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The Vertical Birthing Position of the Trobrianders, Papua New Guinea
Author(s) -
Pöschl Ulrike
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1987.tb00959.x
Subject(s) - new guinea , position (finance) , horizontal and vertical , field (mathematics) , history , sociology , geography , ethnology , geodesy , economics , mathematics , finance , pure mathematics
EDITORIAL COMMENT: It is considered that this review of birthing positions will interest many readers. Figure 6* provided by Dr Michel Odent, Pithiviers, France, shows remarkable similarities to figure 5, and illustrates that modern Western obstetric practice has not completely abandoned the vertical birthing position! Summary: During an ethnomedical field study the author succeeded in participating and photographing 4 traditional birthgivings among the Trobrianders/Papua New Guinea. Their various vertical postures are described with special reference to specific Trobriand practices and discussed by literature review. The results suggest that vertical birthing positions are advantageous to horizontal ones and should be reconsidered by modern Western obstetrics.