Pregnancy Birth Traditions Across Cultures
Every country is different in many ways of giving births, home births with a Doula, natural way without medication . I’m from Puerto Rico and I know a lot of women are going back to the traditional way of giving birth, in the natural way at home, hospital, birth Doula, back to breastfeeding. Consisting of, home or without any medication, breastfeeding more and trying to give birth after having a C-section. But there are a lot of women, that don’t have the help and they accept all the doctor decisions which at times goes against their wishes. Some women don’t have the support of family, friends, and don’t have the means to look for information or ask questions. Others, are young or are simply focused on having a baby and without considering the consequences and all the decisions involved with the process.
Ecuador had 2 center mean two hopital, where they allow the natural way of giving birth. Some families look for options for the natural and relaxed setting than most traditional hospitals afford. Ecuador has an active La Leche League (LLL) operating out of both Quito and Guayaquil, has the second natural birthing centers.There is one Clinic call Clinica La Primavera. La Clinica Primavera focuses on providing a gentle “ humanized” birth, they allow the woman to walk around free, and choose her own positions during labor. The doctors do not do routine episiotomies. They dont take baby away from the parents. They provide a Doula that stays with the mom during labor for up to 48 hours so they don’t have someone every 6-8 hours. The percentage of C-section 2012 was 41%, 8 years later now increase 60%, why most of the times the mother take the decision not knowing the risk of C-section.
This mother is from Ecuador, she gives birth 3 times thru a C-section planning. The first pregnancy was regular with some of symptoms normally. All her kids born C-section planing. Her appointments was regular. The hospital treat her good, She mentioned in the interview if the mother give birth in a private hospital they treat her better, but if the mother give birth in a public hospital they don’t treat the patient not really good.
She did not have any traditional way. During her pregnancy was only eat meat, a lot of fruits, relaxing and not lifting heavy stuff. She grow up far from her mother, she doesn’t know her traditions she uses in her pregnancy. She does not have any religious or cultural traditions. On the other hand, the indigenous women of Ecuador hold such type of traditions.
Some research I look about the indigenous women, they traditions are spiritual. Childbirth is an ancestral ritual. The midwife plays a fundamental role, she is the one with the traditions and knowledge of how to welcome the baby.Each midwife do different traditions how to prepare the room, some midwife made a circle other made smoke in the room. The moment the baby is born, the midwife take it and holding and said the word welcome, if there feeling the baby is not properly welcomed, the baby will feel rejected.
After the welcoming, the umbilical is cut and the red thread symbolizes the color of life is tide. The indigenouse people had different ritual after the baby is born. The ritual with the placenta buried next to house, so they can remember where she is coming from. The first bath for the newborn warm water, whie, red and pink flowers. The first brush of the water with their flowers is like clean the ideas and negative influence of the environment don’t affect the baby. The midwife know the gender of the baby only touching the womb mothers, If you let your head touch it is a man, if not, it is a woman. Spiritual ambience of a room is indispensable within indigenous communities because it is where the baby will be welcomed, depending on how it is received, he will be with the world.
https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/regional/1/el-parto-indigena-un-ritual-de-vida
Dominican Republic
My next interview is from Dominican Republic, She had 3 kids, all her birth was through c-section, I asked her why, and she responded because she couldn’t dilated. She had a particular doctor for her 3 pregnancy, they treated her really good. All her pregnancy and birth were good, no complications, no special treatment, no medication. Her prenatal were good, normal nothing to be worry about it. She never knew the gender of their baby until the day their were born, because they didn’t have all the machine they we have right now, the only way they would know is with this tradition of many , is, the sound of the heartbeat and the shape of the belly, using that technique they know if was a boy or a girl. A lot of these traditions has changed since are more technology, more equipment where can see more and find more problems in baby or any other stuff. Most of the traditions in the Dominican Republic are more cultural than religious She doesn’t remember a lot of her mom tradition but she does remember her mom had a Doula on her pregnancy.She had all her baby in the hospital..
In the Domincan Republic when it’s come to give birth, most women go to public hospital and for thoese can afford go to the clinics. Most of the women go along with any decision the doctor made since they don’t have information or just follow any introduction and that why they have C-section. Most of the C-Section happen because the mother its short, old, the baby it’s big or coming in the way. Once the child is born, are several traditions, first the mother can not leave the house for 41 days. Second traditions during the 41 days the mother could not wet her hair or shower with cold water. No one was allowed to visit the baby or the mother if there were outside during the night.
There not a lot of midwives, not a lot home birth. There are also several English speaking, doctors only in private clinic. Pre-natal care of high quality is available in most private hospitals, especially in the main cities of Santiago and Santo Domingo. The treat them are better since are private. Breastfeeding still no common in Dominican Republic, but they recommended to do it, bug in private, mothers can not breastfeed their baby in public.
I am going to give some examples of different traditions in different countries around the world. Bangladesh , if you skin is radiant and brighter is a girl, and if you dark circles under your eyes is a boy. Turkey, is about food, if the mother start craving sweets during pregnancy is a boy, but if the mother is craving sour food is a girl. My favorite so far this one, In South Korea, once moms are discharged from the hospital, some spend several weeks with their babies at a special postpartum care center, where staff members may include nurses, nutritionists, a chef, and even a skin care team. Moms are treated to massages, yoga classes and help with caring for the baby. While the TLC comes with a price tag, many believe it’s critical to recovering well and preventing joint problems down the road.
https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-birth-traditions-around-world
