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The Birth Mag

The History of the Postpartum

January 9, 2020

by Raichal Reed

Rites of passage have happened through every culture and throughout time. According to a scholarly journal written by Malin Eberhard-Gran, there are three phases: Separation, Margin/Threshold, and Reincorporation. Separation is defined as the individual being detached from the social environment (family, friends, etc.), then the margin (the outer edge of society where growth and knowledge occurs) and finally reincorporation (the individual returns to society changed and in a new social position). Just like with these rites of passage, pregnancy and the postpartum can be defined within these three phases. For the sake of this article, we will be focusing on the transition between the margin and the reincorporation as seen through the birth of the child to the end of the postpartum period.

The postpartum period has been defined by many cultures. Some names that “the postpartum” has taken in other cultures are: Satogaeri Bunben (Japan), Zuo yuezi (China), Yu duan (Thailand), La Cuarenta (Mexico), and Pos-parto (Portugal). There is an average of 21 days to 5 weeks among all recorded history which extensions or shortening depending on individual circumstances or specific faiths. The oldest records found speaking on instruction or depiction of a postpartum period can be found in two places. The first is in the Old Testament of the Bible in the book of Leviticus which most scholars agree had to be written around 6th century BC prior to the death of Moses. Depending on what version of the bible you were to read, the days can range from 33 to 80 days following the birth of the child. Quoting this literature, it states in Leviticus 12:5, “She must not touch anything sacred or go into sanctuary until the days of her purification are complete”. The interesting part about such a wide gap in time of rest was that depending on the anatomical sex of the child, the days were doubled. A son would give you 33 to 40 days, while the birth of a daughter would give you a doubled number from 66 to 80 days minimum. Menstruation has always been seen as unclean in biblical times to the extent that people were kept in a separate tent when bleeding, so they do not contaminate/corrupt others. “The Red Tent” written by Anita Diamant is an excellent depiction of the customs and rules that came around those who menstruate. The postpartum period depicted in the Bible had more to do with the bleeding than with the resting of the birthing person. The second oldest record is found in 13th century Iceland written by a poet named Snorre Sturlison. He writes an epic depicting the mother of a Norwegian king who fled to the woods north of the kingdom with the prince for the summer months until they had both recovered from labor and delivery. That would be a minimum of 90 days.

Coming back to present time, we can find difference and commonality within multiple cultures concerning the margin and reincorporation of the birthing person. Common features include but are not limited to: a mandated rest, social seclusion, protective rituals, and gifts/celebrations of the new social status of the birthing person. The “margin” occurs during pregnancy where the birthing person now has to come to the understanding that their life as an individual is no longer their own. They are now moving toward the outskirts of society of those without children and will reintegrate into society at the status of a “guardian” for the new life they created. The rest and social seclusion stems from prior history where the birthing person and their child were vulnerable to outside infection as well as were very likely to die.

There were beliefs that harm could come to those in the community/village who were vulnerable and so they must be kept hidden and protected. Rituals were performed to wish the child a healthy and strong body as well as for the birthing person to survive the postpartum and bear more children. In some areas of China it is believed that the postpartum period can help or harm the future life afterward. Those who have good health could do too much too quickly or not take care of their body which would lead to consequences later in life (hysterectomy, muscular dystrophy, etc.). If they were to take the time to heal and eat well they could become more healthy than they were prior to pregnancy.

With the rise of internet and blending of cultures, we find practices of multiple cultures in many households. Extended families are coming to a middle ground in how the birthing person is treated. This is seen predominantly in the subject of belly binding. It is a lot more common for individuals to wear their belly supports following birth during the postpartum period and depending on their background it could add hot stones or warming pastes. There are also taboos on foods that are cold (cucumbers, lettuce, etc.) that keep the body internally “cold” and are not good for health and recovery. Postpartum parties are becoming a thing rather than a baby shower or gender reveal party. People are starting to come back to the concept that after the baby is a trimester all its own. Despite this, some individuals are going back to the workplace and outside environment at earlier and earlier times (not always of their
own choices).

It is important to understand and educate the birthing community on what the benefits of self care about delivery are. I am also a firm believer that the more information is known, the more advocacy can be made for people who struggle to stay home due to not only social pressure but economic statuses. If importance of the future health of the family and the birthing person is better understood, then more changes can be made toward longer and paid leave from work places. The postpartum period should be treated just as importantly if not of a greater importance than the prenatal period because these changes can affect the body for life. The bonds that are created in the postpartum with the newly family unit that is created and between individuals and their baby is sacred, private, and timeless.

Sources:
Dennis, C.-L., Fung, K., Grigoriadis, S., Robinson, G. E., Romans, S., & Ross, L. (2007). Traditional Postpartum Practices and Rituals: A Qualitative Systematic Review. Women’s Health, 487–502. https://doi.org/10.2217/17455057.3.4.487

Eberhard-Gran, Malin, Susan Garthus-Niegel, Kristian Garthus-Niegel, and Anne Eskild. “Postnatal care: a cross-cultural and historical perspective.” Archives of Women’s Mental Health 13.6 (2010): 459-466.

Traditional beliefs and practices in the postpartum period in Fujian Province, China: a qualitative study Joanna H Raven, Qiyan Chen, Rachel J Tolhurst, Paul Garner BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2007; 7: 8. Published online 2007 Jun 21. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-7-8

Raichal Reed – ” So my name is Raichal Reed I am a 24 year old, fourth year student midwife originally from South Mississippi now residing in Central Texas. I’ve always been in love with the birthing world ever since childhood and decided in the second grade I was going to work with women and children. Coming to Texas I found that midwifery was regulated and decided to take that route instead of medical school after receiving my Bachelors in Sociology/Pre-Med. I am the current volunteer director for Giving Austin Labor Support, a non profit of volunteer doulas, and a midwife student to two wonderful Midwives (one CPM and one CNM).”

Filed Under: Postpartum

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Happy new year! 2020 was rough on the Birth Mag cr Happy new year! 2020 was rough on the Birth Mag crew, and we know it was for many of you as well. This turned out to be a terrible year to launch a new magazine project, but it's over, and we're moving forward.

What's next then? First and foremost, the next print issue is coming! Look for a sneak peek of the upcoming cover next week. We are also settling in to a more consistent release of digital content going forward. 

We are so thankful for everyone who has hung in there with us through the tumultuous ride that was 2020, and look forward to bringing you so much more in 2021!

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"Someone you know is LGBTQIA+, possibly even someone you love.
If you’ve been in practice for any length of time, chances are you have LGBTQIA+ clients.
Even if you don’t know which ones they are.
Even if you practice in a small rural town.
Even if you think your practice serves a 'different' niche of clientele."

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New this week on the website, some thoughts from @ New this week on the website, some thoughts from @doula_barb of @birth_fort_worth on sustainable birthwork practices, because we all know that burnout is real.

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These days, it almost seems like a buzz word in the birth world. A free download. A hashtag. A commodity, even.

In reality, though, sustainability in birthwork, particularly in the doula-world, means getting to do the work that sets your soul on fire for longer than a few years.

Sustainability means creating a business from which you don’t need to regularly take self-care, or 'burnout breaks'. It’s so much more than warm baths, massages, mantras and aromatherapy.

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Photo by @natbro.photo

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New on the website this week: Raichal Reed (@mcdon New on the website this week: Raichal Reed (@mcdonald_herbalist ) shares some information about waterbirth and Covid-19. 

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The lactation issue is out! We had an abundance of The lactation issue is out! We had an abundance of delays, but they have now all been mailed. If you've been waiting on this issue, keep an eye on your mailbox, because it is on the way!
Community led, community based. The Birth Mag is l Community led, community based. The Birth Mag is looking for new submissions! Are you a birth worker? Are you interested in helping your fellow birth workers learn and grow to be more inclusive and educated on the issues birthing people are facing today? We want to hear from you! Compensation starts at $35 for any article that is used. Please e-mail us at thebirthmag@gmail.com for more information or to submit an article.
#Repost @thevaginachronicles
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There is so much to learn from this week. So much to give and receive. .
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This list is not an extensive and in no particular order but it is some of the HARD and persistent work that we must do. .
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Black people breastfeed. Even when we tell you no after you’ve asked 15 times if we want formula. Even when we are afraid of what it looks like and how we can continue It. Even when we see how you look at our breasts not understanding how different they can be. Even when we must figure out breastfeeding complexities by ourself. Even when we had to do it for you, before we could do it for our own children. .
.
WE BREASTFEED!
#Repost @blkbfingweek • • • • • • HAPP #Repost @blkbfingweek
• • • • • •
HAPPY BLACK BREASTFEEDING WEEK! 🤩

By our histories and by the truths we know from living, our possibilities are greater than any imagination. 

For all the days that have felt hopeless, we invite you to enter a period of nourishment to revive.

Where there has been loss, grief and uncertainty, our restoration is key to being present and imagining healthy futures. 

And all through #BBW20, we reclaim our time, lives and families. 

Let’s gooooooo! 

#ReviveRestoreReclaim #blackbreastfeedingweek

Artist: Andrea Pippins @andreapippins
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New York, New York

Today starts Native Breastfeeding Week. Here are some native breastfeeding facts you should know.

-“The mission of the Native Breastfeeding Week community is to reflect the diversity of native breast-feeding experiences and to encourage and uplift visibility of native breast-feeding experiences”
-“this community also helps to address the inequality and injustice of indigenous mothers and their abilities to practice their roles in accordance to the tribal communities they dissent from”
-American Indian and American Native rates of breastfeeding initiation is 73% versus the national average of 83%.
-Formula supplementation is high (97%) for mothers who didn’t initiate.
-many native mother’s insurance doesn’t cover donor milk which could greatly benefit infants.
-many native women lack breastfeeding support because of social and cultural norms.

Facts are from @ja_lyonhawk article posted at illusa.org 2019

Please visit Native Breastfeeding Week’s Facebook Page for info about the virtual events you can support this week. ❤️

#indigenousbreastfeeding #indigenouswomen #americanindian 
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Black Maternal Health Week is EVERY week •
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Art @designedbydg •
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The best way I’ve improved my ability to care for black parents is to listen to them. But before I could learn to listen, I had to commit to the LIFELONG task of confronting my biases against them. I must also commit over and over to the a promise that I would confront bias and racism I witness in my colleagues, providers, leadership and institution. This involves being brave, frank and unapologetic, and well-versed in the mechanisms for reporting abusive and problematic  behavior, even in situations with an imbalance of power (nurse v. physician, etc.) Anti-blackness is the default in our culture. As healthcare workers if we don’t intentionally, diligently, and sustainably work to confront and destroy our biases, these biases WILL lead to black birthing people and babies’ harm and death.
•
Every birth worker - doctor, nurse, doula, midwife - needs to invest in an anti-racism training - @rebirthequity ~ @theblackdoula ~ @shishi.rose ~ @abide_women are some leaders who receive compensation to help you confront your biases against black birthing people. Anti-racism training is not CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAINING. Cultural competency training is required by most employers, it’s been around for a while, and it doesn’t change s#%^.
•
Follow 
@blackmamasmatter @4kira4moms to keep up to date on ways you can learn more and legislation that is working towards the goal of protecting black parents and babies from medical racism that causes harm.

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