Introduction-E

uterus. A woman was also told not to sit on something too soft in late pregnancy or else
the lining of the amniotic sac would become too thick, which would make it harder to
break. When you were pregnant you were not supposed to sleep in one position only, in
order to prevent the placenta from settling on the wall of the uterus which would cause
it to be stuck. When women were pregnant they were not allowed to scratch their
bellies. Some people got stretch marks and were scarred forever. Women should not
alter their pants to make them slimmer. If they did, they would prevent an easier
passage for the baby. A couple were not to argue too much during the pregnancy in
order for their child to have a good life. When a woman was pregnant, she was not
allowed to soften sealskin with her feet. When pregnant women were losing blood, they
had to drink warm water. When they lost blood during pregnancy, the pregnancy took
longer in order to compensate for the lost blood.
They believed that if they followed the taboos the child would have a good life. A
long time ago, women in labour had to be alone in an iglu or tent to deliver their child.
They were coached through the door or an opening in the wall. Baby girls were harder
and more painful to deliver. During labor, the midwife and the woman in labor had to
loosen everything that was tied such as kamik laces and hair ties.
Traditional midwifery is being lost, as people now use the qallunaat ways and have
their babies in a hospital. In the past, a woman in labor was looked after very well by
making sure that her legs were level, or else she might hurt her back. People were more
worried about the mother’s well being and less about the child. Nowadays, the doctors
seem to worry more about the baby than the mother. They worry more about the child
that is being delivered than the mother, even when she is scared.
After birth, the umbilical cord was tied with a braided sinew and cut with scissors.
At least three people could help out during labor; one person supporting the back, one
at the feet, and one to help push the baby out by applying pressure on the stomach. If a
woman lost too much blood after the delivery, you were to give her small sips of warm
water. Before the umbilical cord healed, they would put cotton from Arctic willow on
the belly button; they put just enough to cover it.
During breast feeding, women weren’t allowed to eat caribou fat to prevent the
baby from getting constipated. Once, a baby died because the mom had eaten this fat.
Most of these rules are now forgotten. Elisapee and Saullu were experienced about
pregnancy, and they gave many answers. Also, Saullu used to be a midwife.
I want to thank the elders because I learned a lot from them and they were very
kind to us, and patient.
References
Interviews with elders: Pauloosie Angmarlik, Saullu Nakasuk, Elisapee Ootoova and
Hervé Paniaq.
Essays – Pregnancy 143