I'm not an "expert" on this issue, but I do remember
that when I had my first child in 1973, my Nana (born
and raised in Mocorito, Sinaloa) told me about the
fact that in Mexico, the women were confined to
bedrest for the 40 days following the birth of their
children, and that they did not bath for those 40
days.  I never thought to ask her if this was for any
perceived medical reason or superstions of some sort.

Olivia

--- "v.h.villarreal" <raices_regias@...>
wrote:

> I really doubt that this is an accurate
> interpretation or a widespread
> practice even in the old days.  "Guardar reposo por
> 40 días" or
> resting for 40 days wasn't supposed to be taken that
> the mother should
> stay in bed, not taking a bath, etc. rather that she
> should "keep the
> husband away from her bed for 40 days", if you know
> what I mean...  
> 
> Victor
> 
> --- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, Irma GomezLucero
> <igomezlucero@c...>
> wrote:
> > I recall telling my mom & aunt about a family
> baptism record having the
> > wrong information.  They  informed the same about
> the mother not
> attending
> > her own child's baptism.  The mother stayed in
> bed, had chicken
> soup, and
> > didn't bathe for 40 days!   It used to be the
> belief that a child
> needed to
> > be baptized right away within a few days of birth.
>  Since the mother
> needed
> > to "Guardar reposo" for 40 days, she was unable to
> attend the
> baptism.  The
> > father did go with the godparents in our
> experience.  My father even
> had to
> > hire someone to take care of my mother after my
> oldest sister's
> birth.  This
> > lady cared for my mom, and their home during these
> 40 days which was
> a real
> > financial drain on them at the time.  I guess he
> had to go to work, and
> > couldn't care for her & the baby.  I met the
> elderly lady on my last
> visit
> > to Mexico with my dad.    My mother only attended
> her children's
> baptisms
> > when she immigrated to the U.S.
> > Irma
> > 
> >   _____  
> 
> 
> 
> 


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