Theresia Dalli from the Malta Medical Students Association looks into pregnancy in Malta, from the days when it was a taboo subject, to the ways in which science and technology have advanced and superseded outdated concepts, leaving old superstitions by the wayside.

In past times, some women wore the għonnella to hide their growing bellies.

Back in the days when science and technology were still in their infancy, people resorted to other means in an attempt to understand why certain things happened.

It was this culture of superstition that led our ancestors to attribute several misconceptions and traditions to issues such as menstruation, fertility and pregnancy.

Pregnancy used to be a time when the woman, especially if it was her first child, would feel ashamed of herself and would put on the għonnella to hide her changing figure. Women did not know what to expect during the upcoming 40 weeks, as no one would speak about the taboo subject.

Pregnant women used to follow a number of practices thought to prevent miscarriages or the birth of a malformed child – the latter supposedly being caused by a mother looking at individuals with a particular malformation.

Another common belief was that the mother should satisfy her cravings for special foods out of fear that her unborn child might bear a telling birthmark.

Thankfully, the advance of science and technology has superseded these outdated concepts, leaving superstition by the wayside.

Nowadays, importance is given to preconception care to ensure that the woman is prepared both physically and emotionally before getting pregnant. This includes incorporating certain nutrients in the diet, such as folic acid, which reduces the chance of the baby developing a neural tube defect.

Women are now being educated about the changes occurring in their bodies and how to embrace them. The immunisation against rubella and varicella zoster virus, among other vaccines, has been of great importance with regards to preconception care.

If either of these viruses were contracted in the early months of pregnancy, a miscarriage would be a real possibility, as would be a birth defect if the viral infection were to occur in the later stages.

Pregnancy used to be a time when the woman, especially if it was her first child, would feel ashamed of herself and would put on the għonnella to hide her changing figure

Women today are also more aware of complications that may arise throughout the nine months of pregnancy, including preterm labour and pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy).

Risk factors for preterm labour include stress, smoking, alcohol and drug abuse.

Birth before the 37th week can cause the infant to have respiratory, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal complications, as well as problems with nervous system development, as happens in cerebral palsy.

By knowing the risk factors that may lead to such complications in pregnancy, expectant mothers are forewarned – and forearmed – to minimise the risks they have the power to modify.

Women are informed about how the growing foetus changes from one week to another through the use of ultrasound.

This technology has also allowed a more accurate prediction of gender, which in the past was determined depending on whether the baby was carried ‘high’ or ‘low’ throughout the pregnancy.

The way people look at pregnancy has not only changed within the medical field, but also in modern society.

One clear example is with regards to teenage pregnancies.

Back in the 20th century, it was taboo for a young, unmarried female to get pregnant, and it was not an uncommon practice to send these teens away until they delivered the infant, who would then be sent to live in an orphanage.

Now, pregnant teens are more accepted by society and are given support to help them cope with the emotional ordeal of pregnancy as well as to prepare them for motherhood.

As the number of teenage pregnancies continues to increase there is also a shift in the role of the grandparents.

Previously, the grandparents were the ones who would look after the young children when their parents returned to a working life.

As most modern grandparents are still young and still working, they cannot help much with raising their grandchildren.

As a result, parents are now resorting to pre-schools found around the island.

These are only some of many ways in which people’s outlook on pregnancy has changed throughout the ages.

Although there is no doubt that society’s view on pregnancy will continue to evolve, the future will most certainly remain bright if the mother’s and infant’s health remains the top priority.