Birthing Practices in INDIA

India

• In India, pregnancy is usually views as a normal physiologic phenomenon that does not require any intervention by health care professionals. Only in the event of a problem will pregnant women seek medical advice.
• Many Indian women believe they have little or no control over their pregnancies or outcomes.
• Some women believe that excessive eating during pregnancy may lead to a large fetus or difficult labor.
• There are no restrictions applied to physical activity during pregnancy.
• Some women prefer lying on a bed during delivery, while others prefer to squat.
• Some women may be required to follow a diet of puffed rice, hot water and tea for the first three days after delivery.
• The consumption of milk, butter, ghee and some fish is encouraged in the belief that these foods will increase the quality and quantity of breastmilk.
• Infants are usually placed in the maternal bed, and infant and mother stay together for up to 40 days.
• Breastfeeding is universal and prolonged.
• Infants are usually fed when they cry at any time during day or night.

My Experience...

• I was encouraged by my OBGYN to receive ultrasounds and routine check-ups throughout my pregnancy.
• On a spiritual level, I suppose I believed anything could come from my pregnancy whether I hoped to control the outcome or not. However, I did feel very solid in the belief that giving birth in my hospital would be the safest environment imaginable.
• I was so sick for the first 4 months of pregnancy that I honestly couldn't keep a drop of food down. I remember telling my midwife that all I was eating was half a smoothie a day and still throwing up, and her response was that fruit has a lot of sugar and that was probably causing me to be overweight... No comment...
• I was encouraged to do physical activity during pregnancy. I was so sick it took a lot of energy to get up the nerve to even walk, but when I did I felt a lot better. I also tried pregnancy yoga and that was nice. I do remember the doctors saying not to lift a certain amount of weight during the third trimester.
•  Anything other than lying in a bed is considered "alternative" in the US. You need to be in a certain facility with certain nurses and midwives if you wish for a water birth or sitting birth, etc.
• I wasn't told any restrictions in regards to food after birth. The hospital presented me with lobster and chocolate cake.
• The standard doctor advocates for a baby to sleep in a separate crib as soon as they're born.
• Formula is very popular in the US. Many moms opt to never even try breastfeeding. I really wanted to breastfeed. I found it difficult and frustrating, and the little help I received ended as soon as I left the hospital. I felt very alone and disempowered.
• Mainstream US practice is to put infants on a feeding schedule and to view crying as something "that will pass" as the infant gets used to structure.

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 I love that modern medicine is able to save lives in the event of an emergency. I wish breastfeeding was more supported in the US, I wish doctors encouraged parents to feed a child whenever the child wanted, I wish there was more information provided to uninformed parents about different birthing practices, I wish there wasn't such a fear of infants at least sleeping in the same room as the parents, I wish the doctors cared to help me with my sickness and provide advice on helpful foods instead of prescribing medications.

I just wish it was more about the beautiful baby and family over the medical procedure and protocol...

http://www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/health_workers/indian-preg-prof.pdf