Traditional Postpartum Practices and Rituals: A Qualitative Systematic Review

Abstract

Many cultures around the world observe specific postpartum rituals to avoid ill health in later years. This qualitative systematic review examined the literature describing traditional postpartum practices from 51 studies in over 20 different countries. Commonalities were identified in practices across cultures. Specifically, the themes included organized support for the mother, periods of rest, prescribed food to be eaten or prohibited, hygiene practices and those related to infant care and breastfeeding, among others. These rituals allow the mother to be 'mothered' for a period of time after the birth. They may have beneficial health effects as well as facilitate the transition to motherhood. In today's society, with modernization, migration and globalization, individuals may be unable to carry out the rituals or, conversely, feel pressured to carry out activities in which they no longer believe. The understanding of traditional postpartum practices can inform the provision of culturally competent perinatal services.

Community perception of barriers and facilitators to institutional delivery care-seeking behavior in Northwest Ethiopia: a qualitative study

“…Different traditional practices are undertaken before childbirth, at the time of childbirth, and after the birth of the child, including moving freely at the time of labour, no one touching the body other than her nearest relatives, having a coffee ceremony, enjoying traditional massages with the nearest relatives, and family influence, including overburdening of the woman by home activities like cooking food for the family, caring for small children at home, and caring for caws, were the most important reasons for women to have home delivery. This finding is in agreement with different other studies in different areas of low and middle-income countries like Nepal, Ethiopia, Laos [ 35 – 39 ]. This may be a cultural practice considered as a norm in most developing countries in the rural context [ 39 ].…”

“…This finding is in agreement with different other studies in different areas of low and middle-income countries like Nepal, Ethiopia, Laos [ 35 – 39 ]. This may be a cultural practice considered as a norm in most developing countries in the rural context [ 39 ]. This implies that any intervention mechanism designed for the prevention of home delivery should consider the norms and cultural practices held by the communities.…”

Community perception of barriers and facilitators to institutional delivery care-seeking behavior in Northwest Ethiopia: a qualitative study

“…Different traditional practices are undertaken before childbirth, at the time of childbirth, and after the birth of the child, including moving freely at the time of labour, no one touching the body other than her nearest relatives, having a coffee ceremony, enjoying traditional massages with the nearest relatives, and family influence, including overburdening of the woman by home activities like cooking food for the family, caring for small children at home, and caring for caws, were the most important reasons for women to have home delivery. This finding is in agreement with different other studies in different areas of low and middle-income countries like Nepal, Ethiopia, Laos [ 35 – 39 ]. This may be a cultural practice considered as a norm in most developing countries in the rural context [ 39 ].…”

“…This finding is in agreement with different other studies in different areas of low and middle-income countries like Nepal, Ethiopia, Laos [ 35 – 39 ]. This may be a cultural practice considered as a norm in most developing countries in the rural context [ 39 ]. This implies that any intervention mechanism designed for the prevention of home delivery should consider the norms and cultural practices held by the communities.…”

A mixed-methods investigation of infant and young child feeding practices in rural Ethiopia: integrating insights from surveys, direct observation, and qualitative research

“…The postpartum resting tradition, ulma functioned as a locally meaningful postpartum support period during which mothers described receiving rest, special foods, and practical help from husbands, sisters, relatives, and neighbors, which appeared to support breastfeeding in the early postpartum period. This finding is consistent with broader literature describing postpartum traditions that include maternal rest, prescribed foods, and organized household support ( 60 ). However, in our setting, this protection was temporary and diminished once women resumed agricultural labor, at which point competing work demands and separation from the infant often contributed to early supplementation.…”

Spiritual Healing Practices Among Rural Postpartum Thai Women

“…The study findings supported previous studies that reported female seniors in the family or in-laws' families are the most influential caregivers (Dennis et al, 2007;Neamsakul, 2008). The practices used are a combination of Buddhism, Ayurveda, and traditional Chinese medicine (Department for the Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, 2004;Salguero, 2007).…”

Community perception of barriers and facilitators to institutional delivery care-seeking behavior in Northwest Ethiopia: a qualitative study

“…Different traditional practices are undertaken before childbirth, at the time of childbirth, and after the birth of the child, including moving freely at the time of labour, no one touching the body other than her nearest relatives, having a coffee ceremony, enjoying traditional massages with the nearest relatives, and family influence, including overburdening of the woman by home activities like cooking food for the family, caring for small children at home, and caring for caws, were the most important reasons for women to have home delivery. This finding is in agreement with different other studies in different areas of low and middle-income countries like Nepal, Ethiopia, Laos [ 35 – 39 ]. This may be a cultural practice considered as a norm in most developing countries in the rural context [ 39 ].…”

“…This finding is in agreement with different other studies in different areas of low and middle-income countries like Nepal, Ethiopia, Laos [ 35 – 39 ]. This may be a cultural practice considered as a norm in most developing countries in the rural context [ 39 ]. This implies that any intervention mechanism designed for the prevention of home delivery should consider the norms and cultural practices held by the communities.…”

A mixed-methods investigation of infant and young child feeding practices in rural Ethiopia: integrating insights from surveys, direct observation, and qualitative research

“…The postpartum resting tradition, ulma functioned as a locally meaningful postpartum support period during which mothers described receiving rest, special foods, and practical help from husbands, sisters, relatives, and neighbors, which appeared to support breastfeeding in the early postpartum period. This finding is consistent with broader literature describing postpartum traditions that include maternal rest, prescribed foods, and organized household support ( 60 ). However, in our setting, this protection was temporary and diminished once women resumed agricultural labor, at which point competing work demands and separation from the infant often contributed to early supplementation.…”

Spiritual Healing Practices Among Rural Postpartum Thai Women

“…The study findings supported previous studies that reported female seniors in the family or in-laws' families are the most influential caregivers (Dennis et al, 2007;Neamsakul, 2008). The practices used are a combination of Buddhism, Ayurveda, and traditional Chinese medicine (Department for the Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, 2004;Salguero, 2007).…”

Community perception of barriers and facilitators to institutional delivery care-seeking behavior in Northwest Ethiopia: a qualitative study

“…Different traditional practices are undertaken before childbirth, at the time of childbirth, and after the birth of the child, including moving freely at the time of labour, no one touching the body other than her nearest relatives, having a coffee ceremony, enjoying traditional massages with the nearest relatives, and family influence, including overburdening of the woman by home activities like cooking food for the family, caring for small children at home, and caring for caws, were the most important reasons for women to have home delivery. This finding is in agreement with different other studies in different areas of low and middle-income countries like Nepal, Ethiopia, Laos [ 35 – 39 ]. This may be a cultural practice considered as a norm in most developing countries in the rural context [ 39 ].…”

“…This finding is in agreement with different other studies in different areas of low and middle-income countries like Nepal, Ethiopia, Laos [ 35 – 39 ]. This may be a cultural practice considered as a norm in most developing countries in the rural context [ 39 ]. This implies that any intervention mechanism designed for the prevention of home delivery should consider the norms and cultural practices held by the communities.…”

A mixed-methods investigation of infant and young child feeding practices in rural Ethiopia: integrating insights from surveys, direct observation, and qualitative research

“…The postpartum resting tradition, ulma functioned as a locally meaningful postpartum support period during which mothers described receiving rest, special foods, and practical help from husbands, sisters, relatives, and neighbors, which appeared to support breastfeeding in the early postpartum period. This finding is consistent with broader literature describing postpartum traditions that include maternal rest, prescribed foods, and organized household support ( 60 ). However, in our setting, this protection was temporary and diminished once women resumed agricultural labor, at which point competing work demands and separation from the infant often contributed to early supplementation.…”

Spiritual Healing Practices Among Rural Postpartum Thai Women

“…The study findings supported previous studies that reported female seniors in the family or in-laws' families are the most influential caregivers (Dennis et al, 2007;Neamsakul, 2008). The practices used are a combination of Buddhism, Ayurveda, and traditional Chinese medicine (Department for the Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, 2004;Salguero, 2007).…”