My Experience
The birthing experience I chose to write is the
birth of my first born, Kelly. My pregnancy was tough because I had morning
sickness until before giving birth to my son. I was so sick; I lost weight, and
the doctor asked if I was dieting. The day my son was born, my water broke
before me having labor pains. The ride to the hospital was scary and yet
exciting. I read the baby books about what to expect when you are expecting,
but I was still nervous. The doctors induced labor because my water broke. I
can remember the smells, sounds and the chatter in the labor room. Because I
was in labor so long and was not dilating, they decided to perform a cesarean
section. I was relieved when the doctors informed me about their decisions to
carry out the procedure, but I had no idea how much pain I would feel
afterward. My son was born in 1981 and back then, they put you to sleep, and
you do not remember anything about the birth. I did not get to bond with my baby
until later that morning, and that worried me because I read about how
important it is to bond with the baby as soon as possible. I stayed in the
hospital for six days, and when I was released, my mom told me I could not wash
my hair, go outside for a month or drink cold water. Although I did not have a
regular delivery, I would not change a thing, because, in the end, I was given
a beautiful baby boy who gives me joy every day of my life.
Birth in The South Africa Bush
Bushmen feels bringing a child into the world is a
gift to the tribe and a young mother is taught that how she feels and thinks
during the pregnancy will affect the labor and birth of the new baby. Other
members of the group will assist by helping to carry other children or food,
yet a pregnant woman is expected to continue with her normal duties such as
gathering food, cleaning, caring for other children and should not complain.
This renders a woman fit and healthy during her pregnancy – there is no room
for slothfulness or overeating in this society, a pregnant woman is rarely
overweight and an unborn baby is likely to grow to be the right size for the
mother to give birth.
Motherhood, amongst the San Bushmen, brings status
and social recognition to the young girl after she has navigated the journey of
pregnancy and birth. Unlike our attitude in the western world where women are
offered pain relief at the slightest twinge that labor may have begun, a
young Kung woman is actively taught that she must face the pains of
natural childbirth with courage and fearlessness. Most women will give
birth alone in a squatting position, some few hundred meters from their
settlement, and this is regarded as ideal, although mothers giving birth for
the first time may have a helper at hand. After the birth of the child, women
bite their cord with their teeth and bury the placenta before walking back to
the settlement. It is her duty, to return the placenta, which is no longer
needed, to mother earth. It also connects the infant to the territory a particular
group of Bushmen clan occupy.
Birth in South Africa: Indigenous
Traditions | Spiritual Birth. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.spiritualbirth.net/birth-in-south-africa-indigenous-traditions
The Differences
Women in San Bushmen do not eat a lot and sit around
during their pregnancy, When I was expecting, although I regurgitated every
day, I would have eaten more had I been able to keep the food in my stomach. I
had my baby in the hospital, and I was given pain meds during labor, but in the
Bush, women are not given any medications, and they give birth a few meters
from their home alone. My umbilical cord was cut and disposed of, but the Bush
Mothers bite theirs off with their teeth and bury before walking home.
When reading about the birthing process in The Bush
in South Africa, I learned that they do not have any technology, but because
the mothers do not gain weight and get lots of exercising by going about their
normal activities, the baby’s weight is normal and healthy. I make me wonder
what happens to the mother and child when complications arrive.
Birth in South Africa: Indigenous
Traditions | Spiritual Birth. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.spiritualbirth.net/birth-in-south-africa-indigenous-traditions
It's so funny how we can feel so prepared at one point and yet be so completely out of control. I read all the books and had this perfect image of what having my boy would be like. I like you, was not expecting a cesarean. It was pretty scary to me when I was told the baby had to come out immediately. I remember the ridiculous amount of pain I felt the next day when I got out of bed. I was not allowed to see my son until I walked over to the NICU to see him. I did not get to hold him until he was three days old. I was so scared that we wouldn't bond because of all I had read. Him and I are so close though I don't think that lack of bonding at the start affects us too much right now. I have to tell you I am so taken back by some of the traditions you wrote about. I thought I was tough for my labor experience. I do not feel like that anymore!! I can not imagine having a baby by myself and biting the cord off, talk about strong women!
ReplyDeleteIts interesting to read about the birthing practices in the South Africa Bush. I have heard of different practices regarding the placenta and the umbilical cord, however, I have never heard of anyone biting off the umbilical cord. I could never fathom doing that personally, however, for those who do not have the same technologies such as the United States, that may be the only technique that they could use. I have heard of burring the placenta in order to give back to the earth, however, I've always regarded the saying as an old wives tale until reading about your findings. Thank you for sharing these interesting facts about child birth practices in the South Africa Bush.
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