环球英语 — 779：Mothering the Mother
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Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Adam Navis.
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And I'm Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
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During nine long months a mother grows a baby inside her. She shares the news of the coming baby with people around her. She prepares a place for the baby in her home. She takes special care of her body as a growing place for the baby.
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Now, it is time for the baby to be born. The mother may labor a long time, feeling extreme pain. But finally, her hard work produces a small miracle. The new baby lets out a cry. The mother is extremely tired, but her baby is now here.
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In the next few weeks and months the parents of this baby will have a new job - especially the mother. In today's Spotlight program we look at postpartum traditions from around the world. These are traditions women and communities perform after a woman has a baby.
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A new mother has many important responsibilities. She is responsible for taking care of this helpless baby. She will make sure the baby is clean, and that he has enough food to eat. She will make sure he is warm and that he receives love. These things may sound simple. But the mother is tired. Her body has changed. It has grown another person! And she will still need to feed the baby every two or three hours. She will need to learn how to answer the baby's cries.
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All these things can be difficult for a new mother to learn. She may feel that she has no power. She may feel as if she needs help. But many traditions around the world encourage help for the mother.
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Many postpartum traditions recognize that labor is difficult work. They encourage the mother to take time to recover from the work of birth. Usually this means that the community around a mother helps her. In these kinds of traditions, the mother is kept away from other people for a period of time. This period can be as short as three days. Or, it can be as long as 40 days or more!
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A popular tradition in Latin America is called "la cuarentena." In English, this means "quarantine" or the act of being kept apart from other people. La cuarentena lasts for 40 days. During this time, the mother has two jobs. First, she must rest from her labor and let her body heal. And second, she must be with her baby.
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Female family members help the new mother so she can concentrate on resting. During this time the mother's body is considered to be open or weak. She must not have sex during this period. She must cover her head and neck with special clothes. And she puts a cloth closely around her stomach. It is called a "faja." She also may stop washing her hair.
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Many women believe that following this tradition is important. They believe that if they do, they will have good health when they are older. But, if they do not follow these rules they may have many problems.
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In the Punjab region between Pakistan and India new mothers and their babies stay separate from other people for five days after birth. This is said to help with breastfeeding. There is also a "stepping out" ceremony. This ceremony involves the woman who helped the mother give birth. This woman bathes the new mother and washes her hair. Then the mother eats a special meal.
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In Somalia, a mother also stays in her house for 40 days. This time is called "afantanbah." Female relatives and neighbors help her. During this time a new mother does not do anything. She does not do housework or other work. The only things she has to think about are keeping herself clean and breastfeeding her baby. During this time the mother and baby wear special jewellery. They burn good smelling incense. This protects the mother and baby from sickness and bad thoughts. After afantanbah is over, there is a celebration. Then there is a naming ceremony for the baby.
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Other cultures believe that it is important for a new mother to keep a balance in her body. For example, there is a balance between hot and cold. Blood is usually considered a "hot" element. When a baby is born, the mother often loses a lot of blood. So, it is believed that she is in a "cold" state. She needs to add more warmth.
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In Guatemala new mothers sit in a hot water bath. These baths keep the woman warm. And it is said that baths are good for breastfeeding. They help to increase the flow of the milk, lower the milk into the breasts, and to prevent the milk from becoming too cold for the baby to eat.
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In China, new mothers "do the month." During this time, they rest at home for 30 days. A woman's mother or her husband's mother will take care of her. During this time, the mother also works to bring back the balance between yin and yang in her body. They believe giving birth ruins this balance. So the mother must bring the balance back by eating yang foods like chicken, ginger, or eggs. Foods like bamboo shoots, turnips and cold water are all yin. They are not permitted.
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In Tanzania, the Chagga people celebrate the new place a woman has as a mother. When the baby is three months old, the mother shaves her head. She cuts off all of her hair. She wears a beautiful beaded head covering. She comes out of her home and walks through the streets to the market. This is the first time the baby is in public. As the mother and baby pass, people sing songs to them. They are songs like those sung to people returning from battle. The mother and baby have survived weeks of danger. Now the baby is ready to learn about the world outside.
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Having a baby is an important time for everyone in a family. It is a celebration of new life! All of these ways of caring for a new mother are a little different. But they all have the same goal. They want to help, guide, and take care of a new mother. When a mother is healthy, there is a greater chance for her baby to be healthy. When a mother does not have support and care, there is a negative effect on everyone. How does your community care for new mothers? Are there particular traditions that people in your community follow? Write to us and tell us! Our email address is radio @ radio english . net.
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