There is a myriad of postpartum traditions from every corner of the world. From ceremonies to special food, and from helpful family members to unique gifts, these are some of the special traditions that mothers and their loved ones experience around the world.
In North America, we have our standard tradition of the baby shower before the birth. Often, close friends and family stop by after the child is born. The new mother may treat herself to a cup of coffee after abstaining for nine months. For many women, they’re back at work within a couple of weeks.
But in certain parts of the world, things are done differently.
In Bali, burying the placenta is an ancient tradition that goes back hundreds of years.
According to the Huffington Post, some Hindus believe that the organ is alive. After the birth, family members hold an elaborate ceremony in which the placenta is cleaned, sealed in a container, and buried in the yard. Don’t worry, there’s still plenty of attention on the newborn baby, who is seen as a divine being. In fact, their little feet don’t touch the ground for over half a year after they’re born.
Once they are placed on the earth, it symbolizes their entry into the human world.
Postpartum mothers in Turkey sip a special drink called lohusa serbeti, made from water, sugar, cloves, a cinnamon, which is said to help the breast milk flow. Expectant Turkish mothers don’t have a baby shower, but after their child is born, the two rest at home for 20 days, while friends and family visit to celebrate the birth with money and gifts.
The Bump says that once the time at home is up, mom and baby set out to visit the gift-givers who rub flour around the child’s eyebrows and hairline to wish it a long and healthy life.
Rural Ecuadorian mothers in labor are given a sweaty shirt by the child’s father that, according to legend, is meant to give her strength in childbirth. Once the baby is delivered, mother and child stay in the house to protect themselves from sunlight. This may seem a strange tradition, but at the equator, it’s very possible for the sun to have a harmful effect.
After a few weeks, the mom is treated to a bath with three rose petals, herbs, and a cup of milk to help transition her back into everyday life.
After birth, Japanese mothers and their newborn stay with the mother’s parents for 21 days. The mom spends that time recovering from childbirth and forming a bond with her new baby. Meanwhile, her parents and family members help out with chores. Friends stop by to welcome the new child and everyone eats a special red rice and bean dish known as oseikihan.
5. The Netherlands
The Bump reports that Holland holds the world record for home births. Visits from a midwife far exceed trips to an ob-gyn, unless it’s a high risk pregnancy. Before the birth, expectant mothers pick up a kraampakket, which includes everything needed for the home birth. After the baby is welcomed into the world, the proud parents put a stuffed stork in a window to announce its arrival.
Grandma plays an important role in the postpartum traditions in Nairobi. She is responsible for giving the baby its first bath. This symbolizes that the mother is not alone in childrearing and that her family and community are there to support her. Grandmother also gives the new mama a belly-flattening massage during the recovery period. The newborn child receives a number of blessings in the form of water to ward of enemies, kola nut to ensure health and longevity, and salt and pepper to encourage an exciting life.
