Women in Traditional Medical Culture (Folk Traditions of Obstetrics in Imereti)

Experienced obstetricians were in almost all Imeretian villages, people mention their first names and surnames with reverence up to now. They cured some gynecological diseases, too. They tried to treat infertility and achieved the desirable outcome in some cases. An experienced obstetrician helped a new mother for a week at least after labor, and more often, she rendered such help for forty days. It was caused by care for a newborn, on one hand, and it contributed to a mother’s nervous system quietness and protected her against excessive physical fatigue, on the other hand. At the same time it helped a new mother to learn how to care for her baby. Variety of folk healers’ therapy is manifested in the narrower specialization. Some healers are skilled not only in surgery or therapy, but also in skin diseases medical treatment, spells casting, and others. There are many healers who cure one disease only, what situation is in obstetrics? Certain diversity takes place in this sphere, too. There are healers of various kinds there, first of all, as we noted above, the healers’ category includes local obstetricians - midwives who fulfill a micro-pediatrician functions, both in Imeteri and other Georgian regions they used to take care for a baby for forty days, a midwife together with a newborn’s mother complied with a baby traditional hygienic habits. Besides, in the case a baby was ill a midwife’s functions contain also diagnosis making and medical treatment. When a baby was fretful a midwife established cause of a disease and cured him/her with traditional methods. Midwifes were skilled, may be said professional nurses and in some cases, they were also micro-pediatricians. Their professionalism is verified with knowledge obtaining and delivery, learning and teaching, baby care and medical treatment remuneration established rules. They often fulfilled older children therapy functions, too. Their prestige was very high. Some of them go on fulfilling their ancestors’ activity at activity at present.