Saturday, May 7, 2011

Childbirth in Mexico

In Mexico the birthing process is considered a woman's job, ideally the job of her mother and midwife.  Cultural tradition dictates that a husband not see his wife or child until the delivery is over and both have  been cleaned and dressed.  In general, Hispanic women prefer that their mothers attend  them in labor.
Latin American women practice the custom of postpartum lying -in period.  This period is designed to give a woman the period of rest between childbirth and returning to work.  In these cultures women traditionally did not return to office work, but to physical labor in the fields.

Birth generally takes place in the home but for the birth of a first child it may take place in the mother's parent's home. After the onset of labor women continue doing house hold tasks until the labor intensifies to the point that it is no longer possible to finish doing what they were doing.

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