In the past, every new birth was done by the midwives. Medicine has grown to heights unimaginable in modern times. The new generation is enjoying its blessings and availing all facilities for comfortable births. But it is amazing to remember how a generation that could not even imagine anything about this,overcame these complicated crisis.
A time when vehicles and electric lights did not come on country roads. Hospitals and doctors had started working but most of the people were afraid to go to hospitals for childbirth. Those who followed folk medicine and traditional treatment methods were treated by midwives. Each village would have its own midwives. There were no barber shops in the village then. The men in the village would shave the heads of the locals. They were also assigned to treat broken or injured hands and feet.
The family will sent someone to call the midwife when they recognize the symptoms before the pregnant women starts laboring. Many people go out to call the midwife at midnight. The midwives always be ready to go anywhere. If the house of the pregnant woman is farway, the journey will be by cattle and carts. It is not a great deed to be done. When two lives are caught between life and death, the midwives reach there like gods order. It was not just clan work. It was a beautiful act.
Childbirth is a very complicated process. Despite all the advances in medicine, it is still approached by awe. In some emergency situations, the life of the baby and the mother may be threatened. Maternal mortality rate was also high in the past. The mental stress experienced by the relatives of the pregnant lady from being in an emergency to saving two lives is unpredictable. It is difficult to mark the pains and worries of a pregnant women. Every midwife is a reminder of half death.
The old ladies in midwifery had advice and instructions to pass on for their followers. In the olden days, pregnant women did not even go to the hospital to confirm the pregnancy. It is scary to even think about going to the hospital. A lot of deaths were happened due to fever due to infection after childbirth. There is no need to fear the fever that occursthree to four days after giving birth. But the fever that follows should be feared. The arrival of this fever was due to an infection.
Hospitals are active today. As more facilities became available, peoples followed the modern medicine. Thus the profession of midwifery also went to its end.
Modern society depends on hospitals for childbirth but still relies on midwives for postmatal care. There is no house in kerala that does not receive the services of midwives at least once. But the fact is that even the educated people do not treat them properly in the society. Although there are many exploitations, the service of those working in this unorganized sector has become more stable with the entry of home nursing agencies and others.
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