Post Partum Traditions by Seiko

Host: Oh I am loving our new badge and new title.. say it with me guys: BLOGGING TODAY.. BLOGGING TODAY.. BLOGGING TODAY…

It’s getting in my head now. Back to our show guys, Hello! Hello! This is our third week and we’re still on and rocking the blogniverse! If last week, we talk about caring for newborn, now we will talk about post partum traditions. And to add some spice to our show, our guest today will share with us post partum tradition from another culture. Our guest blogger for today is none other the beautiful and talented Seiko of Seiko’s Diary…

Hi Miss Seiko and thanks for bringing us here in Japan (we will be shopping later.. hihi). So how does it feel being here with us today?

Seiko: Pehpot invited me as one of her guest blogger & gonna post about the theme in “postpartum traditions” and it’s an honor to be as one of her guest blogger.Thank you so much Mare.

Host: I am sure you had a lot to share with us. If you must know guys, Seiko has been living in japan for years now. She is a mother of 3 lovely ladies and 1 cutey princess. She is married to a Samurai (read here for of her interesting story here, or maybe will have her again for that)

Seiko: We’re allowed to at least mentioned 5 things of a postpartum traditions and would be glad of sharing this into here.Since I m living in Japan at a present in a long period of time I just learned some traditions here in Japan which I guess is different in some other part of the Universe. And in here I would like to share the styles,beliefs & traditions here in Japan after giving birth.

Although childbirth is a universal fact of human physiology,where, how, with whom, and even when a woman gives birth are often culturally determined. New mothers are cherished and supported. They are fed nourishing food, allowed to rest, and given lots of support and pampering .

Host: Is it really different from our usual post partum traditions? Oh but before anything else, Pehpot requested for this one, let’s give a big round of applause to Yvone Elliman, er, Seiko!

Host: Oh that was so lovely.. just how pehpot described it.. I feel like I was transported to the era of Rice and Webber. Now that makes me wanna rock and do the Judas song. Did you know Miss Seiko that it was one of Pehpot’s favorite song? And that until now, she enjoys watching the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar (where I don’t know how to love him came from)…

Seiko: She mentioned it to me before, and I am not expecting she will use it here.. it’s an honor Marce!

Host: You really are very talented Miss Seiko. Back to our topic.. so what are post partum traditions that you can share with us?

Seiko: Here in Japan it is common practice to save the umbilical cord in a wooden box.They would give us the umbilical chord in a wooden box as a present,including the first photo of the baby after giving birth.

Host: Just like in our country where in the umbilical cord is saved and preserved, although not in a wooden box but it is also treated like a treasure. How about the new mom? Is she allowed to take a bath? I heard Pehpot has not taken a bath since she gave birth.

Seiko: Really? Well, here in Japan the mother is not to wash her hair for 1 week because it is not good to flex her neck.But this belief had been changed in year 2001 after I gave birth to my youngest Yuriko.I was allowed to take a bath after the first 3 days of delivery.I was told that I should take a bath before I start to breast feed the baby.

The new mom usually goes to her parents home for about 20-30 days. The grandmother will perform all household duties, because the new mom is not allowed to touch water for washing dishes or doing laundry. She is also not allowed to drive anywhere. After that time period, the postpartum mom returns home to her husband with their baby.

Host: I can see that even though Japan and our country have different cultures, both country really give importance to the health and being of the new mother.

Seiko: Another tradition here is a ceremony called “omiya maeiri“. Between 30 and 32 days, the family will then return to the shrine to pray, pay respect, and to offer thanks for a safe delivery and healthy child.

The babies are frequently named after their grandparents too. But mine wasn’t

An ideal family would be made up of a married couple with 2 children. If a couple were to have 3 or more children, they are thought to be wealthy.But we’re not that wealthy.

Host: Can I say that I admire you already? Just being here with you and learning about the traditions you went through (and reading through your story), I am amazed at how strong you and determined you are. You have such a strong personality and Pehpot is lucky to have as Marce (pehpot: I know.. I know.. I am proud)

Thanks Miss Seiko for the wonderful here and thanks for all the sushis you made for us. I am pretty sure our next guest will enjoy this as much as we did.

See You again this Wednesday for another episode of BLOGGING TODAY