http://http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/05/paolo-patruno_n_6101602.html
So when I saw the title of this article I expected to see women in absolutely unfit conditions to give birth. Now while these may not be ideal settings, I keep thinking of the idea that comes up in class that women have, and will continue to give birth. This comes to mind, because even with the limited resources associated with the locations of these countries, these women are still able to give birth to babies that look fairly healthy and the women look like they are in decent condition. The midwives and doctors serving them looked to be trained birth attendants as well. So while I think the article wanted to say these pictures are supposed to make one shocked at how poor the conditions are, for me it was a reminder that life finds a way. Now with this being said there is so much work that can be done to improve the birthing conditions in this part of the world as we discuss at length in class. Yet, I just wanted to post this article because the pictures are striking, but not for the reasons I expected.
Beautiful photographs. I found this quote from the article interesting: “‘In Malawi, in the local language, the words for pregnancy — ‘pakati’ and ‘matenda’ — translate into ‘between life and death’ and ‘sick’, respectively.'” I think “between life and death” is interesting; it conveys a kind of transcendence during pregnancy. However, I was saddened by the translation to “sick”, and I think it speaks to the high rates of maternal mortality in Sub-Sarharan Africa. However, it also reminded me of the way we treat pregnancy in the West- as an “illness” that we treat with hospitals, medications, and surgeries often because we fear pregnancy and birth.
Also, did y’all notice the “kangaroo care” in some of the photos? 🙂
I too think these pictures are beautiful and I fully agree with you Kyle that “women have, and will continue to give birth.” I think it’s interesting also that especially after taking this class, I did not expect the pictures to be of terrible conditions and strife. I think I quite imagined them to look just as they did. Women giving birth with other women, caring for the children as has been the case for thousands of years. Perhaps with, perhaps without “Western medicine” they gave birth and both they and their children survived. I think we often lose sight when given maternal and infant mortality rates that for every life lost, hundreds live on or else these populations would cease to exist.
And to Kayley’s point of Kangaroo care, I’m willing to say that this idea of wrapping your child to your body was originated in Africa. When the children get old enough, they are moved to the mother’s back and tied with a single piece of cloth and go with their mother every wear. This was mentioned in Monique and the Mango Rains but is true of many subsaharan African cultures especially in the West. This again lends to my point that the West has gone so far from the natural and normal and is finally making a comeback that they are popularizing things that have been done in other parts of the world this entire time. Calling this practice Kangaroo care makes it seem as if these women were taught this by some high tech Western practitioner when it reality it is just what their mothers did with them and so what they do with their children.
I too think these pictures are beautiful and I fully agree with you Kyle that “women have, and will continue to give birth.” I think it’s interesting also that especially after taking this class, I did not expect the pictures to be of terrible conditions and strife. I think I quite imagined them to look just as they did. Women giving birth with other women, caring for the children as has been the case for thousands of years. Perhaps with, perhaps without “Western medicine” they gave birth and both they and their children survived. I think we often lose sight when given maternal and infant mortality rates that for every life lost, hundreds live on or else these populations would cease to exist.
And to Kayley’s point of Kangaroo care, I’m willing to say that this idea of wrapping your child to your body was originated in Africa. When the children get old enough, they are moved to the mother’s back and tied with a single piece of cloth and go with their mother every wear. This was mentioned in Monique and the Mango Rains but is true of many subsaharan African cultures especially in the West. This again lends to my point that the West has gone so far from the natural and normal and is finally making a comeback that they are popularizing things that have been done in other parts of the world this entire time. Calling this practice Kangaroo care makes it seem as if these women were taught this by some high tech Western practitioner when it reality it is just what their mothers did with them and so what they do with their children.