Introduction-E

Did you ever assist someone who had a breech delivery?
Saullu: No, I haven’t seen anyone like that. Breech babies do not have enough space in
the womb. They are pushed back in, right in this area [demonstrating], and then it
would turn into the right position. It is known that the doctors do not push the babies
back. I used to show them (the mothers) that if they have a contraction in a certain area
it could mean one thing, but if the contractions are only on one side, it means the baby
is breech.
On the other side?
Saullu: Yes. I know, but I have not delivered someone with a breech baby. If I had, I
would have broken the baby’s leg.
Did you ever have to push a baby back in for any reason?
Saullu: No, I did not have to push a baby back in. I would just tell the women to push,
and I pushed the body slowly and harder. That’s what I used to do following the
contractions. There are three strong contractions. On the third one, the baby comes out.
I know that because I have experienced it. After the third one when the contractions
speed up that’s when the baby comes out.
Did you say that Nutara was your mother’s cousin?
Saullu: Our mothers were cousins.
Were you ever told not to soften skins with your feet while you were
pregnant?
Saullu: I used to soften seal skins with my feet a lot while I was pregnant, so I would go
into labour.
I thought you were not supposed to do that while you were pregnant.
Saullu: I even softened skins with my feet when I had a big belly.
Sealskins?
Saullu: Yes, and I used to stretch caribou skins as well.
What did they tell the pregnant woman to do if she started bleeding?
Saullu: I have never experienced a pregnant woman bleeding.
82 Introduction to the Oral Traditions