KAPEMBATA: Giving Birth

PART I

When a woman is about to give birth/labor, household members should be silent and should not make any sounds/noises, if possible they should be just whispering or waving their hands. They should close the doors and the windows.

Saying the words “giving birth” or “laboring” (pembata) is a no-no. According to the old belief, it adds to the the difficulty of laboring. (Nyahahaha).

Also, when calling a walian (priestess or quack midwife), one cannot utter the word “pembata” or say “Soandso needs you, she’s about to give birth.” Instead, the one calling the walian should say “Babo,” unot ka pan sa laki lo sa walay.” (Babo, please come to our house…).

If the walian forgot what was it all about or she can’t understand why she’s needed, the person should say “You already know it…” (Katawan nengka bun).

When asked by other people what was it all about, the answer is “none” or “it’s nothing” or he/she should answer in some other way, concealing what is going on. (hmmmm…) There are many reasons why this is done or practiced, but I only know one reason: to avoid bad/evil spirits to intercept the message that somebody is giving birth.

Observe that, Maguindanaons are very careful of how they utter words because they believe that spirits are always listening to them.

The laboring woman should not shout or groan. A cloth is placed on her mouth so that she will not make noise or shout in pain. Reasons: she should display grace under pressure and so that bad spirits will not know that somebody is giving birth.

The baby’s first bowel movement is meconium. When stressed during labor, the fetus can eliminate meconium into the amniotic fluid prior to birth, which can cause problems if inhaled into its lungs before taking its first breath of air.

According to Maguindanao folk belief, if the child defecated after labor, the child will become disobedient, hard-headed, or delinquent, or will live a wretched or misguided life. If the child will urinate while or after being brought outside the womb, she/he will have a sarcastic/bitchy/feisty personality, and will always go against his/her parents’ will.