Question

I need to respond to this forum post in 150 words

. Traditional Hmong birth practices were absolutely mind-blowing to me. I cannot imagine the birthing process happening in that manner. People preferences are peoples preferences but it still is amazing to me that women give birth at home here. With the list of things that could go wrong during child birth in such a short amount of time it is crazy to think home births are becoming to popular. When the book stated that she was completely alone during the process and her husband was only allowed to bring her a glass of water while making sure not to look at her, I was in shock. Along with the fact that she was to give birth in silence.

2. Lia's birth was what we as Americans would label as "normal". Aside from the fact that it was a C-Section, but is still much more common these days than what traditional Hmong practices were. In a sterile room with nurses and personal, and APGAR scores and newborn weights. All things that seemed foreign to the mom.

3. Hmong birth practices are very very traditional. It seems dangerous and almost like women should be ashamed of the birthing process. Although that is probably just the way it was done years before and they continue to do the same as their own family members. In America the birthing process is supportive and safe. With people making sure all things go naturally giving you as little or as much aide as you wish during the process.

4. It gave me respect for the women in that culture in that time period. It also made me a bit angry at the way women were taught to hide the most amazing thing the human body can possibly do.

Answer 1

In Hmong culture, traditionally the young woman was not encouraged to inform about the pregnancy due to fear of evil Spirit that may lead to abortion. So pregnancy is kept unknownown until it is visible on the last trimester, for this reason most of the the Hmong women do not seek early prenatal care. Along with this due to lack of knowledge the gender of the infant is believed to be the luck of the women,that is if the child is boy then it is believed that women has brought good fortune to the family.

In Hmong culture they give birth at home and amother and mother in law help at the time of childbirth and husband help to cut the cord and wash the infant. Earlier the women prefer natural tearing and healing, they believe that placenta is required for reincarnation and is buried at the place of birth. Traditionally they kept warm for three days postpartum and touching of cold water is not allowed. Women are asked drink hot water only after the birth , they believe that drinking cold water can produce wrinkles in old age.

During the pregnancy, Hmong women carry on their daily responsibilities until the last day to labor.They should follow their food cravings in order to ensure that the child is born without any deformities. The baby is delivered to their own hands in complete silence because they believe that noise would thwart birth. If the child is a girl then the placenta is buried under the parents bed but if a child is a boy then as a honor it is buried in the central column of the house. All these beliefs were followed in order to ensure that fertility of the mother and her ability to produce breast milk. In their culture they keep a silver necklace on the body of newborn and not take the newborn out for 30 days of birth. They are completely different from birth in America where the women in this culture is completely isolated that is kept alone.