My mum is a library of stories. She has plenty to share. Some long. Some disjointed. Some snippets. Mostly, I am happy to listen to her narrate the stories. And, many a times, I have thought, ‘I didn’t know that.’ 

Out of the blue (she does it quite often these days), my mum spoke about post-natal and baby care. Hers. Yes, correct. Not exactly in those terms but it was about those two topics. I know very little or nothing at all about either of them. My mum, on the other hand, has a lot of experience, having had seven babies herself. She spoke about her mum, my grandmother, Tulasi, who nursed her back to health after childbirth. She described how her mum gave her babies, all 5 of my oldest siblings, except brother number 2 and me, daily and weekly baths.

My mum is a great-grandmother now. It has been more than six decades since she’s had her last baby. But on this, her memory is vivid and her stories rather compelling, at least to me.

In the 1940’s-50’s, expectant mothers generally returned to their maternal homes to deliver their babies. Like my mum. She went back to her family home in Butterworth long before her due date. As an exceptionally young first-time mum at 16, she needed all the help she could muster. Back then, many babies had home births. Like her seven children. Clearly, with the assistance and expertise of midwives. I really don’t know if the midwives, a mother-and-daughter duo, whom my grandmother had engaged relied on hands-on experience and/or went to midwifery school. What I do know is the older midwife came from Tongsan or China, as the country was colloquially called by the locals. Why? Because according to my mum, she had tiny feet, which was the result of foot-binding. A custom practiced in China years ago. Hmm.

An important aspect of my mum’s post-natal care was the bathing ritual. It was carried out on the 3^rd, 5^th, 7^th and 9^th day, after delivery. By my grandmother, who was in the food business. Early each morning, she prepared, cooked and distributed her breakfast fare of ‘tosai’ and ‘idli’ via her foot-couriers to various shops/restaurants. Once that was completed, she attended to my mum.

On the 3^rd day, my mum was washed/cleaned from the neck down. Yes, she did not wash on day 1 and 2. On day 5, 7 and 9, she was given a full oil hair and body wash. The last day involved standing over garlic-induced smoke/fire to cleanse her internal organs. The bathing and drying off process was important to avoid chills and colds. Diet comprised one protein and a curry. Very little vegetables, as they were considered ‘cold’ food. As part of the recovery process, my mum was lovingly cared for and free of all kitchen duties.

My grandmother was also in charge of baby care. Pre-bath, she applied ‘velakennai’ or castor oil on the forehead, nose, eyes, mouth and jawline of the baby, who was under her watch, at the time. Plus, a little on the arms, legs and torso. Each body part was massaged and manipulated. My grandmother used the index or forefinger and thumb to pull up the bridge of the nose to make it grow or inch up higher. She also stuck her thumb into the baby’s mouth, and pushed on the roof of the mouth, to also elevate the nose. Did it work? Anecdotally, yes. Maybe not so for sister number 3, who has a bit of a flattish nose. Hot bath followed soon after. Baby received a second round of massage and manipulation. The last step to the bath involved picking the baby up by her/his ankles and giving her/him a good shake. Scary visual. That said, my grandmother had a clean record of not dropping any of her grandchildren on their head. Hmm.

Apart from the daily bath ritual, baby also had a weekly oil bath. Same sequence. The entire body – from head to toe including nooks and crannies – was massaged and manipulated. Bathed in hot water. Shaken. Dried out over ‘sambrani’ smoke or benzoin resin (re: Google). Baby slept like a baby after this weekly activity. I have had oil baths and I don’t like them. The wet/oily look didn’t do much for me. Did it make me sleep like a baby? No. 

The highlight of the whole event was the baby’s naming ceremony. On the 15^th night, special prayers were offered especially to the goddess, ‘Paychaiyee.’ Family, friends and neighbours were invited to a sumptuous feast. From childbirth, mum and baby care, food, medicines to the guest list for the naming ceremony – my grandmother, Tulasi, did it all.

My mum has many more stories to share. I hope to decipher and write them.