This blog post is certainly difficult for me because I do not have a personal story of a child birth. I have never had a child or even seen one personally been born. The only information I have about child birth is from what family members have told me, from books and television programs. I understand how this can limit how insightful this blog can be, but that is all I have to go off of.
As for birth in another country, I selected Sudan, Africa. Countries in undeveloped regions continue to have children like they have for centuries, unlike here in America where almost every child is born inside of a hospital. In Sudan most children are born in the home by the village midwife unless they are wealthy or civil servants. The fathers are not present at birth and do not provide any care for the child until they are older. Women are to take a 40 day rest after giving birth when female members of the family will provide meals and do the cleaning. Mothers will spend this time at their family home and return to the husbands village after the child is weened.
Child development in the prenatal stages for America and Sudan are probably different due to the medical care the mothers receive. The birthing experience on the child is probably the same developmentally because not much happens to the child right away, unless their is religious reasons.
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/health_workers/sudanese-preg-prof.pdf
http://www.africanoz.com/af_study/sudanchild.pdf
Wow. Thats interesting to know that the men are not present and don't have to raise the child until they get older. I'm very sure some guys would love to know about this. If they could use that as a debate I think some of them would.
ReplyDeleteIt's truly amazing how different cultures relate to child birth. I also wrote about the african tradition. Like the African tradition, the people in my family usually help out for the 1st, maybe second weeks after the baby is born but not 40 days, that would be nice, lol.
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie! It was interesting reading about your post regarding the child birthing experience in Sudan. One thing that is becoming a similarity is that some men are not with the mother when she is having their baby or during most of or any years of the child's life. Single parent(most of the time,solely the mother)homes rank in the highest number of households today. Although it is a part of the culture in Sudan, most men must think that it applies to the United States as well. It is so sad that some fathers today do not even have that desire to be a part of their child's birthing experience but when the child grows up to be successful in life, they want to make themselves known as the child's parent. It is not right and will never be! Thanks for your post!
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