As soon as the pregnant woman “Nafssa" started to feel contractions and pains of labor “talk” one quickly leaves to seek “Kabla” (obstretician) among most famous in the city (some were famous and had the monopoly of the work) accompanied by her invaluable working tool “Korsi” (A wooden armchair of labor perforated in the medium).

While the “nafssa” made prayers.

يا محمد يا سيدي النبيي يا رسول الله

The “youyous” of the women is filling the house with buoyancy (good spirit) while taking care to announce to the impatient husband in his small corner waiting for bad or good news (boy or girl!) if it is a boy (prince) “the nafssa” acquires the crown of house and the festival continues, if it is a girl one is keep silent and one thanks god that the mother life was saved. “Bessisat ennafsa” and “tabkha” are served to everyone.

During the first seven days the small one is breast fed by his/her mother, then one prepares a meal called “louaâk” containing “droo” (sorgho) or “nchaâ” (corn starch) sometimes mixed with finely crushed dry fruits.

The name of the baby is often the affaire of the men. Generally one took the name of a grand father or a deceased brother resuscitation. Currently, names are preferably takes first names with the mode of an Egyptian artist or Lebanese (Aymen, Amir, Sadri…). Khemaies, Mokhtar, Belgacem do not have any more popularity.

The baby is carefully wrapped in cotton sheets “kmata” to ensure a rectilinear growth without defect.

Currently this method was completely abandoned owing to the fact that it generated many diseases with babies since they could not move.

On hangs to his/her clothing a “herz” (containing a written formula extracted from the Quaran) prepared at the “kettaba” (generally a “meddeb”) to protect it from the evil eye.

The baby is placed in the “Douh” (wooden cradle covered with a veil) that is hanged to the wall “sedda” (parents bed built in masonry) by flexible cords made from “halfa” so that one could balance it to make the baby sleep while singing. “nanni nanni jak ennoum-sleep sleepy” my small will grow and go in the “Kottab” (Quaranic school).

Thus the “nefssa” remained within the bed without moving for seven days, doing nothing but nursing her baby. At the end of the seventh day the “nefssa” descends from the bed with a tighten belly “makbouss” to walk, the festival continues.

When the first baby teeth appear, the family prepares a “karkouch” containing common wheat "kamh”, feva beans “foul” and chickpeas "homs” treated on soft fire mixed with fine confectionery “halwa jida”, then, some relatives add some coins, usually under the pillow of the child.

Some will celebrate the appearance of the first tooth of the child, some go to make “aouada” (Eastern concert).

Formerly, the pregnancy remained secret to a later date because it is quite simply the fruit of a sex act.

At the time, the women get married at a very young at puberty age towards 13/14 years. Currently they marry at 29,2 years exactly. Married women cannot see the face of their fathers especially when they are carrying small baby in their hands. An old cousin told me that a young woman dropped her small baby because she saw her dad approaching. In her spirit, small babies are always the fruit of a sex act.

There were no vaccination of babies at old times. First massive vaccination practice was at first years of independence (1956) in the primary schools. The natural selection already made its path (a good number of the children dies during the first five years) but better late than never. Currently vaccination is systematic and it is planned even in the most rural corners of the country. Which makes the infant mortality almost insignificant. Our country made a large progress with regard to reproductive health.

The rate of vaccination is 95 % against 92 % for the coverage in auscultation and in follow-up prenatal.

The baby is breast fed in theory for almost 2 years. Contraception was natural and simple. The woman who did not want another baby continuous to tardily nurse her small baby until an advanced age.

Personally I always remember small friend at the primary school (first grade) 6 years old who benefitted from the given break to run to his house which was close to the school to take a small mother's milk strand!.

During the first years of independence, women are encouraged by family services and planning, discover the loop “scoubidou” (spiral) whose origin is really confused and a little later “hrabech” (pills).

I remember, however, that these famous pills were invented in the “baby-boom” years (sixties) and put on sale for the first time the 03.05.1960 in the American drugstores. It was in my opinion an important date in the history of humanity.

It can appear on the skin of the child a beauty spot “bousset khal” literally (the kiss of the uncle) if it is larger it is then called “chahoua” (desire) one says and it is well a popular belief which never been proven medically that the pregnant woman wanted something during her pregnancy.

The mother trains the baby to use the toilet “kasria”.

Then in the sixties, the midwives who graduated then, made their appearance and charmed gradually the work of the obstreticians for each corner of the city (Kabla).

Currently the things have much changed, the modern and liberated women consult without embarrassment male gynaecologists (unthinkable in a few years ago).

To add, the abortion is authorized provided that the fetus does not exceed 3 months.

First famous midwives in the city of Kairouan :

• Mrs. Halima KHEMADJA
• Mrs. Souad M’RABET
• Mrs. Radia BACCAR KLAI
• Mrs. Zohra BOUGMIZA MAAMAR
• Mrs. Faouzia KABLOUTI KHADRAOUI

Mohamed Rebai
info@kairouan.org