Pregnancy is a wonderful journey of fostering a new life inside you—and it comes with many responsibilities. You often try to do what’s best for your growing baby, which may stress you out, especially if you are pregnant for the first time
One may often come across a lot of questions and theories that may confuse you during your pregnancy. For example, “ Is an eclipse harmful during pregnancy?” is a common one. Eclipses occur when the sun is partially or fully blocked by the moon moving between it and the earth or when the moon is blocked out when the earth’s shadow moves over it.
However, there is a lot of debate among people about whether the eclipse negatively affects pregnant women. The unending advice from near and dear ones leads to a lot of anxiety and confusion among pregnant women.
An eclipse is a natural phenomenon which occurs when all three i.e., the sun, the moon, and the earth all come in one single line. When the moon comes between the sun and the earth, it is called a solar eclipse. When the earth comes between the sun and the moon, it is termed a lunar eclipse.
There are a lot of cultures around the world that have various opinions on whether an eclipse during pregnancy is bad or not. While some of them believe that pregnant women are affected negatively by the eclipse, others do not share this view. But, scientifically no evidence has proven that eclipses (both solar and lunar) are harmful during pregnancy.
However, more than myths and following traditions blindly, it is important to look at things logically.
Let’s have a look at whether eclipse can harm one only during pregnancy or if it can be harmful in general as well:
- Don’t Look At The Sun And Stay Indoors:
Yes, this is true, but this rule does not only apply when you are pregnant. You should avoid direct contact with the sun’s rays during a solar eclipse even when you are not pregnant.
The reason behind it is that the radiation of the sun is harmful and you should be cautious while having a watch towards it. Watching the eclipse with the naked eye can affect your exposure, it can also cause retinal burns because of the damage done to the light-sensitive cone cells and rod.
So whether you are pregnant or not, you should avoid looking directly at the sun during the eclipse as it can damage your eyes and cause what is known as ‘eclipse blindness.
- Do Not Eat, Drink Or Cook During An Eclipse:
You must have heard a lot of instructions about the eclipse from your family members. One such instruction is to avoid eating, drinking, or cooking during the eclipse.
This holds because it is a known fact that the rays of the sun are important for our survival. Without the sun’s rays, the earth might become another place with lots of harmful germs and microbes. This is what happens during eclipses. The sun’s rays get blocked which results in a sudden drop in temperature. Because of the drop in temperature and missing sun’s rays germs and microbes rise. This is said to have affected food items and every perishable item for that matter. Hence, it is advisable to avoid eating, drinking, or cooking during eclipses. The sun’s rays kill all the harmful bacteria and microbes, which otherwise might prove dangerous for humans.
A lot of people throw all the food cooked or prepared before the eclipse. It is to avoid any kind of contamination that occurs during the eclipse because of the missing sun rays and the increase in bacteria during the eclipse.
These were some of the major myths and beliefs regarding the eclipse during pregnancy. It is highly recommended that you should visit your doctor and clarify any doubts you have. An eclipse is the most spectacular phenomenon of nature which should not be looked upon as an omen.
When your elders warn you about the eclipse, realize that it is for you and your baby’s safety. They might be warning you out of their myths and beliefs. However, you know that these myths are born out of science and have simply been given a new face in the name of culture, tradition and myths.
Image source: Google
