----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2006 6:44
PM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] bali
ceremony
hi everyone
just thought id let you all know about a beautiful ceremony i went to
recently in bali. its always nice to know about other cultures birth
traditions .
my young friend (whos 20) recently met and fell in love with a balinese
girl and many of us went over to see their huge hindu wedding with 800
guests!! and their baby girl's hindu 3 month ceremony. this is where the baby
is formally named, offerings and prayers given, has her head shaved - because
it has passed through the vagina and so is considered dirty :( - touches
the ground for the very first time (she has always been held since birth,)
tastes water for the first time and after which she is allowed to leave her
home. they have like an extended baby moon for the first 3 balinese months
(which are longer than ours) where the baby should not leave the family
compound. the baby is also given a beautiful necklace containing a piece of
their placenta to wear as well as anklets, bracelets, earrings and tiny
little rings!! the rest of the placenta was burried directly
outside their front door and offerings are given to it each day including
flowers, food, money and coconuts! her mum explained to me that the placenta
is considered the baby's sister because without it she would not have
been nourished and healthy.
another interesting thing i noticed watching all the little bubs in the
family is that they are extremely chubby, women are very proud of their
breastfeeding and the babys fat rolls :) and the babies never seem to cry in
order to be fed. they are fed often - every hour and a half in the case of my
friend's baby - and never seem to have the need to cry for food because its
always offered to them before they need to.. it was very interested to see. my
friend's wife was breastfed until she was 5 and has every intention of doing
the same. it was lovely to see a culture where the whole process 'seems' so
hassle free. they had no baby paraphenalia in their home except baby clothes,
a plastic baby bath and a baby carrier that i gave them before she was born
(that is the envy of the village!)
anyway, theres a little taste of balinese village life for you!
love emily
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