Can a pregnant lady attend funerals?

During pregnancy, the mother is going through vast hormonal changes and can be extremely vulnerable during this period of time. Having to go through a bereavement during this sensitive time does not help make it easier.

For Christians, Catholics and Free-Thinkers, there is not much taboo for pregnant ladies to attend funerals. However, for Buddhists and Taoists, pregnant ladies are generally advised against attending funerals unless it is the death of an immediate family member. Even so, extra traditional rites are taken to protect the mother as well as the foetus.

For Chinese, going to funerals can be seen as a potential problem as it might affect the “tai qi (foetus’s breath)”. For Buddhist Funerals, a red ribbon the length of which is measured to be the length of the decedent’s coffin will be used to tie around the pregnant lady’s belly to protect both mum and baby. For most Buddhist Funerals, an unused key would be used for this rite as well.

For Taoist Funerals, red ribbons are also tied to the belly but the accompanying element would not be a key and would be something else based on the decedent’s dialect.