BIRTH RITUALS/CARE OF NEW MOTHER
BIRTH RITUALS/CARE OF NEW MOTHER
AND BABY cont
AND BABY cont
’
’
d
d
Birth recuperation
Very important period for Haitian women. Take active role in their own
care, dress warmly, take sitz baths (vapors), and drink tea to rejuvenate.
Believe that during first three days postpartum, new mother should be on
bed rest, avoid drafts, and not venture out at night.
A common practice during this period is “three baths”: Special leaves are
boiled in preparing water for hot bath. New mother encouraged to drink
tea brewed from these same aromatic leaves, which include papaya, sour
orange, sour soup (corossol), mint (ti baume), anise, bugleweed, and
eucalyptus. These relax and tranquilize the mother, and cause her
muscles to tighten.
One month postpartum, she takes a cold bath; it enhances healing and
tightens muscles and bones loosened during delivery. Believe that after
childbirth, women are particularly susceptible to gas (gaz) entering the
body. They can prevent gaz by wearing a tight belt or piece of linen
around the waist, a practice that also tightens the bones loosened during
childbirth.
Avoid white foods, such as white lima beans, lobster, and milk, which they
consider to be “cold”, believing that such foods increase vaginal discharge
and/or hemorrhage. Acceptable foods include cornmeal mush or
orrid
e
red bean sauce
rice
beans
and
lantain.