Birth Stories from Minnesota and China!

When asked to recall a birth story, I think most women are drawn to their own. This is a picture of me and my first daughter (of three) taken on February 18th, 1985. It was quite a workout bringing her into the world. She wasn't sure she was ready to meet me and I was over anxious to meet her.  Much of it was a mystery for both of us as first timers! As a parent educator, I am amazed at the power of a birth story and it's capacity to connect parents to one another. In some ways, I am glad that I was young and naive.  I didn't worry too much about the developmental characteristics of my baby.  I just assumed things would turn out alright for all three of us, me, her and her dad.  As it turns out, it did.

I had the tremendous opportunity to travel to China with 33 other teachers this past summer.  I focused my learning trip on early childhood.  I interviewed several mothers about pregnancy and birth.  There was quite a language barrier so I also consulted Tong, a teacher friend of mine to fill in the missing details. I think the biggest cultural difference between the US and China happens in the months just before and just after birth. A mother is expected to honor many Chinese customs to insure a healthy baby.  She is expected to practice restraint while pregnant. Although a woman is encouraged to continue to move and work while pregnant, strenuous activity is discouraged.  Chinese women are more conscientious about what they eat as many foods are believed to influence the personality of a baby.  What strikes me most is the way a family changes once a child is born into it.  China has a one child policy.  When that one child is born, both sets of grandparents take a very active role in raising that child.  It is common that the woman's parents move in with the new parents as soon as they become grandparents. It was beautiful to see grandparents and their grandchildren in parks, on trains, in plazas playing and learning together.