Joshua wrote:
> Her impression from limited amounts of research is that the trauma of
> childbirth (both in the days before, during the event, and the days after)
> is a cultural affectation, and "western women are wimps".
Josh, please remind dear Susan about he expected life span of such women?
Please? It's also unlikely that the first child is 'dropped' in such a
manner. Later children might be, as L&D usually shortens with each
delivery. By the time a woman gets to six or eight, it's pretty easy
(well, easier, anyway).
Labor is called labor because it's HARD work. I agree that women don't
need to stay in bed for 10 days after delivery anymore, like my mother did,
but it's still an entirely draining experience.
Sonja, you get assistence for *eight* days??? WOW. Does your government
provide this? That's wonderful.
I like to think about matriarchal societies and how they work(ed). My
knowlege is limited, but from what I know, the women live(d) in a large
community with the children, and the men visit when they aren't out
hunting. Women are/were the gatherers and men are/were the hunters,
bringing substantial parts of the kill home to the women and children. The
idea of having a baby in that setting sounds a little like what Ritu is
talking about in India -- lots and lots of help with the baby for about six
weeks. I don't know what current maternal/child bonding studies would say
about that system, but from a strictly recovering point of view it sounds
wonderful.
Amities,
Jo Anne
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
