Pregnant women in Ethiopia will go to the house of their mother when labor starts. Once she arrives, all the men leave the family hut and the women of the village gather to provide support and encouragement. Most women have witnessed the births of siblings, cousins and other children of the village by the time they are ready to give childbirth. The women of the village stay throughout the labor. The women sing and tell stories for as long as the labor lasts. The children come in and out of the hut but no male child over the age of seven is allowed in. Ethiopians ideas and beliefs about childbirth is through a Christian religion. As labor progresses, women of the village pray and chant for the birthing mother to cope. The women dig a hole in the floor of the hut and the new mother births the placenta in the hole where it will be buried. The new mom does not get left alone with her baby for ten days. Ethiopians believe that the new mother is more likely to become crazy or possessed and may harm herself or the baby. Soon after the birth, a priest from the closest church will come and bless the baby and sprinkle holy water on any family member who has touched the woman. The holy water is meant to protect anyone who has had contact with the mother.
As childbirth is very different from ours in the United States, there a still some similarities. One of the similarities to my experience in childbirth, is the importance of faith and religion. While specific beliefs are different we still rely on our faith to see us through life occurrences. I also had the support and encouragement throughout my labor and after.
In the United States we have access to quality medical care throughout our entire pregnancy and after. We have choices that women in Ethiopia could only dream of. We can choose from hospital, home or birth center. We can choose a doctor or midwife. We have the choice to have our family and friends present during the labor and after. We our very blessed to have the freedom and opportunity for quality care here the United States.
Angie,
ReplyDeleteI too chose to do some research on the birth practices of Ethiopia-but I chose rural Ethiopia. I learned that 120 of every 1000 live births result in death compared to 4 for every 1000 live births in the U.S. The biggest reason is the lack of health care prior to and after birth. Reading your personal birth story, you needed access to qualified health care providers throughout your pregnancy and post delivery. Women in Ethiopia are not as lucky. It's truly unfortunate, but I did appreciate their practice of not allowing the new mom to be alone for 10 days post delivery. I thought that custom was a good one and can really help a new mother recover. Not to mention help with any kind of post birth issues or situations.
Angie-
ReplyDeleteChoices and access to medical care are so important. Had I not had access to medical care, my child and I would have died during the experience. I do like the idea of not being alone for 10 days, at least for the first child. I could have used some help and guidance as my hormones raged and I was terrified of not knowing what to do. Good thing those "motherly insticts" kick in. :)
I agree with Angie about having access to medical care. Things are very different in Ethiopia. I don't know if I would make it through childbirth if I had to go through it like them. I feel very fortunate to have access to the things we do here in the US. I also like the idea of not being alone for 10 days. I hurt so bad after my c-section. The extra sets of hands would have been nice!
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