Death in Birth: The Cultural Construction of Stillbirth, Neonatal Death, and Maternal Death among Hmong Women in Australia

Abstract

This article is a detailed exploration of traditional Hmong explanations about death in birth. It is based on an ethnographic study with Hmong now living in Australia. The discussion encompasses stillbirth, neonatal death, and maternal death, as well as the ethnomedical knowledge and practices which pertain to death in birth. Stillbirth and neonatal death are perceived as non-significant events where no burial ceremony is needed. However, with a maternal death, a proper burial ritual must be performed to ensure that the soul of the dead person can be reborn again. The Hmong have several layers of explanations about the causes of death in birth. These include personal attribution, the nature of being, the soul, the supernatural beings, and the mandate of life. Most death in birth cannot be helped but in some situations it may be prevented. In this case a shaman and other traditional healers are consulted. The article finishes with discussions on the importance of life in birth and the value of children in Hmong culture.