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jennifer rose

Oct 30, 2003, 6:54 AM

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Health Care Customs

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As long as I've lived here, I have to keep reminding myself of Mexican health care customs. If a friend or friend's family member is in the hospital, one must drop everything and rush over to the hospital to visit -- yet regularly scheduled social activities continue. One must express a polite interest in viewing another's x-rays. And then there's the sacred 40 days.

What other health care customs have others noticed?

bthunder

Oct 30, 2003, 2:09 PM

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Re: [jennifer rose] Health Care Customs

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Everyone else must already know this, but what are the sacred 40 days?
Tracie

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esperanza

Oct 30, 2003, 2:48 PM

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Re: [bthunder] Health Care Customs

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In the tradition, a new mother does not leave the house for 40 days after delivery, nor does she take the baby out. The first trip out for both is to the church. This coincides with the scripture in which Jesus is presented to Simeon and Anna in the temple 40 days after his birth. This tradition has begun to wane in the larger cities, although it is very much current in the smaller towns as well as in small communities within large cities.

Interestingly enough, in earlier times (up until not very many years ago, actually) in the United States, a new mother was discouraged from going out or taking the new baby out until after the 6-week obstetrical checkup~approximately 40 days postpartum. And of course a working new mother wasn't permitted to return to work until after that date, when the OB/GYN signed for her ability to return to the work force.

Strange how our cultures intersect.

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Marlene

Oct 30, 2003, 9:47 PM

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40 days and 40 nights!

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When I was invited to fill in for "mat leave" I was very surprised to learn that the official maternity leave here is ONLY 40 days long! That means from the day leave begins to the day it ends, the employee new mother must return to work within 40 days. Needless to say these ladies work until the due date if they can. Where I come from in Canada, maternity leave is now one year long! Can you imagine my surprise to see only 40 days - just over a month. My hat is off to these wonderful working mothers. One just recently gave birth to twins, with a 2 year old at home. Yikes! 40 days later, back at 'em, full steam ahead, nice packed lunch, cheery smile! How do they do it? (besides having supportive Grandmas?)

Esteban

Oct 31, 2003, 7:33 AM

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Re: [jennifer rose] Health Care Customs

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Not really a custom but most of my Mexican friends won't drink cold drinks when they are sick.

Guapo Gabacho

Oct 31, 2003, 10:54 AM

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Re: [Esteban] Health Care Customs

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Or chase an asprin with a Coca-cola.

Ignorance is not a custom.

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gpk

Oct 31, 2003, 12:01 PM

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Re: [Esteban] Health Care Customs

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The no-cold-drinks seems to be from Michoacan--not as common here in Guanajuato, but definitely the "law" in Michoacan.

This is not a custom either, but interesting (to me, anyway). A friend is an anesthesiologist. A woman patient, age 40, just gave birth to her 16th child. She refused to have her tubes tied because she was afraid her husband would leave her! Also, he says EVERY female patient -- no matter what the operation--asks the doctor to tell her husband she can't have sex for 6 months. Is this funny or sad?

Marlene

Oct 31, 2003, 4:59 PM

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It's not ignorance! It's what we call an "Old Wives Tale".

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Absolutely no cold water! LOL My Mother-in-law scolds me sternly if I have a cold or sore throat or even the sniffles and I look sideways at a drink of cold water. It could "damage" my throat. I have been told that many times by other locals too. I am in Sinaloa state, so it is obviously not a regional belief. I don't consider it any different than any beliefs my Grandmothers had.