Paglilihi, associated with the food cravings experienced by women during the initial stage of pregnancy, is virtually a Filipino cultural traditon. Old Folk attribute some traits of the baby to the particular food cravings and other likes and dislikes of the mother during this stage.
How many times have we heard the story of a husband who had to dash into the rain in the middle of the night to look for manggang hilaw or whatever it is that his pregnant wife suddenly craved for. Tradition demands that husbands satisfy these demands, regardless of time and circumstance, or face predictions of possible miscarriage and misfortune.
Doctors do not know the cause of particular food cravings. In general, however, they know it is a time when a woman's hormone level, is high and this makes the mother-to-be very sensitive to her surroundings, like odors, tastes and behavior of people around her.
"Paglilihi, the Filipino way, is 50 percent biological and 50 percent cultural and psychological," says Dr. Ernesto Moreno, who doubts whether failure to satisfy paglilihi actually leads to miscarriage.
At any rate, "I always advise husbands to spoil their wives at this time." After all, disappoinment and depression in pregnant woman is bad for the baby. Wives need a lot of care and attention at that stage.
What about testimonies of fathers who claim they went through the paglilihi instead of their wives. This is a manifestation of the power of the mind, opines Dr. Moreno. "In psychology, they call the 'reflection,' in meaning, going through what the other person is experiencing." It happens, he says to very compassionate husbands.
Psychological or not, paglilihi is one of the trappings of filipino pregnancy that makes the experience difficult but unique and special not only for women but for the whole family.
-Haydee Abayan, The Mirror Guide
Me...Im craving for Holy Kettle Corn and Pinya (ang prutas na napakadalang kong kainin, na ewan ko kung bakit everyday kailangan ay meron ako nun sa breakfast ko!)
