As author Lish McBride once remarked, “You know what the great thing about babies is? They are like little bundles of hope. Like the future in a basket.”
The birth of a child is a universally shared experience for parents everywhere—yet there’s more to childbirth than the decision of home vs. hospital delivery. Every country, culture, and society has its own distinctive ways of welcoming new life into the world.
If you’re currently expecting—or are intrigued by diverse cultures—you can learn more about these alternative time-honored methods of celebrating a baby’s arrival. Here’s what to know about birth traditions: unique customs from around the world.
Nigeria: The Baby’s First Bath
In Nigeria, postpartum care is known as omugwo. A key aspect of this special assistance and attentiveness involves giving the baby its first bath. This simple custom is done by the grandmother or an aunt or close friend who steps in otherwise. The first washing is a symbolic gesture that the new mother is not alone in childrearing and that the local community of women will always be there to support and help her.
Jamaica: The Burying of the Placenta
Another birth tradition from around the world is found in Jamaica. As a unique custom, parents bury the mother’s placenta and child’s umbilical cord in the ground near the family’s house. Later on, the parents plant a sapling at the original burial site and observe its growth adjacent to their young child. As they age, the child is then entrusted with caring for and tending to the tree by themself to teach them about taking responsibility in life.
Brazil: Gift or Souvenir Baskets
In Brazil, gift-giving is customary not only for the new mother but for everyone. When visitors come to the maternity ward after childbirth to see the dynamic mom and child duo, they often receive a signature gift or souvenir in return for their visit. These presents are typically small-sized candies, candles, or other assorted knick-knacks that serve as a simple way to say thank you. As a polite gesture, no guest leaves empty-handed.
Finland: Government-Given Baby Boxes
In Finland, mothers-to-be receive all the essentials for their baby in a neatly packaged maternity gift box that’s left on their doorstep. This starter baby kit contains an array of useful supplies, including clothes, sheets, diapers, toys, books, bathing supplies, and more. Given freely by the government, this care package is available to all parents to ensure every kid can receive an equal start in life. Best of all, this gift is given to expectant parents and adoptive ones.
USA: Swaddling in a Baby Blanket
Have you ever noticed that newborns are often wrapped in the same style of blankets for social media pictures? Stateside, these iconic striped blankets have become symbolic of the wonderful miracle of childbirth. Since the 1950s, maternity wards and healthcare providers across North America have used the soft and cuddly Kuddle-Up blanket as receiving blankets that are used to hold a newborn child for the first time.
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