A Childbirth Experience

I am unable to have children of my own but have watched a friend give birth.  My friend decided to have her third child at an alternative birthing center with 2 midwives and family present.  When I arrived at the center, she was sitting up in bed and her husband was rubbing her back helping her breathe.  Her 2 children was with her as well as her mother, her three sisters and some of their children.  She was experiencing some pressure and contractions but wasn't able to push.  She was allowed to walk around and while in the bathroom, she started giving birth.  She delivered her child on the bathroom floor.  I was able hold this beautiful infant while she was being cleaned up and weighed in the first half -hour of her life.  This experience is a gift I cannot repay. 

In Turkey, childbirth is becoming more modern and taking place in hospitals.  There are still  many customs and beliefs that surround childbirth.  A birth is a very happy event because it increases a family's size which is equated with strength and security (William, 2011).  A child increases the respect given to the parents by other family members whereas an infertile couple may experience increased social and psychological issues (William, 2011).  Pregnant women may be encouraged to eat and drink sweet items to increase their chances of having a boy (William, 2011).  They are also expected to look at the moon, beautiful people, smell roses, eat apples, grapes, green plums and quinces and avoid going to funerals, looking at camels, monkeys and bears, eating fish and chewing gum (William, 2011).  After giving birth, the mom is supposed to stay in bed for 40 days (Neredeyim, 2005).  The baby is cared for by family, friends and neighbors during this 40 days (Neredeyim, 2011).  People who come to visit will usually bring food and the mother is expected to taste all food that is brought to her so she has an adequate supply of breast milk (Neredeyim, 2005).  If the mother becomes ill during the the first 40 days, a doctor will come to the house (Neredeyim, 2005).  On the 40th day, mother and baby take a bath together (Neredeyim, 2005).  The mother and baby will visit her mother in law first unless they live together, then her mother (Neredeyim, 2005).

William (2011, March 28).  Traditions to do with birth of Turkey. [Blog message].  Retrieved from  http://my.englishclub.com/profiles/blogs/traditions-to-do-with-birth-of

Neredeyim (2005) Tradition of woman after childbirth.  Retrieved from Republic of Turkey Ministry on Culture and Tourism website: http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/belge/2-1556/tradition-for-woman-after-childbirth.html