Midwife Christiane Ulrich reports: Traditional obstetric care is in danger!

Midwife Christiane Ulrich reports: Traditional obstetric care is in danger!

In a remarkable series of events, the renowned midwife Christiane Ulrich will shed impressive light on the traditional birth practices of the Maya. She will give her lecture at the Petite Galerie Beatrice in Neubrandenburg on November 7th at 7 p.m. Over the last 40 years, Ulrich has worked not only in the Mecklenburg Lake District, but also in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico. Her commitment extends over many years, during which she worked as a volunteer in a women's shelter specifically for indigenous pregnant women. She gained profound insights into the working methods of Mayan midwives and the everyday life of the Tzotzil and Tseltal families.

The lecture promises to be a fascinating mix of experience and culture, accompanied by artistic performances from Mexican artist Maximo Farah. During the break, visitors can enjoy Mexican specialties. Admission is free, but voluntary donations are requested to support the event. Due to limited places, registration is required, which can be done by phone on 0395 45424481 or by email.

The challenges of traditional obstetrics

But it's not just Ulrich's lecture that will draw attention to the important topic. Traditional Mayan obstetric care faces major challenges in Mexico. There are new qualification programs for midwife candidates, particularly in the south of the country, in Chiapas. However, these must be completed in order to receive certification in the future. A problem that primarily affects traditional midwives, as only children born to licensed midwives receive an official entry in the birth register. This means that unregistered children effectively do not exist and are excluded from state support, putting their future at great risk.

A disturbing fact is that many practicing Mayan midwives in the highlands of Chiapas are unable to participate in these programs due to a lack of educational opportunities. Their valuable knowledge, which includes herbal medicine, massages and spiritual practices, is often only passed on through word of mouth and is in danger of disappearing. A book entitled Mayan Gynecology takes a look at this important cultural heritage. However, traditional knowledge is not sufficiently recognized; new certification programs completely ignore the needs and cultural practices of indigenous populations.

Initiatives to support traditional midwives

A committed organization that is campaigning for the recognition of traditional midwifery is OMIECH (Organización de Médicos Indígenas del Estado de Chiapas). She calls on the authorities to end discriminatory practices and give midwives the right to work independently. Representatives of OMIECH undertook an event trip through Europe from September 12th to October 15th, 2023 to draw attention to the challenges of traditional Mayan medicine. An open letter to Chiapas authorities calls for more support for these valuable practices that could otherwise be forgotten altogether.

Christiane Ulrich's lecture is therefore not only an opportunity to learn more about her personal experiences, but also an important contribution to raising awareness about the challenges that traditional midwives face. Attend the event to learn about the Maya's vital cultural traditions and address the challenges that threaten their practices. You can find more information about this at nordkurier.de and bellis-frauenschule.de.