Pasifika Discussion

Given I am Maaori there are definitely similarities between our cultures. It does take a village to raise tamariki meaning more than just the immediate whaanau. From the time you find out and share you are hapu it puts you in a natural state of tapu therefore you are treasured and the focus around self-care during this time is enhanced by whaanau, friends and colleagues from different social circles. The bond between mother, daughter and Nan is incomparable. A very special bond that filters out to the wider whaanau and throughout the lifetime of the baby. FEELING BLESSED to have experienced this on many occasions in my lifetime. 

The similarity in family support is undeniable. The mother or the family of the daughter would provide necessary care for the person throughout pregnancy, especially postnatal. Some beliefs are similar too, such as the baby would be more healthy if they are heavier or bigger, or during the immediate recovery period after childbirth, the women are not allowed to do any work.

I am not from a pasifika culture, however I also feel like I have done things different to the "norm" in my culture. 

I did both of my pregnancies alone, moved house by myself heavily pregnant with my second child with my 2.5 year old son and had to move heavy boxes and unpack all by myself which is quite different to the traditions in the pasifika culture. 

My mum stayed only one night when I had my son also, so I was let to do everything and look after a newborn and toddler on my own from the second night. I have a very close relationship with my mother so it was all circumstantial with work and financially however this journey has been mine, and mine only. 

Yes, it did.   As the saying goes - it takes a village to raise a child.  This saying has no bounds when it comes to a pregnant female in the family.  If anything, this would be a vital time for all female elders to share their knowledge, experience and wisdom in preparation for the mother to be.  When a woman is with child, she is often subjected to a lot of do's and don'ts and this extends to chores, foods, exercise, sleep.  The elders become strict and enforce these rules with the belief, that the mother to be, needs to well looked after and cared for - almost like being mummified in bubble wrap to ensure the baby is safely cocooned and protected until the day of delivery.

I have only been indirectly involved in a handful of pregnancy experiences, most of which were on my mother's side (Korean). Culturally from what I have seen, there is as much care and importance given to the pregnant woman who are often confined to bed rest in at least their second or last semester. There is always a lot of support on the prospective grandparent's sides, especially in the form of childcare of other children in the household, cleaning, and preparing/providing a lot of banchan (side dishes). There is a lot of health foods targeted at pregnant women on the market, as well as supplements, and a lot more follow ups with healthcare professionals. In my understanding, a lot of women who get pregnant in Korea are more petite and the pregnancy is higher risk hence the increased care involved.  

The thing that stood out to me the most was the beautiful focus on taking care of the pregnant woman, in Pacifica culture, by the woman's mother and the female elders as well as the community.  Also, the presence of female elders and the mother's mum at the birth.  This is in contrast to my own culture (and experience) as a non-Pacifica mum. 

As with the Pacifica approach, the post-partum period was, for me, a special time with my mother who I relied heavily on for help and support - she came to visit and stay multiple times. I was so grateful to have a mum at this point in my life (I know others are not so lucky), and for her to be so supportive and wonderful, including with breastfeeding.  She shared her knowledge and boundless energy and love for me and my family.  She did this for all of my siblings.  

I'm not a Mum, however, from experiences with my family and friends it's common in NZ for the Dad to be at the birth which seems to differ to the Pasifika norm.  There is also a heavy midwifery involvement throughout the pregnancy.  Often baby supplies such as clothes, nappies and toys are gifted by family and friends at a baby shower prior to the birth.  Dad takes paternity leave from work for first few weeks and Nana usually comes to stay for a week or so to help out also.  The largest difference I noticed is 

1. In Korean culture, pregnant women are also treated with extra care and consideration, just like in Pasifika cultures. After giving birth, it’s common for the mother to stay with her own mother(or someone in family) for one or even a few months. During this time, she is cared for, fed nourishing foods, and supported emotionally. One traditional food we eat after childbirth is seaweed soup(boiled with meat or seafood), which is believed to help with iron levels and milk production for the baby. 

Before the baby is born, there’s often a strong focus on preparation—parents tend to prepare everything in advance to warmly welcome the baby into the world. Also in Korean culture, we don’t take the baby outside or show them to others until they are at least three months old. This is believed to protect the baby during their most vulnerable stage.

I loved reading about the Pasifika traditions in relation to pregnancy and birth. For me, it feels reminiscent of how women and pregnancy were revered in villages, tribes, clans or settlements all over the world for thousands of years. Something that has been lost to so many women, children and whanau. The strong support network, the care, love, traditions and advice handed down from generation to generation. Being a woman and growing life is such a beautiful and sacred rite of passage that in many cultures and in our modern-day discourse, has been stolen by consumerism, gender reveals, baby showers, social media influence etc.

I'm not from Pasifika culture, but I liked reading how in Pasifika culture there seems to be a wider support group of women family members and community in general around the care of pregnant women and postnatal care than from what I have experienced in my own life/culture.

My NZ family are not that close and so most of my support came from services, friends and my husband.  In my Finnish side it is normal for the men to be way more involved in caring for babies.  My father who shared equal care for me as a baby in Sweden came regularly to help care for my first born child so I could work on the farm.  Our 2 girls are both named after our grandmothers.  The Finnish culture takes caring for ones health very seriously and I was bought up this way too so rest, nutrition, exercise, mental state were of high importance during pregnancy and postnatal care.

I am originally from the land of Fiji, Indian born in Fiji, and yes, I have experienced similar prenatal care. It is believed mothers shouldn't touch cold water or eat cold food during post-natal times. Rest is very important for the womb and the body to heal. It is believed that it's a new birth for the mother as well

I grew up in the UK, in a Christian background so my extended family were quite involved with new babies. My father wasn't in the room at my birth but my aunt was and also helped care for me when my mother worked (and vice versa). There was more of a "village" when I was growing up, although not to the extent of Pasifika cultures. Lots of new parents in my culture experience isolation and there as been a movement towards friends taking on the role of the village in making sure parents are supported. 

Nowadays, in UK and NZ European culture, I think the expectation is to give birth in a hospital and there is definitely some judgement for people who choose not to. I also think that the father of the child is expected to be the main support for the mother, rather than other women. I think these expectations can clash with cultural traditions outside of white healthcare practices and create a lack of autonomy for the person giving birth. 

It is intriguing to read about Pasifika and Māori cultural traditions, beliefs and the family system and care around pregnancy and birth.

It’s a very different experience to mine and I think to most women in the western world.

I’m from Germany but possibly similar in most western societies, maternity care & birth were taken out of any cultural traditions and highly medicalised at some point in history, to later return to a system where alternative options are available (midwifes as lead maternity care, homebirth, alternative medicine and traditional remedies etc) Birth is individual choice, within medical guidelines.

Personally, for my first birth, I gathered a “family system of choice” around me. My partner, my mum and a girlfriend plus midwives were part of the birth and the first month after.

For the birth of my second child, I/we chose to “cocoon” in our own small family unit for a week,  then my husband returned to work  and I navigated mostly on my own.

Not being embedded in a “village”, like described in the text, is to some degree a cultural phenomenon, I believe. Also situational for me, living on the other side of the world, moving just before…

I would say in western cultures, it’s encouraged for the father to be part of birth and newborn care. Especially in Germany, where financial support for young families is available for much longer than in NZ and can be taken equally by mother or father.

I was encouraged to breastfeed and received support through my midwife. My mum didn’t breastfeed, she was discouraged in 70s Germany by medicals. My mum says, in some ways, being part of my birthing and newborn experience was totally new and in a way healing for her. Her experience felt ‘out of her control”, rather than empowered. Less intuitive, very medical.

I’m pretty sure my own placenta was disposed of in hospital (yikes) and I’m unaware of any traditions in Germany. My children’s placentas lived in a freezer until finally getting buried on a meaningful piece of land when we returned to the Coromandel.

In Germany, like in Pasifika and Māori culture, there is the concept of “Wochenbett”, a time of rest, recovery and bonding.  I think the concept has been re-interpreted through the times and isn’t a reality for many women and babies.

i come from a Pakeha/Fijian back ground but followed a blended cultural experience with birth childbirth and pregnancy. We are a very close knit family on both sides but probably had more to do with my Dads family growing up even though my parents were divorced and we were raised by my mother. On his side my nana was very strict with what i was allowed to eat when visiting her while pregnant even though i was craving spicey Fijian curry i would get corned beef stew while my husband got curry and roti as she said spice would upset the baby. I was encouraged to put my feet up as often as possible. My mum and niece were at the birth of my daughter with most of the family arriving straight after. I was nineteen and decided i didn't want to do antenatal classes , i talked openly with my mum and she said that childbirth was a very natural process and woman have been doing it since the start of time so if i was happy she was happy. 

I had lots of family support after childbirth but was very comfortable and happy with my ability to cope. My children were raised surrounded by family and because my dad was 1 of 7 my cousins are closer in age to my kids so they didn't realize till they were older that they were there second cousins. i went back to work part time when my daughter was 6 weeks old and she was looked after by my older sister one day and my mother in law on the other day.

i buried there placentas at home under our tree in the garden as my grandmother said that your babies would them stay close to home when older. I had my son circumcised at three weeks which my grandmother  kept saying why don't they just do it in the hospital like with her kids but it was actually quite hard to find a doctor who would do it 

both my children have names from both sides of our families

I come from a Fijian Indian background; our culture follows the same principles and values to Pasifika culture. In my family the same values are carried out, however, one differences I noticed is during childbirth placenta is not buried. 

If I'd had my children in the UK where my family live, I am sure my experience would have been quite different.  Looking up to the northern hemisphere to my sisters and their children in the UK, I see a beautiful, supportive connection between them, my parents and our extended family.  The cousins are all great friends where they live int he same village, go to the same school, have sleepovers together and have their grandparent guidance and support.

It was quite a different experience for me, however when we do all get together, it's clear to see the bond between families.

I belong to Punjabi culture, but main concept is same with Pasifika culture. The most important thing is mother, and child is safe, and health. The mother has some support at the delivery time and after deliver for couple of months, because as we all know giving birth is not an easy job. Yes, i am mother of two boys, I experienced of pregnancy. My mother and Mother-in -law came all the way from India to help us with all kinds of things what we need at that time. 

I am of Māori decent, and we share similarities in how we take care of the baby after birth, traditionally the grandparents have a big role in helping with raising their moko and often times they will whangai the first-born baby. breast feeding is also encouraged and requires a lot of support from whanau members. 

Yes, I am of Pasifika culture. I did experience the "not to lift anything heavy" "eat all the food" "relax' treatment during my pregnancies. My mother did stay with me for the first 2 months of all three of my babies, but my last one she was there as moral support as she's getting old in age.  

I am not Pasifika but I did notice a few similarities. When my mom gave birth to my brothers and me, our family in America made it top priority to be around for the pregnancy and the month after birth, especially my grandparents. It was a huge help for my arents having their parents around for the first month of having a child. 

i diid notice that it was encouraged to eat fish whereas for us its a big no no, so that was quite cool to read about. 

I have a mixed ethnic background but some roots in Pasifika, through my Cook Island grandmother. I remember when my sister was born and how the whole family came together to help. During the pregnancy, the women in the family took care of almost everything to support my stepmum. They helped with all the prenatal care, making sure she rested, ate well, and followed traditional practices to keep both her and the baby healthy. When my sister was born, everyone helped with looking after both mum and baby. These days, those cultural practices aren’t as strong in my family. Reading about these traditions reminded me how important and special they were.

I am not Pasifika. I would say I was raised western even though I am Māori. I would say I noticed more differences, I think its very beautiful how involved the grandmother and elders get to be and how the mother is taken care of so well. The differences I would say to my culture is how they are encouraged to eat fish as I'm pretty sure the western way is you can't eat fish? How buying baby clothes isn't top priority because all of my friends that have had kids always get inundated with baby clothes from friends and family. Also how when baby grows it is a community effort in raising baby! I think this is beautiful and hope one day when I have kids I can create a little community for them!

I am not from a Pasifika culture but I did notice some similarities within the experience of pregnancy and prenatal care. Firstly, my mother was a big help for the two weeks post giving birth to Barnie. My mum was living in Waiheke at the time but managed to make it to the birth in time, and stayed with me for two weeks. This was a really rewarding time for our relationship as we have had our struggles and cant always spend too much time together, I remember those two weeks feeling really comfortable and calm (with no arguing!). Looking back as I did not have a healthy relationship with Barnies father, and I wanted to do all of the parenting myself, it was amazing having mum in the background, cleaning and cooking but not over stepping. I guess this conjures up thoughts of a difference as I did not have or want multiple family members involved, I wanted space and bonding time between myself and my baby.

Another similarity would be the emphasis on the importance of breastfeeding as I breastfeed for three years, and also the importance of nutrition and looking after the mother during pregnancy. 

Differences, 

As I am on the younger end of the spectrum for this class, I haven’t necessarily been privy to the pregnancy and prenatal care of my family. I have, however, seen that in my Cook Island culture there is definitely an emphasis on familial care. My mother was present during the birth of her closest cousin’s son. Their relationship has always been close, and in a way she was partly raised by her when she moved from the Cook Islands. My mother was also ‘gifted’ to a relative, leaving me with two Grandmothers and a large family. My nephew was also gifted from my sister-in-law's cousin, who was then raised as their own. Cook Island families are large and enveloped in family, love, tradition, and spirituality. 

As for my personal experience, I do know that my parents buried the placenta in a pot plant that’s still alive. I also know that coconut oil was used by my mother to aid in stretch marks.

I’m not from a Pasifika culture, but I found the traditions around pregnancy and postnatal care so beautiful. I especially like how involved the mother’s elders are.

In my experiences, pregnancy was focused on medical care. But I did do a lot of research and prioritised rest and nutrition, which lines up with some of the Pasifika practices like fish broth and avoiding heavy work. Learning about fofō and placenta burial made me think about how much deeper the cultural connection to birth can be.

I love how involved the extended family and community are with the expectant and post-natal mother. Coming from a New Zealand European background I find that it's not such a common practice. I was lucky in the fact we had a great community of neighbours, we literally turn parts of our shared fences into gates so the kids could get through easier. I found it such a benefit especially after having baby number 2 when my eldest could go play next door. Our children all fell within in a couple of years of each other's ages which helped. As an observation and generalisation New Zealand European culture tends to rely on outside "specialist" care and knowledge such as plunket.

I found a few similarities between the Pasifika Culture and my Culture or Origin (Southamerican/Hyspanic)

Although, South America (Chile in my case) is becoming more westernize with the time, an important similarity that I found was the sense of community, because in South America families are very close, there is a sense of unity and collaboration. Also, the role of the women as a matriarch is very important, especially during the birth and the post-natal period, the figure of the Mother of the Mother is crucial for support and passing on knowledge. 

I come from a NZ European culture and noticed both similarities and differences based on my own personal experience.

Similarities: My mother was very involved and a big support during pregnancy and birth and attended the birth, my daughter’s placenta is buried on my parents land, and my daughter was given a middle name of a family member which follows in the tradition that I also carry two middle names of family members. I was fortunate at the time of giving birth I was living with my parents so had family support in the postnatal stage but I acknowledge this type of living situation is not common with the NZ European culture.

Differences: I feel the community and extended family are not as involved with a bigger focus on services such as a midwife or plunket for support. Many women don’t have the family support and return to life as usual, either looking after other children, running homes or returning to work very quickly after giving birth. I noticed there was no mention of the father or other male family members being involved and from my personal experience my daughters Father was very involved in the prenatal journey and was at the birth, my own Father was always happy to help out (offer baby cuddles) while I had household duties to attend to.

I am not Pasifika.  What I really loved reading about was the care given to the expectant mama.  Especially from the female members of her whanau.  They are present with them and massage them, before and during birth.  The new mama then stays with them for up to a month so she can concentrate on breastfeeding and getting back to full health.  There seems to be more input from the females in our culture her in NZ the dad/male seems to do a lot more.  I believe equal support from both sides would be perfect for me personally.

If you aren't from a Pasifika culture, what similarities and/or differences did you notice in regards to your own culture? 

I’m not from a Pasifika culture, but I really enjoyed learning about the traditions around pregnancy and birth. One thing that stood out to me was how strong the role of family and community is and how involved everyone is in supporting the mother and baby is lovely. 

My personal experience with pregnancy and birth was much more private and just focused on the parents.  My first pregnancy was high-risk and very medically focused, so it felt quite clinical and stressful. The focus on the medical side often took away from the emotional side of becoming a mum.

It made me reflect on how important it is to respect different cultural beliefs and to support whanau in a way that honours their values.

I come from a Pakeha background and found that there was a lot of emphasis put on science backed research and medical check ins while my wife was pregnant. I found that "baby" came first and foremost, that she was in a way reduced to a second class citizen. There was little to no community support or tangible family support which is a contrast to the pacifika model. 

In the pacifika model there was no mention of male participation, which was also a contrast. I was a primary support for my wife and went to all appointments, learned all about childcare and did the lower back massages. Although the coconut oil was a shared trait.

If you are from a Pasifika culture, did the previous page accurately describe what you have experienced of pregnancy and prenatal care? (this could include what have seen with family members or friends) Why / Why not?

Yes the last page did accurately describe our cultural practices. In Fiji, when someone is named after another family member that is called Yaca [pronounced ya-tha], the term is used both ways so both people would say "my yaca" whether referring to the new younger person or the elder namesake.

Often we cook meals for one another or help supply things like nappies and clothes. Handmedowns are extremely common especially if you have a baby born in the same season. Another practice which I'm not sure if this applies to other Pacific cultures but when I was born my great-grandmother insisted that as the first of the new generation of babies I was not to touch the ground for the first month of my life, so somebody always had to be holding me unless I was in a bed or cot.

If you aren't from a Pasifika culture, what similarities and/or differences did you notice in regards to your own culture? 

In my culture, pregnancy and post natal time is strongly in the medical and midwife system. The focus is on preventative health and the new mum has to follow certain check up appointments. In Germany, the mother has a long parental leave and even the father is very engaged in the pre natal time and has some weeks off work to support the mum and baby. Support from elders is not as common. On times, the mother of the new mum is there to support the new family. So Germans system is individualized focused, highly medicalized yet holistic if wished for, with a strong state support. Not like in the Pacific cultures where Elders are playing a significant role or the wider community as a support system.