“Birth matters. It brings us into being, on many levels.” – Ananda Lowe, co-author of “The Doula Guide to Birth: Secrets Every Pregnant Woman Should Know”
“Mothers are the soil from which humanity grows. So if we want humanity to be healthy we need to take care of our soil, which is to take care of the mothers.” – Rachelle Seliga, traditional midwife
During pregnancy, many women in the United States find that they’re expected to continue on with their lives and activities as if nothing’s changing in their body. Birth happens most often in hospitals or other clinical settings, where many women are surrounded by medical professionals and encouraged to use interventions to “minimize risk” and disconnect from the feelings present during the experience. Then we’re expected to “bounce back” after birth, to return to work and life as if nothing has changed. Many women receive only a single follow-up visit six weeks after childbirth.
In our modern, fast-paced, capitalist society, it’s easy to forget that pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period are some of the most profound times in life. Because many of us are no longer deeply rooted in our ancestral communities, we lack knowledge of the shared traditions, norms and practices that have accompanied women on this journey for centuries.
A doula can be essential for expectant mothers seeking to dig deeper into the experience and connect with their innate knowledge to have an experience that feels most aligned with their innermost desires—from the early days of pregnancy through to the postpartum period. Doulas can help sift through the noise of the U.S. medical establishment and honor the physiologic design of mothers and babies so families are able to birth on their terms. This can lead to more positive birth outcomes and experiences of new parenthood that last a lifetime, as well as ensure the mother restores her health after birth.
Alongside work with a doula, I also find it interesting to seek wisdom from cultures around the world who approach pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care with unique traditions, beliefs and practices. This knowledge reminds us of the wisdom our elders carry. It gives us permission to honor this special, sacred time and the miraculous work that we’re doing as mothers, and to take extra good care of ourselves. It also offers fascinating insights into the human experience.
Below are just a few examples of how pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum are experienced in communities around the world. For further reading, check out: “Welcoming Spirit Home” by Sobonfu Somé, “The First Forty Days” by Heng Ou, “Childbirth Wisdom” by Judith Goldsmith, and “The Tibetan Art of Parenting” by Anne Hubbell Maiden.
Conception & Pregnancy
In many cultures and traditions, childbirth is considered a spiritual journey, when the sacredness and fragility of our human existence is truly at the forefront. Special care is taken to ready the body and mind for the experience.
In the Tibetan tradition, birth practices begin even before pregnancy. To prepare, couples may change habits to “cleanse their bodies of toxins” and nourish themselves with healthy food. Spiritual practices to purify and prepare may include special prayers and mantras, prostrations, pilgrimages, rituals, and blessings from a lama. Once a woman is pregnant, she receives dietary recommendations based on the relationship of the food to her particular biology and the stage of development of the fetus. Herbs, massage and baths provide nourishment.
In Burkina Faso, a community may gather around a woman or couple to ensure they are prepared for the journey to becoming parents and to bring on a sacred energy. Once a woman is pregnant, the village celebrates the arrival of the soul: “Pregnancy should be seen as the inauguration of an important person, a VIP stepping into a job that will bring much goodness to the world,” according to the late Burkinabe teacher and writer Sobonfu Somé.
Among the Navajo, there is a strong emphasis on harmony and balance. Pregnant women are often encouraged to engage in rituals that promote spiritual well-being and to avoid negative thoughts and actions that could affect the unborn child. Blessingway ceremonies are performed for expectant mothers shortly before birth is due; the “Blessingway” chant is used to bless the “one sung over,” to ensure good luck, good health and blessings for all that pertains to them.
Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine from India, emphasizes balance and holistic well-being throughout pregnancy. Ayurvedic protocols for prenatal care include elements like warm and cooked foods, herbal teas, ghee and milk, oil massage and supplements like shatavari.
Childbirth
In many cultures, childbirth is a communal event, deeply embedded in the social fabric. Most often, the birth assistant is the woman’s own mother; other female family members also attend. In Tibert, the whole extended family is involved in assisting with a birth. Among the Yoruba of Nigeria, childbirth is accompanied by the presence of elderly women who act as midwives, offering their wisdom and support.
In the Netherlands, home births are culturally accepted and encouraged. The Dutch healthcare system provides expectant mothers a kraampakket, or maternity kit, containing essential items like hygiene products, medical supplies and comfort items necessary for a safe and comfortable birthing experience in the home.
In Japan, hospitals often provide tatami mat rooms, allowing mothers to give birth in a more traditional and cozy environment. Pain medication during labor is uncommon and not covered by insurance, a reality that stems from the Buddhist belief that labor pains must be endured as a test to prepare for the difficulties of motherhood. And fathers aren’t allowed in the delivery room unless they’ve taken a prenatal class with the mom.
In Burkina Faso, children need to be joyfully welcomed when they are born. Children of up to five years of age are placed in the room next to the birthing room to answer the baby’s first cry. They respond by crying back the way the baby cried, seen as answering the call and letting the newborn know it has arrived at the right place.
Postpartum Care
For millennia, cultures around the world have had specific practices aimed at ensuring the mother’s recovery and the baby’s well-being in the weeks after birth. Certified Professional Midwife Rachelle Seliga describes five “cross-cultural prescriptions for postpartum wellness” based on the understanding that “the world’s postpartum traditions are virtually identical, because they are rooted in the physiologic needs of postpartum mothers”: 1. rest; 2. warmth; 3. warm, easy to digest, nutrient-dense foods; 4. bodywork; and 5. community.
Thus, around the world, cultures prescribe a new mother to stay secluded from the busy-ness of life (with her new baby at her side or attached to her, of course). She follows traditional practices of keeping rested and warm to prevent exhaustion and depletion, and should consume special meals to rebuild energy, replenish lost nutrients and help her body produce breast milk. And she receives a steady stream of care, touch and support from community members.
As described in Chinese American author Heng Ou’s 2016 book “The First Forty Days,” in Chinese culture, the postpartum period is known as zuo yuezi, which translates to “sitting the month.” During this time, new mothers are expected to “rest extensively, avoid cold foods and activities, and consume a special diet rich in nutrients to replenish their bodies.” This practice is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles, emphasizing the importance of restoring balance and health after childbirth.
TCM believes that a woman’s body is weakened and in a cold state after giving birth because she has lost blood and “qi,” and used much of her yang—active and masculine—energy during delivery. Women thus must eat warming foods to reduce excess yin or cold in the body. Warm foods can help improve digestion, promote circulation and disperse coldness.
According to TCM, postpartum traditions are not only replenishing; they’re seen as having the power to impact health decades into the future. They’re even said to initiate a “second spring,” an opening for healing that can leave a woman more radiant and well than before the baby.
The Hopi people, who primarily live in modern-day Arizona, prescribe 20 day seclusion periods during which the mother might be served blue born piki bread, a ceremonial food, prepared in an hours-long process by a wise elder woman of the community.
Korean postpartum traditions, also known as Saam-chil-il, or “three-seven-days,” are a 21-day period dedicated to the health of the mother and baby. The focus is on creating a calm and supportive environment that allows the mother to rest and recover from childbirth. The mother keeps her body warm by avoiding cold temperatures and foods, and staying in a heated room. She also only drinks warm water and doesn’t wear short sleeves. The mother eats traditional Korean foods to help with recovery, such as Miyeok-guk, a seaweed soup, which is rich in iron and iodine, and pig feet broth, which can increase milk supply. Korea also offers postpartum care centers, known as joriwon, where mothers are provided with hotel-like accommodations, and even facials, massage, childcare classes and nurses who watch over the babies around the clock.
Similarly, in many Latin American cultures, the postpartum period, known as la cuarentena (the quarantine) or la dieta (the diet), involves a rest period where the mother is relieved from household duties and focuses on bonding with the newborn and recovering her strength. Family members and the community often play a crucial role in providing support and ensuring that the mother adheres to dietary and activity restrictions designed to promote healing.
Final thoughts
Clearly the United States lags way behind when it comes to caring for mothers. Transforming this will require systemic change—including expanded access to doula and midwifery services and paid parental leave. In the meantime, it’s largely up to us to create the pregnancy, birth and postpartum experiences that we crave and deserve. I hope these examples give you ideas and inspiration to do things your way. It’s also critically important to practice humility and respect, ensuring that we do not appropriate others’ traditions in our quest for making meaning in our own lives.
We’re here to help and support you!
Share in the comments: Do you plan to integrate any traditional practices in your plans for pregnancy, birth or postpartum?
About the Author
Jessica is a mother of two small kiddos. She is a journalist and writer with a passion for women’s health. She is committed to destigmatizing conversations about the challenges and messiness of modern motherhood—right alongside the magic.
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