APRNEWS - culture has their own beliefs and rituals concerning the pregnant mothers. In China, the rituals regarding pregnancies range from unique to something that should be practised throughout the world to better the way pregnant women are treated.

In China, once a woman conceives, the father-to-be carries his pregnant wife over amber coloured, burning coal. It is said that if the father successfully does this, the mother is believed to have a smooth and less painful labour. The men do this painful ritual because the mother of the child during the pregnancy has 9 months of raging hormones, and pain, they do not think that they should have an easy journey either.

This ritual might seem like a taboo to others because walking on coal seems very unhelpful in “making it easier” for their pregnant wives, however, it is a very unique, and spiritual one that shows how the father takes on some of the pain that the mother has to deal with.

They believe this ritual shows the compassion and love that the father of the soon-to-be has for the newborn child, and the mother.

The world would definitely be a better place for pregnant women if all the fathers-to-be actually showed the devotion and compassion for this beautiful process of life, like the Chinese.

BY Fejiro Onohwosa