Thailand Traditions and Beliefs

Thailand Traditions and Beliefs of Pregnancy and Childbirth

KCC-N320 Maternity
Tami Watanabe

Thailand Traditions and Beliefs

Thailand formerly called Siam is divided into four main regions and borders Burma,
Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Thailand is about the size of France with a population of
approximately 67,741,401. The current ruler is King Bhumibrl Adulyadej, the longest to reign as
King. Current Prime Minister is Genral Pryuth Chan-Ocha.
Most people of Thailand are Buddhists and Temples and Buddha statues are abundant
throughout the villages. They believe the conduct or actions of the individual will gain them
merit (bun) or demerit (baab). Ones amount of bun or baab at the time of death is balanced
against each other, determining what will happen to your soul. If your bun outweighs your baab
you will go to heaven, as your bun is depleted while in heaven you are then ready to be reborn.
The opposite goes for a greater amount of demerit. You will first go to hell, then heaven, then
reborn.
Winyan and Kwan are considered dual soul the two are widely different. Both are part
of man, together they are what constitute as human beings. Equipped with spiritual essences,
Winyan leaves man only when death occurs. It is its fate afterward that one is concerned for the
cycle of rebirth. Kwaan is life spirit and morale indicating a state of peace of mind,
harmony, the will to live, or the vigor of life. It is also considered the fleeting soul and remains
with man as long as he has good health, has strength and is altogether comfortable with himself
and his environment. Kwaan is inclined to leave man if his state of mind is not good. It must be
called back (suu kwan) for recovery of physical and mental health, strength and well being.
In the 60s it was still common to see the Kwaan ceremony for the pregnant women in
villages called the suu kwaan maemean (pregnant women). The purpose of the suukwaan
maemean is to give the mother strength and an easy delivery. The kwaan rite aims to ease any

Thailand Traditions and Beliefs

anxiety and to give mother peace of mind about the coming event. If the pregnant women is well
psychologically she will also feel better physically and indirectly will help her to an easy
delivery. This ritual should be conducted in the 5th and 6th month of pregnancy, before noon and
a day the astrologer (mor duu) has identified as an Auspicous day.
People gather around an offering to the kwaan; a beautiful floral decoration standing on a
tray, food such as boiled egg, bananas, and a lump of sticky rice. This offering is intended to
attract the kwaan to come and be present at the ceremony. The kwaan takes its place in the phaa
kwaan (beautiful decoration) which is considered a symbol of the kwaan itself.
Midwives called mae jang would deliver the child on the floor of the kitchen, close to the
sink for hot water. The husband would assist in the birthing by holding the wife between his legs
for support during contractions. After the birth the husband would boil the water for the midwife
to wash the placenta and clean the body of the new mother. The husband would also clean up
remnants of the birth on the floor and prepares the bed for his wife to observe a postpartum
ritual. The husband then buries the placenta of the newborn.
Today, healthcare in Thailand is provided by the public and private sectors. The Ministry
of Public Health is the provider of public health services. It is now required that all pregnant
women should have at least four antenatal care visits, but varies depending on the health care
provider.
There are traditional beliefs that are taught to new mother by the elders but are gradually
declining. Childbirth is the most significant of all rites of passage. Although birth is seen as a
womans affair, it is also related to the family, community, society, and supernatural world. Both
mothers and fetuses are vulnerable entities that need to be protected by rituals. The women are
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Thailand Traditions and Beliefs

often separated from normal social activities, not physically but behavioral and in terms of diet.
Some dietary precautions such as dont eat allergic food items (Khong salaeng) and is taken
seriously because it may cause health problems and possibly death. Salaeng food includes
papaya salad or pickled food. Spicy food is also avoided because it is believed that the baby will
be born hairless. Coffee and tea will make the child unintelligent. Women are told to eat only
half a banana, eating a whole banana may result in a birth obstruction. Consuming shell fish and
northern Thai relishes during pregnancy will prevent the perineum from drying out properly after
giving birth. Consuming Thai egg plants during will cause anal pain after giving birth or during a
confinement period. Rigorous activity during pregnancy is seen as harmful to pregnancy and
may lead to miscarriage or still birth but not being active at all may cause difficult birth. Sexual
intercourse is considered vigorous activity and is avoided.
Pregnant women are prohibited from attending a funeral but can be modified; she must
wear a brooch on her abdomen to counterbalance the ill effect of a funeral on a pregnancy.
During pregnancy a women should not finish her meal after other family members. It is believed
that she may give birth to a child who will always cry or need to go to the toilet when the mother
is having her meal.
Another strong cultural belief is for the pregnant women not to prepare nappies or clothes
for the baby. Advance preparation will result in the death of the unborn baby. When giving birth,
the women must face east. It is believed that east is the direction of first light symbolically
meaning birth and life. It is prohibited to give birth facing the west which is associated with
death. During childbirth no one should punch a nail in a plank or pitch a fence, it is believed that
this will make the baby stick in the birth canal. All windows and doors must be opened widely;
this signifies an easy birth. If a difficult birth occurs, a person whom the woman has offended
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Thailand Traditions and Beliefs

must come to help. The person places his or her foot on the head of the woman and turn the foot
around in a circle as a way to signify that he or she has given his or her forgiveness.
Montra water (nam mon) is used if there is a delay in the delivery of the placenta. Delay
of the placenta can be fatal causing blood to rise to the womens chest and suffocate her resulting
in death. A magic healer will be asked to prepare nam mon for the women to drink. This will
allow for the delivery of the placenta.
Pak plang, a vine-like green vegetable, is slippery in texture is believed to make the
womens birth easy. It is believed that this will make the babys body slippery for easy passage.
During pregnancy a women should not sit on the stairway of the house, this may cause
obstruction at birth.
Some women continue to follow traditional beliefs and practices as a precaution for the
health and well being of the fetus and themselves. There are some who no longer believe in the
old ways of pregnancy and childbirth and medical advice supersedes that of traditional beliefs.
There are some traditions that remain such as not pointing your feet towards the Buddhist
temple. The feet is thought to be the lowest part of your body and filthiest which in turn is
disrespectful to point towards or use to grab or put on table tops. The head is not to be touched
by others it is considered an insult. In Thailand they also leave their shoes or footwear outside of
the house.

Thailand Traditions and Beliefs

References
Baosoung, liamputton, Parisunyakul, Sansiriphun, Yimyam. (2005). Traditional beliefs about
pregnancy and child birth among women from Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. Elsevier:
St Louis.
Poulson, Anders.(2007). Childbirth and traditions in northeast Thailand. 40 years of development
and cultural change. NIAS: Denmark.