Why is it better for pregnant women not to knit: signs and superstitions

A woman who knows how to handle knitting needles and yarn for knitting will never miss the opportunity to make something with her own hands for her child, even if he has not yet been born. Pregnancy is an excellent period in which the expectant mother can still afford to tinker with threads without haste or fuss. But for some reason, knitting is one of the many prohibitions for women in this position. Let's find out why.

Why do women start knitting during pregnancy?

Having crossed the threshold of 30 weeks and going on legal maternity leave, the expectant mother is faced with the fact that she has a lot of free time, but very few ways and ideas on what to do with it. It is at these moments that needlewomen take out skeins of children's yarn from their supplies and sit down to knit.

They are driven not only by the desire to keep their hands busy, but also by the hormonal processes characteristic of this period of pregnancy, which push the woman to prepare for the birth of a child. Among pregnant women, this period is called “nesting,” which clearly reflects the behavior of most expectant mothers. Blankets, booties and warm envelopes made of unusually soft and fluffy yarn, all this is carefully prepared and folded in a separate place in anticipation of “time X”.

However, no matter how useful and advisable an activity knitting is during pregnancy, it very often becomes a stumbling block in many families. The expectant mother may face a negative reaction from others - her mother, mother-in-law, and even her younger and more modern best friend, who claims that knitting can harm the baby.

 

What do superstitions say about this?

Despite the fact that the modern world has long moved away from ancient customs and traditions, superstitions and signs still have an unspoken power over people. Not only knitting during pregnancy, but also the entire process of bearing a child and subsequent delivery is shrouded in many beliefs and superstitions, which even the most superstitious expectant mother will not have the strength and time to follow.

Thus, since ancient times, it has been believed that by tying knots on knitting yarn and any other threads, a woman ties knots on the baby’s umbilical cord, which can subsequently lead to disruption of fetal development. If you turn to popular women's forums, every second participant can share terrible stories about how a woman who was engaged in knitting gave birth to a child with a double or even triple umbilical cord entwined around her neck.

Important!The entanglement of the umbilical cord around the child’s neck provokes oxygen starvation - intrauterine hypoxia, the consequences of which can be extremely severe.

If you believe folk superstitions, then all pregnant girls need to avoid any contact with threads and needles for both knitting and sewing:

• Careless handling of knitting needles and needles (if you prick yourself with them) will lead to marks on the baby’s body in the form of numerous moles and birthmarks;
• sewing up something (fixing damaged clothes, sewing together ready-made elements) can “sew up” the way for a child to be born;
• if you accidentally or intentionally step over the thread, this can also provoke entanglement and, as a result, hypoxia.

Opinions of gynecologists

Not a single competent and qualified obstetrician-gynecologist will prohibit a future mother from doing needlework, arguing that the child will get tangled in the umbilical cord. There is no scientific evidence or proof that knitting can harm a baby. But what really has a negative impact on the emotional and even physical state of a girl in this situation is inappropriate advice from others and the imposition of frightening signs and superstitions that are absolutely unrelated to real life.

If a girl feels good and gets emotional satisfaction from knitting, she can calmly engage in this type of needlework. The only thing a doctor should warn his patient about is that:

• You should not sit for too long knitting, as this provokes stagnation of blood in the pelvis;
• There is no need to knit at night or in poor lighting, as this has a bad effect on the eyesight and general condition of the young mother.

Important!Those women whose hands and fingers begin to swell after the thirtieth week will have to give up knitting and sewing. With swollen fingers, it is simply uncomfortable and even a little painful to hold thin knitting needles and needles in your hands.