| Mothers Honored Around the World |
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The following is an excerpt from After the Baby's Birth Revised Edition by Robin
Lim:
In India, Ayurvedic tradition encourages a new mother to stay at home
and be pampered for the first 22 days postpartum. Her role as a new
exalted one is honored. This time of rest helps strengthen the
infant-mother bond. In this precious lying in time, breastfeeding
becomes smooth. Rest and protection of both the mother's and baby's
delicate nervous systems are priorities. Few visitors are allowed.
Mother and baby stay out of the wind and weather, decreasing the
possibility to exposure to disease. Specially prepared foods are served
to the mother.
In Bali, a mother does not enter her kitchen nor does she wash her hair
until after the baby's cord stump has dried and fallen off; this ensures
her rest. For the first 105 days of life, the child never touches the
ground. She is held in arms continuously, floating like an angel from
one loving person to another.
Most Indonesian women do not go out of the family compound
(traditionally a cluster of homes for extended family, set among lovely
gardens) or resume their regular responsibilities until the baby is 42
days old. On the 42nd day, the baby is named and a feast is held. For
the first 3 nights postpartum, a Muslim Indonesian man must not sleep;
he must guard his wife and baby.
Some American physicians advise their patients to refrain from
"everything" for the first 6 weeks postpartum. Perhaps this was
adopted from the Talmud which states "A woman who has just borne a
child should not lie with her husband for 40 days." This Jewish practice
is shared by many traditional cultures all over our planet.
The majority of the births in Holland take place at home. Excellent
in-home postpartum care is provided by women called
Kraamverpleegsters (professional maternity nurse). They arrive at 8am
and leave at 5pm for 8 days. These angels take care of the laundry,
cooking, shopping, child care, act as hostess for visitors, and do
postpartum check-ups as well. They have daily contact with the
midwife or doctors who attended the birth, reporting all progress of the
mother and baby. Infant care is provided, parenting skills are taught and
breastfeeding is supported.
Lim:
In India, Ayurvedic tradition encourages a new mother to stay at home
and be pampered for the first 22 days postpartum. Her role as a new
exalted one is honored. This time of rest helps strengthen the
infant-mother bond. In this precious lying in time, breastfeeding
becomes smooth. Rest and protection of both the mother's and baby's
delicate nervous systems are priorities. Few visitors are allowed.
Mother and baby stay out of the wind and weather, decreasing the
possibility to exposure to disease. Specially prepared foods are served
to the mother.
In Bali, a mother does not enter her kitchen nor does she wash her hair
until after the baby's cord stump has dried and fallen off; this ensures
her rest. For the first 105 days of life, the child never touches the
ground. She is held in arms continuously, floating like an angel from
one loving person to another.
Most Indonesian women do not go out of the family compound
(traditionally a cluster of homes for extended family, set among lovely
gardens) or resume their regular responsibilities until the baby is 42
days old. On the 42nd day, the baby is named and a feast is held. For
the first 3 nights postpartum, a Muslim Indonesian man must not sleep;
he must guard his wife and baby.
Some American physicians advise their patients to refrain from
"everything" for the first 6 weeks postpartum. Perhaps this was
adopted from the Talmud which states "A woman who has just borne a
child should not lie with her husband for 40 days." This Jewish practice
is shared by many traditional cultures all over our planet.
The majority of the births in Holland take place at home. Excellent
in-home postpartum care is provided by women called
Kraamverpleegsters (professional maternity nurse). They arrive at 8am
and leave at 5pm for 8 days. These angels take care of the laundry,
cooking, shopping, child care, act as hostess for visitors, and do
postpartum check-ups as well. They have daily contact with the
midwife or doctors who attended the birth, reporting all progress of the
mother and baby. Infant care is provided, parenting skills are taught and
breastfeeding is supported.