Traditional practices during pregnancy, delivery, and puerperium used by women in Poland and Turkey

Background: Many traditional practices related to pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period are used around the world. Aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to determine and compare traditional methods used by women of different cultures during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period. Material and methods: This descriptive study was conducted in a maternity hospital in Turkey and gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinics in Poland. The study sample consisted of 235 women from Turkey and 230 women from Poland. A self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect the data. Results: It was found that pregnancy-related traditional methods using an increase in skin changes were perceived by 40.3% of the women in Turkey as a pregnancy indicator and a predictor of gender of the infant by the shape of the abdomen in 90.8% of women. Delivery-related traditional methods of burying the umbilical cord were used by 80.1% of women, and postpartum-related traditional methods using depilatory agents for perineal care were endorsed by 42.1% of women. Praying for protection from the evil eye and other evil situations was reported by 62.3% of women. It was found that pregnancy-related traditional methods using intuition were reported by 43.8% of the women in Poland, and the prediction of the gender of an infant was also based on intuitions. Delivery-related traditional methods to prevent the retention of the placenta with massage were reported by 66.7% of women. Postpartum-related traditional methods of taking a shower for perineal care were practiced by 92.2% of women in addition to using red items for protection from the evil eye and other evil situations. Conclusions: It was found that there are various traditional practices during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period in both countries that are similar, but differences also exist between the two countries.