Is it possible for pregnant women to go to a cemetery: why an expectant mother cannot say goodbye to the deceased

Waiting for a baby is a very anxious and unforgettable feeling for every woman. And for all nine months, a pregnant woman can “fly on wings”, feel spiritual and very strong, or experience malaise, anxiety, fear and is constantly in a drowsy state.

Those women whose pregnancy proceeds in anxiety begin to pay attention to any signs of fate, omens and superstitions. After all, entire legends have long been formed around the interesting position of the girl - mothers and grandmothers tried so hard to protect the pregnant woman from any misfortune that even a breath of wind was perceived as a paranormal phenomenon.

To this day, pregnant women follow ancient signs. For example, they don’t cut their hair - supposedly the child’s vitality and beauty will dry up after visiting the hairdresser. Even obstetricians follow the superstition - a woman should give birth with her hair down, and there should not be any round objects on her body: rings, earrings, elastic bands. Allegedly, a baby during childbirth can become entangled in the umbilical cord and suffocate.

One of the most frightening superstitions about pregnant women concerns their visits to cemeteries. And then the question arises: should I go to the cemetery or not? After all, every woman expecting a baby perceives everything related to death very hard and anxiously.

Does the Christian Church prohibit pregnant women from going to the cemetery?

In the Bible, the main book of all Christians, there are nowhere direct instructions on who, when and how to go to the graves of the dead. There is no direct ban on visiting the cemetery by expectant mothers. On the contrary, there are instructions for all Christians to respectfully accompany the departed on their final journey. Therefore, priests usually do not prohibit expectant mothers from going to the cemetery if they want to say goodbye to a loved one or visit a grave.

In Christianity, death is a transition to another world, to a heavenly abode. Therefore, a funeral is not such a bad event. This is simply a change in the “place of residence of the soul.” And a cemetery is a place where the bodies of the dead lie until the time comes to resurrect at the call of God.

Christian believers should not be afraid of ghosts. They simply don't exist. The dead do not turn into ghosts, and their souls do not wander around cemeteries. Moreover, all baptized women are protected and no evil force can harm them. This protection also extends to the fetus living in their womb. Priests warn that belief in evil ghosts is a superstition unworthy of a Christian. Of course, evil forces exist, but they do not live in cemeteries.

Let's follow the rules!

For the same reason, they tried to protect the pregnant woman from all worries associated with funerals and burial:

They were not allowed to wash the deceased, clean the house after removal, and even at the wake they did not sit her on a bench where 11 people were already sitting. (She + child = 2 people. 11 + 2 = 13. The number 13 was considered a bad number among the Slavs not at all because Judas was the 13th at Christ’s table during the Last Supper (they didn’t know anything about Jesus then), but because just as the number 13 is a damn dozen, a borderline number before two “sevens” - respected and purely positive numbers).
A week included 9 days, a month - 40. It becomes clear where the custom of commemorating the deceased on these days came from.
All family and household rituals were tied to these numbers ; it was imperative to adhere to them; a pregnant woman had to follow these rules especially carefully, because she was responsible not only for herself, but also for the health and future fate of her unborn child.
A woman “in heaviness” was not allowed to look out of the window until the deceased was interred or placed on a crode (a funeral pedestal made of logs and straw for burning the body).

The removal of the body was carried out through a window; often it was even cut through just for this purpose. It was believed that the soul of a dead man could catch on to the soul of a baby and harm him.

The pregnant woman could not even look out the window while the dead man was being carried out

What do psychologists say about this?

The opinion of psychologists is slightly different from the position of clergy. Of course, there is nothing reprehensible in a pregnant woman visiting a cemetery. However, in most cases this is not recommended. The main reason is possible stress. If it is the funeral of a loved one, it will be difficult for the expectant mother to control her emotions. This will negatively affect her well-being and the condition of the baby.

Strong experiences experienced by the mother during pregnancy can cause nervousness in the child. Often this affects his character and leaves an imprint on the rest of his life.

If the expectant mother is going to the cemetery simply to visit the graves of long-dead relatives or to see the burial place of a famous person, this is not prohibited. The main thing is that this trip does not bring negative emotions. Therefore, before you get ready to visit the graves, you need to sit down and think about whether this scares you, whether there are any negative emotions, what feelings you are going with. If everything is fine, you can go.

How to protect yourself from negative interpretations

Before you go to the cemetery, you need to follow a number of simple rules. This will help minimize possible negativity from the action of dark forces.

The visiting time should be either morning or afternoon. The evening is associated with the end of life, and is not suitable for pregnant women, as well as for everyone.
Before going, go to church and ask for a blessing from the clergyman. Pray, light a candle to the saints, let them protect you and your child while you pay tribute to your deceased relatives.
Don't forget about the amulet. This can be an ordinary red thread, and, of course, a pectoral cross.
Remove all jewelry and leave it at home.
When setting out on a journey, read a prayer and cross yourself.
Take a bottle of holy water with you. If, for example, you tripped, then to avoid trouble, wash yourself with holy water and leave quickly. When leaving the cemetery gates, cross yourself and read the “Our Father.”
If you dropped money among the crosses, do not pick it up. Don’t regret even large bills.
At the cemetery, try not to make eye contact with other visitors, do not talk to strangers to avoid damage and the evil eye.

The visit should be short, ten minutes maximum.
Experts in superstitions recommend paying attention to how the animals living among the graves behave. Dogs, birds, cats, other animals. If they are friendly, or at least do not attract attention in any way, then the path is clear. When their behavior goes beyond the usual, then without hesitation, leave and return home. This is how good forces try to warn about possible negative consequences. Most likely the day is unfavorable for visiting, and evil spirits are out hunting. A dangerous sign when a cat lies down on a grave. The white animal is a bright soul that warns of danger. Black - a witch on a walk.
You can't take pictures in such mournful places. The energy of the cemetery will surround you in the photo and it is difficult to say how this will affect your future fate. Don't try to check.
You must leave the world of the dead the same way you came.

Important: A pregnant woman can believe in omens or completely reject them, but from all points of view, it is better to come to the deceased loved ones after childbirth. For now, avoid places where restless souls, evil spirits and other evil spirits roam.

What do philosophers think about pregnant women visiting a cemetery?

There are many different philosophical movements, and not all of them are interested in issues of pregnancy and going to the cemetery. But a general idea can be formed. From a philosophical point of view, pregnancy is the beginning, the birth of a new life. And a cemetery is a resting place for those whose lives have already ended. In fact, pregnancy and a cemetery are complete opposites, like the beginning and the end, life and death. But our entire existence is a unity of opposites.

From a philosophical point of view, there is not a single reason for pregnant women not to go to the cemetery. If the expectant mother wants, she can go wherever she sees fit. Perhaps it is precisely the meeting with death that will allow her to more fully experience the joy of the opportunity to give the world a new life.

Opinion of mystics and occultists

The cemetery is very closely associated with mysticism, therefore, it is those who adhere to the idea of the existence of various supernatural beings who “know” most about the influence of cemeteries on expectant mothers:

Many mystics believe that every person is surrounded by a special aura or biofield. After death, it does not disappear, but remains circling around the body buried in the cemetery. This energy formation can negatively influence the aura of other people. In the living, it can cause dizziness, weakness, panic attacks and loss of consciousness. Naturally, pregnant women with their unstable nervous system are an ideal target for such “ghosts.”
There is also a diametrically opposite opinion. A cemetery, where many generations of relatives are buried, can be the most peaceful and safe place on earth. After all, the “spirits” of ancestors live here, capable of protecting and helping.

How to relate to the ideas of mystics? Better, of course, with healthy skepticism. But everyone knows that the emotional sphere of pregnant women is very unstable, so you need to start from your own well-being. If you believe that your aura could somehow be damaged in a cemetery, it is better not to go there. Those who seek support and consolation from deceased ancestors can safely visit them at any time.

Church opinion

Orthodox priests not only allow pregnant women to visit the cemetery on the memorial (parental) day, but even recommend doing so. This position is dictated by the fact that each of us has obligations to deceased relatives and friends, and therefore must regularly visit them at the burial site and care for the grave.

Faith in God should help a woman cope with prejudices, and sincere prayer and the opportunity to symbolically talk with loved ones contribute to internal cleansing and calm.

But if graves, crosses and thoughts about the afterlife scare you even at home, then the priests recommend staying at home or praying in church.

What do doctors advise?

Medical science refutes the existence of any energy entities living in the cemetery and capable of negatively influencing people. Therefore, from the point of view of doctors, walking in a cemetery is no different from walking in any other place. Considering that they are usually located outside the city, where the air is much cleaner, going to a cemetery is much more useful than visiting living people.

But there are situations when doctors advise everyone to refrain from visiting a cemetery:

When there are large crowds of people. It could be Easter or any other holiday when it is customary to remember the dead. At such times, many people gather around the graves, often coming from other regions. This significantly increases the risk of catching an acute respiratory infection or other infection. The tradition of family members eating food together near the graves of their ancestors can lead to food poisoning.
During the funeral. Negative emotions can have a negative impact on a woman’s well-being and the health of her baby. Severe stress can cause uterine contractions and even premature birth.

The ability to visit cemeteries during pregnancy depends on how the woman perceives them. Many people are afraid of the very sight of crosses and graves. Of course, in an interesting situation, they should avoid such places. But there is a category of people for whom cemeteries evoke a feeling of calm and tranquility. Such trips may even be useful for them.

Women whose pregnancy is already clearly visible need to understand before going to the cemetery that there are people who consider this unacceptable, and they will try to convey their opinion. If you are not confident in your restraint and resistance to stress, it is better not to provoke them and stay at home.

When going to a cemetery, a woman must definitely warn her loved ones where she is, especially in the last months of pregnancy. But it’s better to go on such trips with a loved one. Even if you feel well, support never hurts.

The meaning of the sign

The main argument of magic connoisseurs is the fact that a baby growing in the womb has not yet acquired a personal guardian angel. Therefore, he is not protected from the influence of dark forces, which live in large numbers among the grave crosses.
There is an assumption that the child does not yet have his own soul, and some restless souls wandering around the cemetery may occupy his body.
Also, souls remain on earth for up to forty days and only then, after judgment, are sent to the place of eternal life. At the moment of leaving, they can capture the weak, barely born soul of the child.
Evil people love to visit the land of the dead. There they are fueled by the energy of evil, and if they meet a pregnant woman along the way, they can jinx her, spit on her, and whisper unkind things. You can't expect anything this good.
It is believed that having been in an interesting position at the grave of a loved one, the child’s strength will weaken and he will be born frail and lethargic.
Stumbling over a grave, or simply on the way to it, means trouble.
You cannot take anything from a cemetery and bring it into your home. By taking from the dead, you anger them, and they can punish you with illnesses and misfortunes.

Where did the ban on visiting cemeteries come from?

Religion, science and philosophy do not prohibit pregnant women from going to cemeteries. So where did the strong opinion come from that this should not be done? This is a wild mixture of the foundations of Christianity, esotericism and occultism, as well as the primitive beliefs of people of the pre-Christian period. The peculiar folk art, which is passed on from mouth to mouth in the form of signs and “scary tales,” has become the reason that most pregnant women seriously believe that the path to the cemetery is closed to them.

The most common explanations for why expectant mothers are not allowed to go to the cemetery are:

There is the energy of death there. And although life and death constantly replace each other, women should avoid places with such energy. The inability to detect this energy with modern instruments does not bother anyone.
The child does not have his own guardian angel. A person receives his protector during baptism. Before that, he is weak and susceptible to the influence of evil. Therefore, a woman with a baby in her womb should not go to the cemetery. At the same time, the Christian religion believes that the baby is protected by the mother’s angel and while he is in the tummy, nothing threatens him. Only babies are at risk from birth to baptism.
The souls of the deceased can steal the soul of a child. A statement that might be supported by occultists or mystics. From a Christian point of view, this is impossible, since there is no mechanism for stealing souls. Science also does not recognize the existence of the soul, much less the possibility of its separation from the unborn child.
The soul of a deceased person can move into a child. A statement that does not stand up to criticism, either from Christianity or from science.

How to deal with such prohibitions? As with any folk tale. It would never occur to anyone to believe in Kolobok or Baba Yaga, and they are a bird of a feather with such prohibitions.

Is it possible for pregnant women to go to a cemetery - conclusion

Any Christian or atheist who does not believe in the transmigration of souls and other magic can go to the cemetery when there are no medical contraindications. Only the woman herself decides whether to walk or not to walk. If there is even the slightest doubt in your soul, it is better to spend time in a more pleasant place. If the expectant mother is easily influenced and worries about other people’s opinions, it is better not to appear at the cemetery “with a belly.” If visiting graves can cause stress and bad mood, it is better to postpone it until the baby is born and grows up.