An increasing number of new mothers in Mexico are reportedly turning to traditional Indigenous midwifery practices for postpartum care. These rituals, rooted in ancestral knowledge, include the sobada, a Mayan abdominal massage, and herbal baths. Practitioners, such as midwife Regina Llanes Granillo, perform the sobada using warm oils and specific hand movements, with the stated aim of assisting internal organs in returning to place. This massage is also described as a means to locate a “psychic pulse” believed to indicate the body’s energy levels. These practices are presented as tributes to both the newborn and the mother’s transformation, reflecting a growing trend among women to embrace these cultural traditions for postnatal support, according to experts.
Source: www.nytimes.com