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  • Title: [Hermeneutic approach to ideas about conception, pregnancy and birth among the Pilago of the Central Chaco].
    Author: Idoyaga Molina A.
    Journal: Scr Ethnol; 1977; (4):78-98. PubMed ID: 12315104.
    Abstract:
    The processes of conception, gestation, and birth among the Pilaga Indians of the north central part of the Province of Formosa, Argentina, were studied in late 1975. The Pilaga have an empirical and mythic notion of the processes of gestation, but no true physiological concept. The idea of the uterus as an organ and its function are lacking. The womb is regarded as a bag in which the embryo develops. The baby develops and grows through successive deposits of semen, which also cause the placenta to be created. Native opinions vary as to the chronology of development of different parts of the body. The death of an embryo is believed to result from intentional damage inflicted by a shaman or spirit. Conception and pregnancy are believed to result from intervention of spirits called payak acting in concert with human actions. The Pilaga consult shamans, preferably in the family, in order to assure the good will of the payak. The souls of children to be born are sent to the mother's body. The payak provide men with supplemental strength so that their forces will not be exhausted in coitus. Twin births are believed to result from the bad intentions of the payak. It is not believed possible to develop more than 1 embryo at a time because of the diminution of physical strength caused by loss of vital fluids in each ejaculation. The second and subsequent infants in multiple births are considered children of the payak and must be eliminated. Sterility is always attributed to the female and may be due to her requests to a payak to intercede and prevent pregnancy or to bad intentions of a payak, which comes in the form of a small insect and ties off her womb so that the embryo cannot receive the successive deposits of semen that cause it to develop. Sterility can sometimes be cured by intervention of a shaman, if the payak can be persuaded to leave the woman alone. Otherwise sterility is cause for breakup of a marriage. The cultural ideal is to have a son first and then to have an equal number of sons and daughters. Both parents must observe a variety of dietary and other tabus during the pregnancy. The woman must not leave the house lot by herself in the prenatal and postnatal periods for fear that the payak will harm her. If she briefly goes out, she must disguise herself head to toe and must be accompained by her mother or grandmother. An older widow assists in the birth according to techniques laid down by the first humans in ancient times. Care of the umbilicus, burial of the placenta, and washing of the newborn and mother are especially surrounded by danger and must be carefully done so as to prevent harm to either.
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