Traditional practices applied to mother and newborn during pregnancy, labor and postpartum periods in Mersin

Abstract

Birth is almost always accepted as a happy event. It is an important event that relates to both the parents and the other family members, while also increasing respect for the parents within society. Through the ages, traditions and ceremonies have accompanied birth and the stages involving birth. In terms of folklore, our country has cultural variations due to its geography, which explain the variation of perinatal traditional practices. Some beliefs, traditions and practices surrounding birth continue until today. Owing to its geographical position, our country is culturally rich. However, some traditional practices applied to the mother and the newborn during pregnancy, labor and the postpartum period can threaten maternal and fetal health.

Objective: This study was carried out in order to document traditional practices applied to the mother and the newborn during pregnancy, labor and postpartum in the city of Mersin.

Method: Data were obtained by fifty-four 3rd and 4th year midwifery students at Mersin University from their elder female relatives. Data was based on completed questionnaires along with literature support. All the interviews were carried out face to face. Data were evaluated using frequencies and percentages in a computer program.

Findings and Conclusions: Our sample population consisted of women over fifty years of age. In our study, 42.60% of the interviews were with grandmothers. It was determined that more ceremonial and traditional practices were applied to mothers (87.00%) and newborns (96.30%) during the postpartum period. This was followed by practices during pregnancy (79.60%) and those during labor (53.70%). Practices observed consisted of the following: during pregnancy, cravings for certain foods (79.00%) and not eating harmful food (62.70%); during labor, spreading of the mother’s hair on her face; during the postpartum period, for prevention of puerperal sepsis on the mother (74.40%)  and on the newborn (100.00%), for increasing breast milk (68.00%), drinking sherbet (55.10%), rubbing the newborn with salt (86.50%) and swaddling (51.90%).