Botsetsi

N-way the last time I said I’d try to find out more about practices for pregnant women in Africa,

Ok to begin with in Setswana, there is what we call Botsetsi, which is the period after birth when the mother is confined to the house, hut room or whatever the case may be for a specific time period.

In some tribes its 3 months in others its 4 months, during this time tradition is a log (I think) is placed outside the hut as a sign to others, the only people allowed in the hut will be those who are either too young or too old to be sexually active, also the tradition is that if it’s a first child the mother will go to her mothers home for Botsetsi. The maternal grandmother to the infant has the major responsibility of looking after both mother and child.

Other practices involving Botsetsi are that, the cutlery, plates, bathing utensils and even the pots of the mother and child are separated from those of the rest of the household. It is also practice that the mother must only eat porridge (yummy - I love sour porridge!) during especially the early period of Botsetsi.

At the end of the period a coming out ceremony is held for baby and mother called, Mantsho angwana aka Matso or "the coming out", (please ignore my spelling in all instances) during which well nothing much happens I think except some dancing singing and just some general rejoicing of the incident.

Ohh by the way if you are one of those not allowed in during the Botsetsi period i.e. the father you get to talk to the bride and take a peek at the baby through the window!!!

Most people still practice Botsetsi today but not in the strict sense when it comes to access to the mother and baby its more lenient nowadays. The basis of the belief I think being that people may pass on their "bad luck" or diseases to the baby, with the father I guess it’s for obvious reasons. (I intend to go for Botsetsi with all my children - God willing)

As for modern legislature
The labor laws nowadays (in my country) allow 6 wks before confinement and 6 weeks after, and when the mother is back at work two sessions of 30 mins a day are allowed for breastfeeding. On the downside companies are required to pay only 25% of the salary to the mother during the 12 weeks maternity leave period. They can however pay more if they choose. The govt pays full salary though.

N- way I still intend to dig some more on how maternity practices were back in the day.