I am not an expert in Maori birthing customs. Maori culture is tribal and hapu (sub-tribal) and birthing traditions vary. I do believe that we see birth as a natural, normal process and that is the reason why Maori women have low caesarian section and intervention statistics and a very high normal birth rate.
I am going to share what happens with the majority of women who choose to keep the placenta under my midwifery care. The Māori word for land, whenua, also means
placenta. Other cultures have their own traditions when it comes to the placenta. In Maori culture whenua (land) is our life source , it is what nourishes us and so the placenta is essential to the life essence of the growing baby, it is what nourishes the life force of the pepi.
During the pregnancy we discuss the birthing of the placenta and what the women would like done with it. Sometimes she will go and talk to her whanau about it and see if they have a special place where it can be placed. Traditionally the placenta is buried on the marae or tribal land, My own tribe - Tuhoe- used to place the placenta in a sacred tree in the bush. Women who maybe displaced from their traditional homeland i suggest they purchase a large pot and plant and bury the placenta in the dirt, that way they can always have the placenta with them where ever they may live, until they decide on a permanent spot. It is not appropriate to store the placenta in the freezer with food as it is not customary to associate our body parts with food. ie: do not sit on a table or bench where food will be prepared, stored or eaten. In Maori culture, the idea of eating the placenta or applying part of the placenta to our bodies would be considered disrespectful and and not appropriate, the placenta is considered a special part of the pregnancy, almost as important as the baby it helped grow.
Women sometimes have a Ipu -whenua - a special container which they place their placenta in. This may be a woven flax kit, a specially decorated box or a clay pot that has not been kiln fired. In New Zealand many cultures are choosing to keep the placenta rather than it going to an incenerator to be burned!!
I am going to share what happens with the majority of women who choose to keep the placenta under my midwifery care. The Māori word for land, whenua, also means
placenta. Other cultures have their own traditions when it comes to the placenta. In Maori culture whenua (land) is our life source , it is what nourishes us and so the placenta is essential to the life essence of the growing baby, it is what nourishes the life force of the pepi.
During the pregnancy we discuss the birthing of the placenta and what the women would like done with it. Sometimes she will go and talk to her whanau about it and see if they have a special place where it can be placed. Traditionally the placenta is buried on the marae or tribal land, My own tribe - Tuhoe- used to place the placenta in a sacred tree in the bush. Women who maybe displaced from their traditional homeland i suggest they purchase a large pot and plant and bury the placenta in the dirt, that way they can always have the placenta with them where ever they may live, until they decide on a permanent spot. It is not appropriate to store the placenta in the freezer with food as it is not customary to associate our body parts with food. ie: do not sit on a table or bench where food will be prepared, stored or eaten. In Maori culture, the idea of eating the placenta or applying part of the placenta to our bodies would be considered disrespectful and and not appropriate, the placenta is considered a special part of the pregnancy, almost as important as the baby it helped grow.
Women sometimes have a Ipu -whenua - a special container which they place their placenta in. This may be a woven flax kit, a specially decorated box or a clay pot that has not been kiln fired. In New Zealand many cultures are choosing to keep the placenta rather than it going to an incenerator to be burned!!
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4 comments:
Hi Tania. Great to be reading a non-educational blog. Very interesting information about how Maori women see the importance of the placenta.
Good luck with your blogging adventure.
Kia ora Tania
Great blog. I was wondering if you knew of anyone who makes ipu whenua?
Kia ora Tania
Great blog. I was wondering if you knew of anyone that makes ipu whenua
Tena Koe Pete,
thanks you for your comments. I encourage you or anyone considering using an ipu whenua to create one themselves. You can purchase wet clay from any pottery supply shop and be creative as you want. No need to fire the clay, as it will be broken down in the earth once buried. Other vessels could be gourds, kete or whatever container you choose.
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