Traditional system of putting mom and newborn in isolation for 40 days
sunita posted on Sat, 11/07/2009 - 14:52
As I am approaching my due date various concerns keep coming in my mind. Recently while talking to my in-laws I found out that they are planning to follow the traditional way of putting baby and mom in isolation, with me. I have seen woman in our family go through but I thought by time my family members will give up this thing. I cannot even imagine of being put in a seperate room for days with my baby.
What could be the reason behind this tradition. Also should be follow such thing now? How many of the moms had to go through this.
sunita,
I understand ur concerns. But at this time u should relax and not think too much. I personally did not have this experience but have heard of such things happening still. I think traditionally this was done to protect the newborn from any kind of infections. If people keep coming to see and touch the baby, it can lead to some infections to the baby. U can talk to ur family sighting ur concern and telling them that there r numerous other ways to protect the baby.
I had to go through this tradition when my first son was born but for my second son was able to convince my family that it was followed by our elders because at that time people used to live in joint family and baby had to be prevented from any infections and so thats why it was followed.
Now as mostly we are living in a nuclear family and with the advancement of science there are less chances of such infections.
I really do not get whats the use of this thing. My feeling is baby should be allowed to see the world from the very beginning. I really wonder why we have such traditional systems.
Most of the traditional things being followed by our elders have some scientific explanation. The purpose of keeping the mom and baby in a confined place if mainly to protect them from infections.
May be now we women do not need to go through this process as there are many advancements and we can easily protect ourselves from infections.
yutkimaan is so right in saying that every traditional system being followed has some scientific background. Though some of them are not really needed now but our elders tend to stick to them.
Now we do not need to go through the confinement as there are many other ways to deal with infections now. sunita, you may want to convince your in laws explaining them the idea behind the system and why it may not be required now.
I agree that this period of confinement is not required. But if I think about myself actually I enjoyed the 40 days of relaxed time with my child. I had no other job but to be with my baby. Take care of her and play with her. I loved this