Babaran

Dhukun bayi usually being called to help in babaran process. Most labor process held at the house with the help of the husband also. When the baby is born, dhukun cut off the placenta with a knife made from bamboo while saying some mantras (jaga matra). After the belly button is cured with herbs medicine, bath the baby and covered in blanket, the baby then given mixed of honey and herbs (sari kunthi and daun kelor) medicine to drink. The baby’s father whispering azan on right ear of the baby and kamat on left ear.

Dhukun then bath the mother, give massage and covered certain part of the mother’s body with traditional herbs medicine (parem and bobokan). Parem, bobokan and herbs medicine to drink are given to the mother for few days until the mother is recover and healthy.

Dhukun then clean up the placenta and put them in earthenware box. If the baby is a boy, the placenta is thrown away to the river or buried in backyard. If the baby is a girl, the placenta is buried in the right side of backyard together with a Javanese language written in a paper with jarum or canthing.

If the small part of placenta left in the baby’s belly button has not pull out, the baby’s father and the male’s family in the house stay up during the night (lek-lekan) with relatives or friends or neighbors while playing cards or chat.

Brokohan is held seven days after the baby is born (see other article). The baby’s name is given by grandfather & grandmother of the baby (parent of the baby’s mother). Sometimes name is taken from combination of grandparents of both mother & father of the baby. Baby boy usually use his/her father’s name, baby girl usually use his/her mother’s name, or both names. For example my name is Rachmawati Dyah Swandari, Rachma is taken from my father’s name Rachmat KS, Dyah is taken from my mother’s first name Dyah Luberty, Swandari is abbreviation of Javanese weton, given by my mother’s father. Sometimes the baby’s name also came from Javanese weton, such as Ponimin (Pon), Legiman (Legi). Sometimes baby’s name also came from Javanese culture or wayang, such as Sukarno, Suroto, Sriyati, Lestari, Kartini. Sometimes baby’s name also came from Arabic words, such as Alip, Aminah, Mariyem, Kusin.
Javanese people believe that if the baby is always sick, it might be the name given to the baby is unable to carry the name (kawratan nami).

After babaran, the mother is not allowed to have intercourse with her husband for 40 days period (ngedah). Intercourse during that period caused bad health for the baby’s mother or breast milk or the baby.

Glossary:
Dhukun bayi = obstetrician, mid wife
Babaran = in labor
Jarum = needle
Canthing = a tool to draw pattern in batik
Nami = name
kawratan = too heavy (physical)
Kawratan nami = unable to carry the name (unbearable)