considered polite in one culture may be rude in another culture.
Examples include
● degree of formality in the way people greet one another,
● degree of deference shown to people of different gender/age/social class,
● importance of removing one's hat or shoes before entering a home,
● importance of "small talk" or accepting an offering of food or drink before getting
"down to business."Without considering this information the nurse can be offensive
and compromise the ability to establish rapport.

Health and illness beliefs, values, and practices commonly found within the cultural
groupUnlike the Western/biomedical understanding of disease, which emphasizes the
scientific paradigm,other cultures may emphasize the mind-body-spirit-environment
connection or the importance of achieving balance and harmony. To these cultural groups
our treatments may seem misguided or too narrow to address the underlying health
problem. Different cultural groups tend to rely on different kinds of therapies and
medications. Americans tend to value pills, while another cultural group may believe
injections are the best medical intervention. Others may prefer teas, ointments, or salves.
Many Cultural groups believe that health is not under our control but is governed by God,
fate, or destiny.When delivering patient teaching, the nurse's education plan needs to
notice this belief and provide extra teaching; instead of expecting the patient will grasp
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

that a change in lifestyle will improve health.Beliefs, values, and behaviors around life
duration and life's milestones

Different cultural groups define a "good birth experience," "good child rearing,"
"good aging"and a "good death" differently. For example, some cultural groups consider
proper burial of the placenta important to the future well-being of the child and family and
are appalled that Western clinicians treat the placenta as a biomedical waste product.
Another illustration is how cultural groups define what constitutes ethical treatment of
patients who are nearing the end of their lives. The honesty and autonomous decision
making that theWestern biomedical ethical system requires is considered by other ethical
systems to be cruel and deleterious to the patient's well-being

Genetic variations and risk factors.

The nurse should be mindful when assessing the patient regarding genetic
variations, which include not only skin color, body shape, and propensity to certain
diseases and disorders, but also drug metabolism.

Attitudes and responses to pain.

Culture has a strong impact on how patients express and treat pain. When we are
young, we learn culturally acceptable ways of expressing and managing pain by seeing
how our parents and others respond to pain. Some cultural groups are very stoic. Others
are very expressive, such that screaming, loud groaning, and thrashing may be expected
responses to moderate pain.Western biomedical practice quantifies pain in numerical
terms, but patients from Eastern or Southern Cultures may find numerical pain scales
confusing. Some cultural groups are reluctant to use pain medications because they view
pain as a means of developing personal strength or virtue, or because they are concerned
about the stigma associated with narcotic medication.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Nutrition and dietary practices.

Some religious groups prepare their food in a special way (e.g., Kosher, Halal)
(e.g., Kosher, Halal). Certain foods, such as pork, beef, and any animal products, are
considered unacceptable by some cultural groups. Alternatively, they may consume foods
or herbs that interact with certain medications. Some ethnic groups are prone to certain
food sensitivities such as lactose intolerance. Meal timing may differ, such as when the
main meal is consumed; fasting may be a common practice—important information to
obtain if the patient's medications include insulin. Just as many people in the United
States insist on chicken soup when they're ill, other cultural groups may prefer special
foods when they are sick. Many Asian andHispanic/Latino people consider illnesses and
foods to be hot or cold (based on quality, not temperature) (based on quality, not
temperature).

Family roles and psychosocial norms. Culture has an enormous influence on how family
members typically see their roles when one among them is ill, including:
● Caregiving: Cultures define which family members can or should provide care to
other family members.For example, it may be taboo for a husband to provide
certain types of care for his wife.
● Decision making: In most non-Western cultural groups, it is not the patient but the
head of the family or the family as a whole who is expected to hear the information
from the doctors/nurses and to make decisions regarding the patient's care.
● Sick role: Western medical goals include patient independence and self-reliance.

3. Include Cultural Questions in the Correct Areas of the Comprehensive Assessment

Several areas of the comprehensive assessment, such as the pain, nutrition, medication,
functional, and psychosocial assessments, are significantly influenced by culture. With
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CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

insight gained by consulting cultural resources, expanding on questions included in these

assessments can uncover cultural factors thatimpact the patient's needs and care.

Pain Assessment
Discovering how the patient expressed and managed pain in the past helps the
nurse correctly interpret the patient's present pain experience. Acknowledging cultural
information about pain management with declarative statements and then asking if the
patient feels the same or differently is helpful.
Nutrition Assessment. Getting a patient to recall their diet for the previous two days is one
way to find out the cultural aspects of their diet. Another way is to include questions cued
by the cultural resources, such as asking about fasting (if common in the patient's culture)
or about foods the patient considers healing or harmful during the present illness

Medication Evaluation
To determine if the patient uses traditional remedies that may interact with the
patient's prescribed medications, the nurse might say, "Some of my patients tell me about
traditional remedies that are helpful when they are ill. Are there remedies, such as herbs,
ointments, or teas that you have found helpful?" To determine if the patient has
particularly strong feelings about Western Medications or has had problems related to
ethnopharmacologic variability, the nurse can ask about past experiences with prescribed
medication
Functional Assessment
In addition, the cultural value placed upon modesty—who can be involved in
bathing and using the restroom—should be investigated, especially for taboos related to
opposite gender caregivers. Many cultural groups have special rituals for hygiene or rising
and going to sleep.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Psychosocial Assessment
The nurse, with the patient, should determine who should be informed about the
patient's status and involved in decisions about the patient's care. Who—the patient or
another—is the decision-maker? What perspective do the patient and family have of the
"sick role"? Do different family members have different degrees of acculturation to the
American culture causing intergenerational conflict over how illness should be treated?