Newborn Baby in Indonesia

"A child needs a role model, not a super model" - Astrid Alauda

As we all know, Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim country with the population of 204, 847, 000 or 12.7% of the world's Muslim population of 1.6 billion. Giving birth in Indonesia is commonly practice based on Islamic characteristics and more likely to be similar with Malay culture. 

POST NATAL CARE

When the baby was born, the baby is weighed in a suspended sling by a traditional birthing attendant. Traditional birthing tradition or also called "Mak Bidan" in Malay always become favourite among new mothers when giving birth in Indonesia. Before the new era of technology, traditional birthing tradition has become the expertise in celebrating the newborn baby. 

Traditional birthing tradition is weighing a newborn baby in a suspended sling

THE PLACENTA

Revered for its symbolism of life, spirit and individuality it is often buried outside. The placenta is seen as the baby's twin or elder sibling and is perceived as the baby's guardian throughout life. 

Burying the placenta. A young father shades the traditional birthing attendant whilst she places the wrapped placenta of his newborn baby into its ceremonial burial hole. 

BLESSING FOR THE NEW BORN

According  to Islamic tradition, the birth of the newborn baby is celebrated with readings from the Quran. This  celebration is called as "Aqiqah" in Malay. The purpose of having this blessing for the newborn ceremony is to ensure that the baby is familiar and closer to the Islamic surrounding when he/she grow up. The event consists of a naming ceremony for the child and the baby's hair is also shaved off during the Aqiqah. 

Blessing the child. The shaved hair is then weighed and and an equal amount of that weight in gold or silver is then given to the charity.