Post-Partum Parental Observances of the Mohave Indians

Abstract

GEORGE DEVEREUX Introduction Since the Mohave attached a great deal of importance to the process of gestation, and believed that various rites performed at the climatic moments of the life-cycle in general, and of the gestation process in particular, were of prophylactic value, the parents of the newborn were expected to observe various taboos, and to practice various rites, in order to insure their own welfare, as well as that of the child. It is noteworthy, however, that the avowed purpose of the majority of post-partum observances is the protection of the child, rather than the welfare of the parents. This is probably due to the fact that the Mohave considered parenthood simply as a normal part of life. Therefore, once the child is born, attention is usually shifted from the mother to the infant. This tendency is probably further strengthened by the fact that, according to the medical observations of Hrdlicka (10), the post-puerperium of Mohave women tends to be better than that of Whites. In fact, according to this writer, the Mohave woman usually rises from her bed two or three days after her delivery, and, in some instances, even on the day of childbirth. Post-partum psychoses were not reported. (*) The first part of this study will consist of a description of postpartum parental observances, while the second part will be devoted to an analysis of some of the psychic determinants of these practices. DATA