Hi everyone

I was encouraged to start this thread by some other BBers after discussing it in my blog recently. The topic I'd like to broach is:

Does anyone have any pregnancy, birth or baby cultural traditions that they observe?

These traditions can be from any culture or even specific family traditions.

Here is a bit of background to my story - I'm currently 27 weeks pregnant and my husband was born in India (he moved here with his family as a teenager). His parents are Hindu and are active in maintaining their religion/cultural traditions. My DH identifies as being Hindu by birth, but is not particularly religious. My FIL explained to me that Hinduism is not so much a religion as a philosophy. From what I have experienced, it is very much tied up with culture and tradition.

My MIL is very excited about our little bun in the oven, and I have learned a few things about Hindu customs around pregnancy and birth so far. These are;

- There is a ceremony (puja) done about 4 or 5 months and a locket style charm is given to the pregnant woman to wear around the neck or arm to protect mother and baby. In my case the charm is a locket that has a part of a flower that was offered to the Goddess Kali at a temple in India. That flower was then inserted into the locket and sealed with beeswax.

- At about 1 month before the baby is due there is a 'ladies function' held called Shaad (which means desire). I haven't had it yet but I imagine its a get together of women family and friends and I think the pregnant lady is encouraged to eat to her hearts desire. I might update this when I've actually experienced it!

- Hindu tradition believes its bad luck to buy things for the baby before it is born. I'm not sure how strict this one is - I only heard this via DH and am asking him to clarify. This is the only tradition I have struggled with so far... I think we may have to work out a compromise. I can see how it works in traditional Indian extended families where people usually lived with their family members in one big house, but in Aussieland? I don't have any family in the state! I'd be interested to hear more about this one.

Anyone else got stories to add?