Every year around the world on May 5 celebrate the International Day of the Midwife (International Day of the Midwife). An official holiday on this day bought only in 1992. But from time immemorial there were women involved in the mystery of the birth - the midwives, the conductors in the world. And it depended on their ability to health and life of the mother and the newborn baby.
Long before the advent of obstetrics childbirth took midwives (midwives, puporezki), whose responsibilities include not only all the worries about the delivery, but also the baptism of the newborn. Today we decided to talk about who the midwife and childbirth How is our great-grandparents.
Who are the midwives? Now you can often hear that earlier women were much healthier, stronger and better able to bear children. With the ease of giving birth in the field, in a haystack, independently cut the umbilical cord with a sickle.
Indeed, scientists-ethnographers have noted that pregnancy and birth of our foremothers considered to be a matter of quite normal and does not require any special preparation or application of a special regime. Until the last minute the women to fulfill their family responsibilities: cook, clean, working on the ground. But the level of maternal mortality during childbirth themselves, or sepsis in the postpartum period was shocking. There was also high, and infant mortality.
To avoid this, at birth we invited a midwife who was in almost every village. It was the wise woman who taught the art of traditional birth from their mothers, or more experienced midwives who have worked for some time in the wings. Often it was the mothers of large families themselves more than once passed through the generations. Also a good midwife should have a number of other advantages: be nimble, silent, hardworking and able to keep the family secrets.
How to give birth to our great-great-grandmother?. As soon as the first signs of approaching childbirth, sent for a midwife. She crossed herself was part of the house and a prayer, and only then get to work.
If it were possible, the midwife would be alone with the woman in labor in a separate room, but this time the home of the future mother lit in images Stretenskaya or Easter candle and read the Gospel, asking for help to God. As helpers in childbirth were regarded as saints Barbara and Catherine, so they asked for the intercession of the mother and her crumbs.
The main task of the midwife had time to pick up the baby, so he did not fall and do not hit the floor. It was not always easy, because in order to birth was easy, and the baby's health, it was believed that a woman in labor during labor must walk and step over thresholds.
it is also a woman in travail hocus decoction of herbs, which was supposed to give it strength and relieve the pain, he made rubbing, sprinkled with holy water. In Ukraine, a reliable means to facilitate childbirth, considered concoctions of color rye, warm compresses of salt and flax seeds, the font of the cabbage leaf and peel onions.
For pulmonary delivery. There were also traditions and customs, some of which have survived to the present day. That all went smoothly women their hair untied and all the nodes on her clothes, and the house open all doors and chests, thereby helping as it was thought to open the cervix.
If the delivery was long and difficult, someone from the family was sent to the church asking the priest to pray for the health of mother and child.
Cut the umbilical cord was adopted with a prayer on the Bible. Also, if a boy is born, it could cut on the ax, and if the girl on the ridge. It was believed that it contributes to the acquisition of important baby male and female qualities. Tied the umbilical cord of flax or hemp thread, and after it will no longer be put into the chest between the images and stored for up to seven years of the child, for protection against disease and evil spirits.
After giving birth, the midwife was to say a prayer and sprinkled the mother and her child with holy water. After that, the baby was applied to the mother's breast, and only then wash, shroud and transferred to someone from relatives.
Then the midwife took the placenta. It was decided to bury in the yard under the young fruit trees.
After childbirth
- In the first days after birth the young mother was resting, and all the worries about the economy itself took relatives, neighbors and friends.
- Young mother did not refuse, and the assistance of a midwife, and in the first days after birth. She came into the house, brewed infusions of grasses conducive to speedy recuperation from mothers, as well as for bathing the baby.
- Usually after 3-5 days the woman was returning to normal life and home affairs.
- To protect the crumbs from troubles and illnesses he tried to baptize as early as possible. Mother at Christening not allowed, she was considered unclean. Forty days after the birth, she came to the church, which hosted the administration of the rite of the church after childbirth.
Also, be sure to find out 10 facts about birth, which is known only to doctors
