Even though millions of children are born worldwide, each birth is its own unique story. A mother with ten children will have ten different stories. I believe that every birth story deserves to be told. By sharing these stories, experiences get recorded.
Three weeks ago, due to severe physical discomfort, I had to give up a significant and much-anticipated journey. My fear stemmed from the fact that my body suddenly succumbed to an ailment without any prior symptoms, puzzling even the doctors.
From the moment of conception until the first three years after childbirth, every day is filled with immense challenges. It takes tremendous mental strength to get through each day. Especially during labor, the pain, the anxiety about the baby’s safe delivery, and the overwhelming thought that they are about to experience a new life can put women under severe mental stress. However, this stress in no way helps the delivery process.
Once a month in Puliyanur village, the anganwadi teacher gathers all the pregnant women to distribute nutritious flour (sathu maavu) at the local childcare center. I had already informed the anganwadi teacher last week that I wanted to meet and speak with them.
I have been visiting Puliyanur twice a week to meet with pregnant women. Due to continuous rain this week, I couldn’t make the visit. Yesterday was the first time I went since last Wednesday. The pregnant woman I met on the very first day of Eetrarai has given birth to a baby girl.
I visited the village to learn about the pregnancy experiences, traditions, practices, food habits, and child-rearing methods of the tribal women living there. I met a 90-year-old grandmother who was still strong and actively