Pregnancy In Jamaica

For the past 7 months I've experienced a new aspect of the Jamaican culture. First of all, Jamaicans are blunt and very willing to share their opinions, and don't even try to question their views. So, being pregnant, I'm experiencing continually a clash between American and Jamaican views. I always try to kindly accept these views with a smile and just say, "Oh, okay," but, something within wants to let them know that their old fashion view on pregnancy is several years outdated. They give me the feeling that the healthiest thing for a pregnant woman is to stay at home, take naps, and literally do nothing!

I hang my laundry out on the line almost daily. Often, I'm told, "That's stretching too much!"
We go up and down a hill several times a day to eat meals or do things on campus. "Be
careful, go slow", or simply "don't."
And not that I do that great of job exercising with pregnancy, but I find out this is a definite
no, no!
I know I'm wrong on this one, but you should see their eyes when I pick up and hold Truitt!

The other day Kirk and I went in to get a tour of the hospital. I tried to ask several questions so I could be prepared with how labor and delivery may be different here than in the States. I asked the question if I could be up and walking through most of the laboring. The reply was, "Oh no! We'd be afraid the baby would just fall out!" Can you believe that, coming from a nurse?! I almost said, "That's what I want to happen!" But, instead, I smile and say, "Oh, okay."

So I try to be polite and not challenge them (too often), but this is a part of the Jamaican culture that I'm not so willing to change my lifestyle to theirs, in order to fit in. And if I would deliver here, I might be a difficult patient. In the middle of my contractions I'm not going to smile and say, "Oh, okay."