Baby comes early - to avoid Hungry Ghosts

September 3, 2010 by Webmaster

MALAYSIA - A WOMAN gave birth to her pre-term baby by Caesarean section in a superstitious bid by her parents-in-law to avoid the Hungry Ghost Month, Sin Chew Daily reported.

Fortunately, both mother and child were safe and healthy after the operation.

A gynaecologist and obstetrician told the paper that the mother had insisted in delivering her baby a few days short of 37 weeks, before the infant was ready to be delivered.

This was because her parents-in-law insisted that they didn't want a grandchild to be born on the seventh month of Chinese lunar calendar.

"I explained the risk involved in premature deliveries to the woman and her family members, but they remained adamant that the operation be carried out," the doctor said.

The newspaper also reported that the hospitals in Singapore had received several requests by soon-to-be parents to "avoid" births on a particular month every year.

Some of those in the Chinese community believe it inauspicious to give birth during the Hungry Ghost month.

However, the trend was in decline as the younger generation was not as superstitious.

Thu, Sep 02, 2010
The Star/Asia News Network

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SOURCE: http://www.asiaone.com/Health/Women%2527s%2BMatters/Story/A1Story2010090...