The Chinese Year of the Golden Pig 2007
The turning of the Chinese Calendar from the Year of the Golden Pig (Feb. 18, 2007 to Feb. 6, 2008) to the Year of the Rat gives BWH Nurse the opportunity to look at some Chinese traditions, thanks to the work of six nursing students from Simmons College who spent the summer of 2007 in a student nurse practicum at BWH. The students: Lena Tang, Nora Wu, Maggie Malsch, Jon Redmond, Terri Drew and Pam Young, combined to author this piece under the direction of Clinical Instructor Pat Normandin, MS, RN, CEN, CPN.
Nurses and caregivers consistently strive to provide quality care to patients while taking into consideration their specific cultural needs. We would like to share a portion of the meaning of the Year of the Golden Pig in relation to caring for Chinese pregnant women and families. The Chinese population has witnessed a baby boom to have their offspring born in 2007, the Year of the Golden Pig, which affects nursing care.
2007 was the traditional Chinese Year of the Golden Pig. This is extremely significant in the Chinese culture because, although the Year of the Pig occurs every 12 years, the Year of the Golden Pig occurs only once every 60 years. The Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays and is celebrated in China, Korea, Japan, Viet Nam and other Asian countries. The first day of the traditional Chinese New Year changes every year.
The Chinese have strong beliefs surrounding the dates and times that their children are born. They believe that dates when their children are born have a large impact on their fortune and prosperity. The Chinese often seek advice from a traditional consultant to help plan the date of conception and ultimate delivery. It is common practice in China for the wealthy to schedule Caesarian section births for the exact dates and times they want to provide for the most favorable fortune of their offspring.
According to Chinese cultural beliefs, the pig is associated with fertility and virility. Families bearing children in the Year of the Pig are considered lucky because these children will be polite, straightforward, patient, modest, hardworking, happy, honest and have a large circle of friends. Babies born in the Year of the Golden Pig are considered especially fortunate because they are considered blessed, bringing good fortune, wealth, good health, happy, lucky with money, prosperous, hard working, perfectionists and will have a comfortable life. Traditional Chinese folklore suggests that The Year of the Pig brings good fortune to women. Chinese hospitals and clinics have noted an overwhelming influx of pregnant women and births which have strained their maternity services.
Traditional Chinese beliefs surrounding the concept of Yin and Yang translate to the care of the pregnant woman, who is feminine and of Yin nature. A man’s body is Yang. Yin is synonymous with a cold body, while Yang is considered the warm body. Because women have cold bodies, it is common practice to conserve their warmth in order to maintain a strong metabolism and adequate blood circulation. The Chinese believe that cold food and beverages may decrease blood flow in the mother, thereby placing her at risk for miscarriages or postpartum complications (for example, prolonged recovery time and osteoporosis). Nurses caring for Chinese women should take steps to ensure that only warm beverages are offered to the woman during her birth and postpartum.
The Chinese have many beliefs during pregnancy. The Chinese believe that no house construction should occur during pregnancy; there is fear that this will cause facial abnormalities or unsightly birthmarks. They believe that no rearrangements of furniture should occur in the bedroom during pregnancy, which began when labor and delivery occurred in the bedroom. The bedroom is considered the foundation of the baby, changing the furniture was considered unsafe and would cause an unhealthy baby. No scissors or cutting is allowed in the bedroom because the Chinese believe having scissors in the bed causes cleft lip/palate. During pregnancy, Chinese women are told not to climb stairs, ladders or lift anything heavy because it is believed this causes physical stress leading to a miscarriage.
It is common for the mother of the baby’s father to take a large role in caring for the mother during labor, the baby once he or she is born, as well as both infant and mother during the months following birth. It is essential for the nurse to understand that many decisions concerning care of the newborn and family will be made by the mother in-law and the nurse should be comfortable in including her on any updates on the infant’s status. The role of the mother following the birth of her new baby is to stay in bed for about a month. During that time, the mother’s only task is to breastfeed the baby. The mother in-law takes responsibility of the household. During this month of bed rest, the mother typically does not bathe or shower. The Chinese believe that during birth, the pores in the bone open up, which may cause osteoporosis. The nurse should not attempt to encourage the mother to bathe; however, providing clean linens and gowns is acceptable.
Many important Chinese beliefs should be understood in our providing nursing care of the newborn. Doctors in the Chinese culture encourage breastfeeding up to two years, not to exceed four years. Babies born with big ears, big eyes and big foreheads are considered favorable. A triangular shaped forehead is undesirable because it signifies the baby will be temperamental and fussy. If the horizontal crease in the child’s hand is broken, this indicates the boy will be rich some day, while it suggests impending poverty for the girl. When it comes to illness in the newborn, surgery is performed if the infant is born with a cleft lip or palate. The Chinese traditionally encourage phototherapy if the newborn is jaundiced.
As with all patients, it is important to be sensitive to their cultural ideals when providing nursing care. It is helpful for the nurse to have a basic understanding and respect toward their beliefs. If you are unsure, it is respectful to ask. Sensitivity and foresight can significantly increase the quality of our nursing care while providing increased comfort and safety for the patient.