More than 350,000 babies are born every day. Discover how different cultures embrace the unique wonder of birth.
There are thousands of wonderfully diverse cultures around the world, separated by differences in language, religion, philosophy, and perspective. However, there is one thing that unifies them— the single act of giving birth and bringing new life into this world. And while attitudes and customs surrounding pregnancy and childbirth differ wildly across the globe, there is no doubt that there is a huge amount to be learned from each other’s knowledge and experience.
All women feel an increased need to protect themselves (and their growing baby) during pregnancy, by trying to avoid stress and guard against unnecessary risk. Yet the lengths to which different women will go to achieve this vary hugely. Some women in Central America, particularly those of Mayan descent, are so fearful of exposure to disease, evil spirits, and even the ill will of others that they may spend the whole nine months at home. In some Asian countries, it is strongly believed that a woman’s mental state during her pregnancy can influence the personality of the unborn child, and so pregnant women avoid funerals, sex, fits of temper, and even gossiping. At the other end of the spectrum there are many women, such as those in Ethiopia, who find it more reassuring to view pregnancy as a natural part of life so they don’t make many changes in their daily routine.
Giving birth is a primal and instinctive act, but in many countries it is also governed by ancient customs intended to facilitate the process. Indian mothers, for instance, wear their hair down and remove jewelry and head coverings in order to abandon constraint and embrace the natural process of labor; all doors and windows in the house are opened to symbolically encourage an easy passage for the baby.
In Morocco, women are treated to tummy rubs with oil and herbal infusions to alleviate pain. Guatemalan women drink beer in which a purple onion has been boiled in order to speed up delivery, while some Native Americans use blue cohosh root, because it is believed to encourage uterine contractions.
In some cultures, birth is considered to be highly sacred. For example, while the placenta and umbilical cord are often regarded as mere by-products of birth, in many communities they are viewed as potent forces, with the power to influence the baby’s future. In Japan, the umbilical cord is cleaned and put in a special box in the belief that it will promote a strong mother–child relationship. In Mali, the placenta is believed to be closely connected to the baby’s welfare, and after the birth is cleaned and placed in a basket that the baby’s father will then bury.
In Syria, mothers are prescribed parsley to help bring their milk in, while some Indian women bathe in cows’ milk after baby is born.
The period immediately after birth is one of transition, and most women are heavily supported during this time. Many cultures even impose a traditional confinement period. In Italy and Colombia, mother and baby are expected to stay in the house for 40 days to avoid exposure to the cold and to germs.
This is echoed in China where new mothers are protected from wind and even cold drafts from airconditioning units and fans, since exposure is believed to weaken the body, leaving it susceptible to illness. In Vietnam, the mother-in-law moves in for a month to take charge of preparing hearty soups and stews containing medicinal ingredients, such as ginger and sesame (both associated with maternal health).
To many parents, this level of constant care may seem an unwelcome intrusion, since time alone with the baby or as a new family unit would be limited, and the freedom to make mistakes and learn the ropes on their own is something many new parents crave.
However, few people could complain about the arrangements in the Netherlands, where every new mother is provided with a maternity nurse who visits the baby at home for several hours on each of the first ten days. Equally appealing is the Indonesian tradition, where new mothers are given daily 90-minute massages with a blend of special herbs, to soothe away aches and stress, and even reduce the risk of blood clots.
On the third day of a Tibetan baby’s life, people bring gifts of yak-butter tea, barley wine, and cheese to represent wishes for an abundant life
Every culture has its own unique way of welcoming a new addition, from the Balinese tradition of ensuring the baby’s feet do not touch the ground for 105 days, to the Inuit custom of greeting a new baby with a handshake. But one thing that seems to be instinctive to us all, as humans, is for family and friends to gather to hold and meet the baby, in order to welcome her into their wider community.
Some customs are echoed again and again across the globe, with only small variations in the way they are practiced—indicating that there are just as many ideals and beliefs that unify us as there are those that set us apart. While some concepts are so unfamiliar that they may seem outlandish, there are few that do not have some sound basis in caring for infants and new mothers.
Either way, babies are coming into this world successfully every day, and men and women are beginning parenthood in their own individual way—just as they have been doing for millennia in every part of our increasingly small world.