Birthing Cloth

"Oh, it's like this. My good sister Wu Caiwei is about to give birth, and we've called you here to assist with the delivery. You'll change into the clothes we've prepared—those clothes are clean, boiled in hot water and dried by our household. Everyone entering the delivery room must first change into clean clothes. Also, you need to wash your hands thoroughly with soapberry and warm water before assisting the birth. The cloths, hot water, and all tools used for delivery must be provided by our family. Soon, my maid will lead you to check the supplies; if anything is missing, just tell her to prepare it." Su Li carefully shared some modern hygiene and sterilization knowledge she knew with the two midwives.

Previously, Su Li had heard Wang Shi and Chen Shi talk about childbirth and realized that people in ancient times had no concept of sterilization. Sometimes they would assist with delivery without even washing their hands. To avoid dirtying the sheets, they would place a dirty sheet under the mother, with some burnt straw ash underneath.

Su Li was terrified listening to this. Such filth easily caused infections, and many mothers died from infections caused by poor hygiene—though the ancients simply didn’t know this. So Su Li quickly educated the maids and midwives at home about hygiene and sterilization.

Midwife Zhang thought to herself that the Su family had recently become wealthy and seemed like some nouveau riche. How come they had so many strict rules just because they earned some money? When she assisted births in wealthy city families, they didn’t have such fuss.

She thought it was so pretentious to insist on washing this and that, and boiling everything in hot water!

Though Midwife Zhang disapproved of what Su Li said, she thought about the generous silver the Su family gave and decided to keep up appearances, nodding repeatedly in agreement.

The other midwife, Liu, listened quietly until Su Li finished, then said simply, "Understood, Madam Su."

Then Su Li asked Bailu to lead the two midwives to check the prepared supplies for anything missing.

Midwife Zhang brought her own small bundle and went along. Looking at the items Bailu had prepared, she found them mostly complete, then pretended to point out a few missing things.

Bailu quickly followed Zhang's instructions and told others to prepare the missing items. Then she had the two midwives change into the clean clothes, wash their hands, and led them to Wu Caiwei's room.

Wu Caiwei was still in labor pains. The two midwives felt her belly and said, "The baby is in the right position, but since it's the first birth, it might still be half a day before active labor begins."

Wang Shi and Chen Shi stayed with Wu Caiwei. Having given birth before, they knew labor didn’t happen so quickly. They stayed to help Wu Caiwei conserve her energy and spirit, so she wouldn’t be too weak when it was time to push.

Meanwhile, the midwives were invited to rest in the small adjacent room, ready to assist the delivery at any moment.

Midwife Zhang brought her small bundle inside. Once it was just the two of them, she opened her bundle and took out the contents.

Midwife Liu looked at the cloth-like pads Zhang was sorting out. They looked dirty and even had dark red blood stains that hadn’t been washed out.

Midwife Liu asked, "Sister Zhang, what is this you’re taking out?"

Midwife Zhang said, "This is the delivery cloth we use to pad the mother’s bottom during birth. Whenever I assist with a delivery, I bring this cloth to avoid blood staining the sheets. Many families get angry if the sheets get dirty."

Midwife Liu said, "But the Su family already prepared sheets boiled in hot water for us to use. Why are you still bringing your own?"

Midwife Zhang replied, "You don’t understand. This delivery cloth was specially offered at the temple before the Buddha. Using my cloth means the Buddha will bless the mother to safely deliver a big, healthy boy."