Some people have asked me how being pregnant in Cambodia is
different than the United States. I
honestly can’t answer this question since I have never been pregnant in the
United States before, but I can share my experience of pregnancy in
Cambodia. As I am now 7th
months pregnant, it’s becoming obvious to all that a child is coming soon. I had hoped that pregnancy would be something
that not only would bring us a child but would also be a way to break down
barriers and start conversations with people around me. In a country in which having children is a
significant part of life, it has done just that. All types of people smile at me, say hello,
and are happy to see my growing belly.
It has really been a sweet time.
One adorable 2-year-old girl came up to me as I was seated at a church
we were visiting and laid her head on my belly as if she knew her little friend
was right there.
Some Cambodian women have suggested that after I have the
baby I need to wear socks and gloves and drink hot liquids to make sure I stay
warm. Women in the countryside typically
sleep with a fire beside their beds after delivery. I am certainly not worried about being too
cold after delivery since 80 degrees constitutes a cool day in Cambodia. I have definitely been hot during this
pregnancy and have been envious of Cambodian men who stand around talking to
their friends with their shirts pulled up so that their bellies can cool down.
Marriage and having children are a standard part of life in
Cambodia. When people meet for the first
time, one of the first questions asked is, “Are you married already or not
yet?” If someone is unmarried, instead
of answering ‘no,’ the correct response is ‘not yet.’ If someone is already married, the immediate
next question is “Do you have children already or not yet?” If someone doesn’t have children, the
appropriate answer again is not ‘no,’ but ‘not yet.’ The formal word for saying that someone is
pregnant translates to something like ‘the area of the stomach,’ but people
typically use the expressions ‘to have child,’ ‘big stomach,’ or ‘heavy.’ The most typical expression for delivering a
baby is ‘to cross the river.’ As our
Khmer friend told us when he explained the expression, “It’s a lot easier to
cross the street than the river.” While
I initially agreed with him, after carefully considering his logic, I’m not
sure it really applies to Cambodia. I
have crossed the street many times in Phnom Penh, and I cross the river on a
small boat each week to get to the island church we attend. I certainly have a greater sense of
accomplishment when I make it safely to the other side of the street than I do
the other side of the river. In this
case, I am hoping that my delivery is more like crossing a Cambodian river and
less like crossing a Cambodian street!
