Midwife Volume 1 - Issue 1

Uqbah Iqbal*, Ahmad J, Razmah S, and Zakaria S

• Life Planner, School of History, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Malaysia

Received: October 10, 2018;   Published: October 15, 2018

*Corresponding author: Uqbah Iqbal, Life Planner, School of History, Suite P4, Level 31, AIA Cap Square Tower, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, 50100 Golden Triangle, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DOI: 10.32474/OAJCAM.2018.01.000105

Abstract PDF

The Malay institution is too unique. Various terms related to the individual involved arise based on their respective roles. Among the most popular to date are shaman, shamans, handlers and midwives. Although the field of medicine has grown with many new discoveries of science and technology, midwifery roles have never been affected especially in remote areas. Often midwives are required in urgent moments before the patient is taken to the hospital or clinic. In the cities there are midwives. These midwives are in hospitals or in private clinics. They have specialized qualifications in the field of birth and are more geared towards modern medicine. They are paid and considered as one of the public or private sector employees. For some societies, midwives are highly respected. This is because the average villagers consider the influence of a midwife very strong on the baby at birth. There is a belief that the life or death of the baby depends on the midwife’s own actions. Generally, midwives or callers who are more or less familiar with Tok Bidan or Mak Bidan play a role in welcoming the birth of a baby. Midwives are usually of a relatively old and experienced women in birth.

In this case the midwife acts almost the same as a midwife nurse. All nurses’ tasks are performed by midwives such as welcoming baby births and advising and treating mothers who are pregnant before and after birth. Other than that, the midwife is also able to determine whether a woman is pregnant or otherwise, expects the date of birth and manages the mother before and after a special birth in personal care, food and treatment matters. All food preparation is done by the midwife by using traditional herbs and native herbs. The baby was also placed under the supervision of a midwife. He is the one who will bathe in and dress the baby’s clothes over a certain period of time or until the baby is big enough and does not need too much care. Midwives have no special qualification as a ghost. No conditions apply or the duration of study to be done to become midwives in the villages. All the abilities and skills acquired based on experience. This experience is derived from childhood when they often follow their mothers to manage a birth. Midwives work on time regardless of the needs of a person. Midwives also have no fixed income. Their income source is through sincere donations or gifts in return for services provided while doing village work such as planting, keeping chickens, weaving mats and so on. In some cases, midwife’s role is wider. Sometimes they act like a bomoh, Mak Andam or bathing a corpse. But the task of midwives is often closely related to women’s affairs such as counseling the girl or the wife in terms of health care or husband and wife relationships.

The main role of a midwife is closely related to the birth. Since a woman begins to conceive until the woman gives birth to her child and during abstinence after the birth of the midwife service is necessary. At the beginning there are several things that midwives will do to pregnant women. This is to ensure the baby is always healthy and to facilitate the birth process. Among them is confirming the content, correcting the baby’s position and raising the baby’s position, providing a hint. Customized abdomen is performed specifically for women who are about seven months pregnant. The woman who underwent this custom must be pregnant with the firstborn. Usually this custom is done after 16 or 17 days of the content of up to seven months. In the customary bowing of some other custom must be done that touch the stomach, shower and face the spirit. When a woman is already nine months and ten days, she must be ready to wait at birth. The women are advised not to move much and stay calm. At this time the midwife will be informed in advance to be always ready to be called at any time.