ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the socio-cultural practices observed immediately after childbirth and delivery, during lactation, and the cultural reasons for abstinence both during pregnancy and immediately after delivery. Depending on caste, religion, socio-economic and socio-cultural backgrounds and social standing of the household in the community, the period of isolation varies. The daily diet of rural women is seldom nutritionally adequate; it becomes less so during pregnancy and lactation and after childbirth due to cultural taboos and restrictions regarding food intake and food avoidance. Postnatal services should be provided at homes by the health centres in view of compulsory confinement of the mothers immediately after childbirth. In Santoshpur the mothers are allowed to eat only those foodstuff considered to be good for her and her child’s health. A belief persists in the rural areas that abstinence during pregnancy should be observed in order to have a safe delivery and a healthy baby.
