Birth of the World
This section will cover birth practices of the world and related topics. Some of these writings had appeared on the Online Birth Center News run by Midwifery Today, US.
| Europe | |||
| Austria | Belgium | Denmark | Sweden |
| Norway | Finland | Poland | United Kingdom |
| France | Germany | Czech Republic | Spain |
| Switzerland | Luxemburg | Italy | Portugal |
| Netherlands | Russia | Ireland | Hungary |
| Asia | |||
| Japan | China | South Korea | Philippines |
| Taiwan | Vietnam | Thailand | Cambodia |
| Laos | India | Malaysia | Brunei |
| Singapore | Indonesia | Myanmar | Nepal |
| Pakistan | Afghanistan | Bangladesh | Sri Lanka |
| Mongolia | |||
| North America | |||
| United States | Canada | Hawaii | Guam |
| Saipan | Mexico | Panama | Jamaica |
| Costa Rica | Bermuda | Barbados | Bahamas |
| Dominica | Trinidad & Tobago | Guatemala | Cuba |
| South America | |||
| Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil | Chile |
| Colombia | Ecuador | Guyana | Paraguay |
| Peru | Suriname | Uruguay | Venezuela |
| Africa | |||
| Ethiopia | Egypt | Zimbabwe | Tanzania |
| Kenya | Senegal | Ivory Coast | Guinea |
| Ghana | Nigeria | Rwanda | South Africa |
| Australia & Oceania | |||
| Australia | New Zealand | Papua New Guinea | |
As long as you are happy
The midwives in Austria will not restrict your diet as much. She/he will tell you to go along with what would make you happy. I agree, a happy pregnancy will lead to a successful birth.
Midwives pair in home birth
Home birth is not that popular in Austria, but some people will opt for it. So when you wish to have homebirth, the midwives who work in the hospital will come as a pair and assist you. Some opt to invite midwives from the Netherlands. I believe that is possible because it's Europe.
Relax is the key
When you give birth at birth centers, all they tell you to do is to "relax". You can choose wherever you like at whatever position you may wish to take.
Specialists for your special baby
The new born will be examined by specialists, such as orthopedics to check how their legs spread, eye specialists to check the eyes. ▲top
PT during pregnancy
You will have access to the services provided by the phisiotherapist to get you through some difficult time during pregnancy. The good news is that the insurance covers the services.
No pressure over the abdomen
Don't put pressure over your abdomen. In Belgium the midwives will advice you to strengthen your abdominal muscle, so that you have the strength to during delivery.
You are back to single
In Belgium they expect you to use your maiden name while you are pregnant. All the records will be in your maiden name. You might feel a bit like the time when you were a single.▲top
Abortion
Abortion was not allowed in Denmark until early 70s. Now it is allowed, as it has given choices to women.
Midwife means...
It means Mother of the Huge Plains, how reliable one can expect from such name.
Acupuncture
During the time when you are suffering from morning sickness, and even during labor, you can expect acupuncture to perform great wonders. ▲top
Midwives
Midwives in Sweden has almost all the privileges that obstetricians have. They can write prescriptions, give shots, draw blood, and also do ultrasound scanning. And of course, they deliver the baby and look after the mothers after birth.
Raising the birth rate
Since birth rate was declining in Sweden, they have decided that all cost involved in delivering the baby will be at the expense of the government. They also receive child support until the child reaches the age of 12.
Babies don't get bath
Like many places in the U.S., babies are not dipped in the water to be cleaned soon after they are born. In Sweden, they just wipe the baby.▲top
Waterbed
In some hospitals in Norway, you will be surprised to see waterbeds. Not twin size but queen size. You can have your husband with you while you stay at the hospital. A good way to start a family.
Paternal leave
It has not been easy for fathers take their paternal leave after the child is born. Most men do not take the leave, so the government decided to make 4 weeks of leave that will only be for fathers and that mothers cannot take. Well, we'll see whether this may force men to be with the new borns.
Cutting of the umbilical cord
It is a custom in some countries for the fathers to cut the umbilical cord of the baby. It is no exception in Norway. Fathers get the chance to cut the cord and the baby lies in mother's breast.▲top
KELA
When you register with KELA, you will be looked after well. They provide you with baby goods, so that you do not need to look around. But if you enjoy shopping and buying your own baby goods, then you can decline their offer and receive cash instead.
Check up by the health nurse
You may not need to see a obgyn if you are healthy. The health nurse will look after you with necessary check up during pregnancy. Your visit will be to the health center and not to the hospital.
Natural is the best
You might be expected to be tied to tubes, but as for your hospital stay in Finland, you will be rest assured that there will be natural methods tried first. Even when you can't urinate but have to, they will not use the catheter but make you listen to the sound of the sprinkling water from the shower. ▲top
Privacy talk
If you do not speak Polish, then you may need an interpreter when you make a visit to the doctor. It is not easy to discuss about your private matters via an interpreter, especially when you happen to know the interpreter pretty well.
Contract with the hospital
Here is one way you use the hospital service in Poland. You sign a contract with the hospital and pay a membership fee annually. The service you receive will depend on what kind of plan you have chosen with the hospital. This system distinguishes private hospitals from public hospitals.
Epidural, a choice?
You may want to think twice if you opt for epidural, because many Polish women do not opt for epidural and as a result, the doctors may not be too experienced in providing one, which may put you at risk. If you do not want to take chances, go with the crowd, will be my suggestion.▲top
Pelvic Exam at every visit
Some doctors will perform pelvic exam every time you go for a check up. However, since there are possibility of miscarriage and early labor, it has been discouraged among private doctors.
Attending birth can be costly
Husbands and boyfriends can attend birth, but some hospitals charge 1,000CK to attend birth. No refreshments will be offered to the attendee. If he stays overnight with the mother, his stay can be more costly than the patient.
Don't be embarrassed
If you opt for shared rooms, you can expect medical professionals asking you to open your legs where other patients are present. They do have curtains, but it is not used.
OVA
When you register your baby's birth, it is the practice in Czech Republic to put OVA after your last name. So if your last name is Robertson, then you would be registered as RobertsonOVA. ▲top
Hiking and walking
Surrounded by mountains and trees, it is recommended that one takes a walk through the woods during pregnancy for some exercise.
Everyone welcomes the baby
One can choose quite freely who she wants to be with during her delivery. Mrs. W had decided to have her son attend her birth and it all worked out fine.
Flexible hospital rules
The hospitals in Luxemburg is quite flexible in terms of visiting hours and who can and who cannot. Many hospitals do not allow small children to enter the maternity ward, however, in Luxemburg, they are quite generous, allowing children to visit their mothers while she is in the hospital.
La Leche League is everywhere
You can find La Leche League almost anywhere in the world and Luxemburg is no exception. You may want to form a group with mothers who speak English. ▲top
Home birth
What surprised me the most about birth in the Netherlands was the high percentage of home birth. As high as nearly 40%. This was possible since the midwives were very skilled and knowledgeable and highly qualified for assist normal birth. The obstetricians worked as a team backing up the midwives.
Doctor's role
Once you find out that you are pregnant, most mothers visit their home doctor, but as soon as they seem to follow the normal course of pregnancy, the home doctor will refer her to one of the midwife clinics. Thereafter, the midwife takes over. The frequency of the visit to the midwife clinic is the world standard, but the care seems to be more personal.
Choice of birth place
The choice is up to the mothers to decide whether they want to have home birth or a hospital birth. However, many have heard stories of the good home birth experience, they seem to opt for home birth more. They have mentioned that home birth is most relaxing and many opt for home birth especially if its their second or third child. At home birth, you progress at your own pace. The husband cuts the umbilical cord and the baby is with you all the time.
Home visit by the midwife
It is very reassuring to know that the midwife who delivered one's baby visit you for nearly 10 days after birth. You also have the choice of having a well-trained postnatal nurse for 3, 5, 8 hours a day. She will take care of the woman as she recovers as well as looking after the baby and the older children, the house and attend to the guests. ▲top
Sash around your belly
On the dog's day, which dogs are believed to have easy delivery, women in Japan choose the day to wrap a sash around their pregnant belly. The day is indicated on the calendar. It also function as to lift the heavy belly as well as to warm the belly since it can get pretty chilly inside Japanese houses.
Natural birth is the thing
Japanese women cannot think of anything other than natural birth. They love natural birth with pain. They even say that the labor pain is the ritual in becoming a good mother. Yes, becoming a "good mother" is another big thing in Japan. While in the U.S. natural birth is about 20%, Japan rates over 80% starting natural. Epidural is not common and instead of anesthesiologist performing the epidural, many obstetrician take on the job, and because they do not want to be liable, many avoid epidural.
Luxury of long stay
You can stay on average of 5 to 7 days in the hospital in Japan. In fact they force you to stay until the doctor feels you are quite recovered. During the stay, you will have the chance to go to breast-feeding classes, bathing for babies classes.
Home bound for 1 month
Women usually stay home bound for about a month after the baby is born. They believe it is not good to expose tiny babies out in the open air. So you won't see new borns in the public.▲top
There is a big difference in the way the local people are treated and the way the foreigners living in China are treated. The difference is so great that it even determines life and death of a newborn child. In this section I will be introducing how the local people experience birth.
Birth means having a boy
In China, the people expect to have boys so much that it even sounds like when you give birth it means you have to have a boy. Therefore, the Chinese would eat sunflower seeds and watermelon seeds so that they will have boys. There are couple of things the Chinese eat during pregnancy and before pregnancy such as dumpling, so that you can have a boy, prunes, so that you will have early delivery, peanuts, so that one can have an easy delivery.
No Privacy
Even when you are looking at your own ultrasound, there is someone overlooking your baby. There are patients who would not stay in line and they are even standing at the side of the doctorq・ desk as they wait. Of course, one has no privacy during pelvic examination.
Ob-gyns are all women doctors, no men allowed
In China, all the ob-gyns are female. Men are not allowed in the delivery room. Even when you wish your husband to help you as an interpreter, the nurses will tell you to leave the labor room. In one hospital, they had a camera set in the labor room and the husband was only able to talk with his wife over the screen with a phone conversation.
The reason they have this system is because in the past one of the husband got so emotional over seeing his wife suffer from labor, he had punched the doctor. And that is the reason that the hospital staff feels that the Chinese husbands are not ready to be in the delivery room to give support to their wives. I find the Chinese husbands to be very loving and caring towards their wives and this is so sad that they cannot be there for the wives at the delivery.
More surprisingly, in one of the hospitals, the visitors are able to see the actual delivery over the glass window of the delivery room. It is surprising to see the delivery table lined up in a row like the beauty salon seats.
Caesarean Section
In most cases in China, they have the vertical section. Even when they have epidural, it is a practice in China for many hospitals to tie the women’s wrists so that she would not move on the operation table. When one has episiotomy it is the practice in China not to stitch it up after the tear. They leave it to heal on its own. ▲topBirthday predetermined
It is said that in Korea, one's birth date will determine one's destiny. So they decide on when the child will be born. What they do is that they would look into the parents' birth dates and look at it and determine which date would suit best for the baby to lead happy life. Therefore, it is common for some to choose elective Cesarean section, raising the C-sec rate to 45%.
Husbands do not attend delivery
It is not at all common in Korea for husbands to attend delivery. I interviewed some women and asked how she feels about it, they almost all mentioned that they do wish husband to be present and hold their hands and be supportive, but they said that because many hospitals do not allow, husbands be present at birth, they have given up.
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Baby money
Many countries have the tradition to celebrate the birth of a baby by sending money to the child, here in Korea as well. They send a gold ring as well so in the future when the baby lack money, she / he can exchange that to cash.▲top
In the Philippines, babies are born as part of an every day life event. Because they are Catholics, they tend to have many children. In the rural clinics, they discourage women to bear more than 4 children. Today, there has been more medical intervention done than it was of the past where natural birth was common.
Especially in Manila, epidurals and even Caesarean birth is popular for foreign expatriats.
Pregnant women are a blessing
There are many folklores related to birth. Pregnant women are considered to be a blessing and they are told to bring luck in the family. Also, children are considered to bring wealth in the family.
Do not put anything around your neck
There are many restrictions during pregnancy: do not step over a rope since the baby will fall and become bleech, do not put anything around your neck or over your shoulder because the baby may be born with his/her umbilical cord wrapped around its neck, wear a hat when you go out in the evening when a full moon is seen because that will have bad influence, do not buy anything for the baby until past 8th months of pregnancy, drink young coconut juice during the last trimester of pregnancy for easy delivery, apply coconut oil over the breast to massage. Well, there are some things we can agree on. Which ones would you try?
Husbandq・ role is to bring food
Home birth was a common thing in the rural area, however, even in the rural areas nowadays, hospital birth has become a popular event. In these rural hospitals, the mother of the woman is considered to be the assistant to birth and the fatherq・ role is to bring food. The midwife is called the q・omadoronaq・and her role is to massage the woman from labor till afterbirth.
Herbs used after episiotomy
The Philippinas will immerse where they had the stitches soak into warm water and they will burn incense to soothe the atmosphere. They also put char coal and herb indirectly on the perineum for quick recovery.
Bargaining on delivery fees
I was most surprised to hear that one must bargain even for the hospital charges. Sounds a bit like the U.S. where the health insurance companies negotiate with hospitals on our behalf, but in Philippines, the success lies on the patient him/herself.▲top
Marriage means having kids
At your wedding people ask you when are you going to have the baby, on the wedding day they ask you that you must have baby soon. People are most happy when the couple have a boy.
Medicine for good delivery
Can you imagine that there is a medicine for good delivery? Well, there is in Taiwan. It's Eastern Medicine. You boil the herbs that the Eastern doctors prescribed you and boil it and drink it. It is to smell really bad, so there are also tablets. But these tables can be as big as a cherry and you have to take it 3 times a day, 10 tablets each.
No moving
You cannot move your apartment or your house while you are pregnant. The God of babies may get angry and do something nasty to your child. You can't even move furniture while you are pregnant. So you might have to postpone that nursery for your baby until after she/he is born.
Hospital does not serve meals
If you expect to enjoy hospital food, well, don't in Taiwan. After delivery, women are on strict recovery diet and it is the duty of the mothers-in-law to bring in the food for her.▲top
Innovative delivery
You might be thinking that Thailand may be so behind in their concept of delivery, but alas, you can almost expect something like the US. They have water birth, active birth and whatever you wish, they usually allow you to have.
From hospital to work
Fathers can stay with the new mother at the hospital room, so he can wake up the next day and commute to work from the hospital.
BCG shots
Although many developing countries do not give BCG shots, in Thailand, you would expect your baby to get his/her first shot of BCG (to prevent tuberculosis) while he/she is still at the hospital.▲top
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Men are not allowed
Unfortunately husbands are not allowed in the obstetrician's office during the routine examination. What's even worse is that men are not allowed in the labor room nor the delivery room. However, there are exceptions for foreigners. But you need to get permission from the attending doctor.
No nursery
One cannot expect to see a nursery in the labor and delivery ward. Not because they cannot afford such facility, but they believe that it is in the best interest of the baby to be at his or her mother's side at all times. So there is no such thing as baby cot, those plastic ones. The baby sleeps right next to his or her mom. The hospital does not serve meals. Families need to bring food to the mother.
Oil massage over the breast
In order to promote better flow of milk, the people of Nepal rely on oil massage over the breast. It will certainly provide for better blood circulation and hence promote lactation. Great idea, isn't it? ▲top
Boys are welcomed
Families expect boys to be born. So they would usually keep on trying until they can have a boy. When they can't have a boy, they consult doctors and in some worse situation, she can be announced of divorce.
Risky birth
Birth can be very risky when they have babies at home. Some babies die or are disabled as a result of difficult delivery.
Home birth is not a choice
The government pays for the cost of delivery, but up to the second child. Therefore, when the consequent birth is at home for the poor.
Cost of delivery is reasonable
Unlike the developing countries, even at a major hospital, cost of delivery is not expensive.▲top
Just trying to survive
Ms. O, before she can think of spending a happy pregnancy, she had to worry about how to survive in this country. The numerous electric shortage, cutting off of electricity, water supply being cut off, items lacking, tribal disputes, etc, she never felt at rest.
Being fat, being good
In Sri Lanka where fatness is considered an indication of wealth, the doctors do not particularly restrict your diet during pregnancy. Fat is considered a beauty of its own.
Shape of the tummy determines the sex
People of Sri Lanka believe that you can determine the sex of the baby by judging the shape of the tummy. For example, if the belly sticks out and pointy, then it is said to be a boy.
Medical equipments out of order
Although the hospital may be equipped with medical equipments similar to that of the advanced world, they are often out of order and never fixed once it breaks down. They may not have the technicians who are skillful enough to fix the equipment, thus being left unused. It teaches us that the advanced industrialized countries cannot just send these equipments, but also to send maintenance staff. ▲top
Ladies only
The labor room is off limit to men and any non-staff. You would be expected to be on your own with maybe 4 other ladies in the labor room. No curtains dividing the beds.
What time was the baby born?
The Mongolians cannot be bothered by what time the baby was born. You may see a clock in the delivery room, but it may not be accurate. So it is advised that you take your watch with you.
Wrap your baby
Newborns are wrapped tightly in a large cloth. Their legs are stretched straight. The nurses say that when they are wrapped in such manner, it would be easy to handle.
No birth certificate
It was such a surprise that the hospital did not provide foreigners with a birth certificate. They certainly had one for Mongolians but no such form for foreigners.▲top
Big body, small baby
The natives called Chamorro are large, but often times they have small babies or even premature babies.
Rubbing oil
In the old days, during labor, those who assist the birth would rub oil over the abdomen and place thick blanket and there were smoke from the burning bark.
Squeeze to recover
Nurses in Saipan may advise you to squeeze your abdomen after giving birth so that the uterus would get back to shape.
Only 1 month stay for non-visas
Because there are many who plan to give birth in Saipan, just so that the baby can attain US citizenship, Saipan is discouraging mothers to enter the country with non-visa status by allowing them only one month stay. ▲top
Know the sex of your baby
It is essential that you know the sex of the baby before she/he is born because you need to name her straight away.
Carry your records
You are responsible for your records, so you need to carry it every time you have your check up as well as the day of your delivery. It's quite a responsibility, isn't it when all your test results are also there.
Shaving the head
As early as the next day after birth, babies' heads are shaved, so that thick hair will grow out. But imagine, putting razor over the baby's head, it seems scary.▲top
Depends on your insurance
One can find a tremendous difference in treatment, depending on the insurance you have. If you have private insurance, chances are that you will be placed in a private room, whereas if you do not have it, you might be in the basement with 10 other patients.
Take in salt
In order to avoid pre-eclampsia, most women are told to have less salt than usual, but in Brazil, because the land is dry, the doctors will tell you to take a lot of fluid as well as salt, so that you won't be affected by the low blood pressure. Salt to be taken from Olives, now that sounds very Brazilian.
C-sec in demand
Cesarean section is very popular in Brazil. In some hospitals it can be as high as 95%.▲top
American style birth
Because the expatriats will be seeing doctors who speak English, many of these doctors are trained in the U.S. Therefore, you will most likely be able to write your birth plan, just like you had in the U.S.
Salt works
When they are waiting for the placenta to be delivered, they would put a bit of a salt on the mother's tongue. It is believed that easy delivery of placenta will be expected.
Citizenship of Peru
If you are born in Peru, no matter what your parents' nationality may be, you will be qualified for a Peru Citizenship, just being born there. Wouldn't that be cool, dual citizenship.▲top
Keep your maternity wear
It is believed that if you keep your maternity dress, you will most likely to conceive your second child. So, I guess if you wish for another child, then don't throw away or give away that maternity wear.
Birth in a political unrest environment
It is an insecure environment in Venezuela when you know there is political unrest. Water supply can stop or electricity cut off any time. Imagine no water with a new born baby.
A cold shower
One must be prepared for a cold shower even in a private room equipped with shower and toilet.▲top
Toxoplasmosis
As in France, even in Senegal, the doctors are quite obsessed about testing toxoplasmosis. This disease is caused by a parasitic protozoan, transmitted chiefly through undercooked meat, soil, or in cat faeces.
Malaria prevention
Malaria medicine has to be taken every day and how nuisance would that be while you are pregnant. But there is a medicine for this purpose even while you are pregnant.
Upside down shower
You can be put upside down and given water bath from the tap in some villages in Senegal. What a shock for a new born baby.▲top
Waiting period before the initial visit
You may not get your appointment with your obgys soon after you find out you are pregnant. In Australia, they make your initial appointment with the doctor after 12 weeks of your pregnancy. This is to make sure that the baby is well. It is common that you may have miscarriage in the first part of your pregnancy.
Interpreters are available
Many Japanese are concerned about communication with doctors and midwives, but here in Australia, they have a system that guarantees patient to have interpreters. You may need to book in advance, but you will be able to communicate with the doctor through interpreters. In case of emergency, they have telephone interpreters standing by all the time.
Birth Centers
Birth centers are quite popular and in demand. There is no doctors but just midwives at the birth center. They will not do pelvic examination during pregnancy, they will not give you epidural, they will not over medicate you, they will not perform episiotomy. They allow you to have as natural a birth as possible. But in case of any emergency or if any complication happens, you will be sent to the hospital which is usually on the same grounds as the birth centers.
Discharged within 24 hours
If you give birth at the birth center, they will allow you to return home after 24 hours. If you have birth in the hospital, you will be in the hospital for about 3 days. So you may worry whether you may be OK with so short stay, but for one whole week after you are discharged from the birth center, the midwife will visit your home every day to check you and your baby, so you will not have to worry. ▲top