Australia
Birthing is and continues to be – in some communities – a cultural rite of passage where knowledge, practices and beliefs are transferred from older to younger women, identity and links are established to land and connections with country are shared and celebrated.
“Traditionally, Aboriginal women gave birth in the place where they were born,‘on country’ with other women by their side. Young women learn about birthing and the Grandmothers Law from the older women during their first lab our. Birthing is ‘women’s business’ and intricately related to ‘Aboriginal Law' and the 'Dreamtime’. The dreamtime explains creation and many of the rules and symbols are expressed in the myths and stories that are passed from generation to generation. The process of birthing is a process where the spirit of the land and the people come together, and the place where a person is born establishes their relationship to the land”.
Australian statistics show that indigenous women are three times likely to die in childbirth and twice as likely to lose their babies in birth particularly in remote areas
The difference in my birthing experience and that of remote areas in Australia is that I started prenatal care within a week of knowing I was pregnant. My pregnancy was monitor from conception to birth. The birth occurred in a well ready medical facility. I feel that this is important to the child’s health if the child of mother has problems during birth a doctor is there to assist.
Traditional Aboriginal Birthing Issues’, Birth Gazette, 14(1), 6-13.
2 comments:
I think that's so true of many developing nations, that birthing is considered a 'women only process.' Women teach each other as a way of passing down their experiences from generation to generation. This also brings about problems and high risk of fatality for mother and child.
It is interesting how women in certain regions connect birthing with gathering and the natural environment land, which is thought to effect the infant's personality.
It is difficult to understand that in other nations, that birthing is women only. Although, I didn't find out I was pregnant until I was further along, I couldn't imagine knowing I was pregnant and not seeking medical care by a doctor.
It is so important to me to have somebody that I trust such as a doctor in case I have concerns or questions.
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