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Methods of pain relief during birth vary from one country to the next. In the West, women are encouraged to express their pain and suffering, but this isn't the case in other parts of the world.
From a young age, Vietmanese women learn that they have to give birth without uttering a word, and they have to learn to control their emotions - even if they tear the walls of the perinuem during birth. Mexican women have to keep as quiet as possible if they don't want to be made fun of. In Taïwan, when a woman gives birth she is expected not to cry out because she'll disturb the other inhabitants of her village. In Togo, the mum-to-be has to remain silent so that she doesn't attract the attention of evil sprits. And we thought we had it tough...
Different interpretations
In traditionally Catholic countries, the pain of childbirth is said to stem from original sin. Women are supposed to pay the price for Eve giving in to temptation in the Garden of Eden. The Bible states that women will give birth to children in pain. Buddhists believe that suffering is linked to sins the mum-to-be committed in her previous lives, which is why in India and Sri Lanka it's frowned upon to suffer when bringing a child into the world.
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