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Birth Rituals
During pregnancy, Navajo women are encouraged not to drink milk or eat
salt, attend funerals or look at dead bodies of humans or animals, be
around sick people for long or go to crowded places, lie around too
much, tie knots, lift heavy things, look at the eclipse of the moon or
sun, weave rugs or make pottery, kill living things, or make plans for
the baby or prepare layette sets until after birth (Wilson, 1992).
Most animals, especially dead ones or those considered "evil" or
dangerous in any way should be avoided. The pregnant woman should
avoid strange or violent activity or it will affect the baby. She
should avoid excessive fat and sugar. If a woman ties knots or puts
bowls together while she is pregnant, she will have a hard time having
the baby. If the pregnant woman stands in a doorway while pregnant or
someone else stands in the doorway when a pregnant woman is present,
the baby will have difficulty coming out. Any activity that seems to
bind something up, to nail something shut to secure it, or to plug an
opening is seen as improper activity for a pregnant women or her
husband and perhaps other members of the family, at least while she is
present.
Traditional Navajo beliefs concerning labor and birth include thinking
positively about the delivery, having medicine people sing baby chants
and sing "unraveling" songs if necessary, drinking corn meal mush,
wearing juniper seed beads, burning cedar, holding onto a sash belt
while pushing, drinking herbal tea to relax, loosening the hair,
having someone apply gentle fundal pressure during pushing, squatting
to push, and drinking herbal tea to strengthen contractions if
necessary (Wilson, 1992).
After the birth of the baby, Navajo families are encouraged to bury
the placenta, drink juniper/ash tea for cleansing, drink blue cornmeal
mush, breastfeed the baby, smear the baby's first stool on mom's face,
and wrap the sash belt around the motheršs waist for four days after
delivery. Mom is encouraged not to drink cold liquids or be in a cold
draft, smell afterbirth blood for too long, show signs of displeasure
if baby soils during diaper change, burn placenta or afterbirth blood
fluids, or have intercourse for three months after delivery (Wilson,
1992). I have seen a few more of these beliefs being preserved. Most
Navajo families still do take home the placenta to bury under a tree.
The cafeteria occasionally serves blue cornmeal mush. Moms are also
encouraged to breastfeed their babies. In India, it seems that most of the ancient rituals are not regularly
practiced anymore. They have been replaced by crude hospital protocols
that include beating a complaining labouring woman. Originally their
culture promoted a very strong respect of mothers.
However, the following two ceremonies described in the Hari Bhakti
Vilas written some 500 years ago are still followed. I recommend it to
all the families when I assist with the birth of their children.
When a mother is soon to give birth, she is taken to a room in the
southwest of the house. In India, they follow Vastu which is the
ancient Vedic equivalent of feng-shui. According to Vastu the room in
the southwest should be reserved for tranquility. Before entering this
room, there are extensive religious ceremonies, with offering in fire,
welcoming the soon-to-arrive child and thanking the Lord for the
blessing.
When the child is born, before the cutting of the cord, the husband
first orders that no one cuts the cord and that the baby not be given
milk. He then quickly showers, and returns. By that time, the baby is
breathing nicely and the cord has stopped pulsating. At that time he
prays to Lord Visnu for intelligence, strength, and beauty for the
child and applies a minuscule portion of ground rice and barley mixed
with ghee (clarified butter) on the newborn's tongue. The rice and
barley are to be ground by hand by either a pregnant woman or a virgin
girl--both considered very auspicious. The father, or someone he asks,
then cuts the cord. The mother will be considered "contaminated" or
unfit to cook or attend most religious functions for at least a month.
This works out pretty well as it allows the mother to recuperate
without feelings of guilt for not participating in the communal
housework. Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (2:43 & October 25, 2000) |
