Middle Eastern Patients: Pregnancy and Childbirth
 | • | Pre-natal care depends on financial stability. The expectant mother is encouraged to eat a well balanced meal and rest adequately. |
| • | A midwife or physician is acceptable at birth. It is preferred that it be a female. |
| • | In some cultures the man is not present at birth, while in others he is encouraged to be present. Female members of the family are present during the birth for support to the mother. |
| • | If there is a problem with the baby, the best person to speak with would be the father, because he usually has final say in medical outcome. |
| • | The male is always circumcised, usually before departure from hospital, or if Muslim, seven days after birth. In some families it is recognized as a period of festivity. |
| • | Women are encouraged to breast feed, breast feeding usually takes place for one year. |
Source: Middle Eastern Patients (2013). Retrieved from
http://members.tripod.com/mattmiller_16/id5.htm
According to the above Website, Middle Eastern women are also encouraged to live healthy lifestyles and get plenty of rest such like my sister and other women where I live. Women also seek medical professionals during pregnancy and delivery and are also encouraged to breastfeed their babies. One main difference between the Middle East culture and my own birthing experience story, is that men, usually the father of the baby, are encouraged to be present during the birth of their baby and both parents usually have a say in their baby's final medical outcome.
Hello Jana,
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware that in other countries the father wasn't present in the birthing experience. I also wasn't aware that boys are always circumsized, I thought it was a choice.