hello there! Thank you for asking, I wonder where did you get this superstition from. Monosodium glutamate is a normal over the counter salt and is used in chinese foods. And it is perfectly innocuous for pregnancy and any time else..But as it is salt any how women should avoid excess of it during pregnancy specially those who are having first babies or are risk for Pre eclampsia. As it can complicate the pregnancy due to pregnancy but chinese food has nothing to do woth it. we need to reduce intake of sodium whether that is through NaCl salt or MSG salt. But it is not some thing absolute. Precutions only iF pre eclamptic or risk. Regards Get Mommy soon s Khan