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Rite of Passage (Childbirth)

The Rite of Passage of Childbirth is a three stage process discussed by Dutch-German-French ethnographer and folklorist Arnold van Gennep in his book The Rite of Passage. In this work van Gennep stated that there were three stages to the rite, Separation, Limen, and Aggregation, that are often connected to the trimesters that the women experience throughout their pregnancy. The concept of a rite of passage can be related to many different life experiences such as a change in status or the passage of time.

Stages

Separation

Separation is considered the first stage, and it occurs throughout the first trimester of pregnancy. In the first stage, "women are preparing to leave behind their old life and begin a new one" Throughout this stage, women are coming into realization that they will no longer relate to their former self. It is often a time where they "begin to surround themselves with a tribe of fellow new moms who are going through this or have been through this Rite of Passage"

Limen

Limen is considered the second stage, and it occurs throughout the second trimester of pregnancy. In the second stage,

Aggregation

Aggregation is considered the third stage, and it occurs throughout the third trimester of pregnancy.

Original draft

Arnold van Gennep was the first individual in the 1960s to discuss the three-stage process that an individual takes when experiencing the Rite of Passage. The three stages are the following: Separation, Limen, and Aggregation . The stages are often connected to the trimesters that the women experience throughout their pregnancy. It has been stated that separation often occurs throughout the first trimester, limen often occurs during the second trimester, and aggregation often occurs throughout the third trimester. The Rite of Passage is demonstrated to be an experience where an individual is going through the process of ending one phase of their life, which then proceeds to them entering a new phase in their life. The Rite of Passage can be related to many different life experiences; one of them being birth. The Rite of Passage is also known to honor the following experiences: Beginnings, Initiations, Partnering, and Deaths.

Pregnancy is a Right of Passage that is acknowledged as such by the mother. The process of Childbirth is where a mother delivers her newborn child. The mother is not alone throughout this process because her child is also joining her throughout this journey. Additionally, the end of the nine-month phase that the child spends in its mother's uterus is considered to be the ending of one phase. However, the child will then enter a new phase, which is considered to be the beginning of the child's life. The soon to be mother will also be transitioning with the child. She will be preparing for the beginning of her motherhood stage, which is viewed as the next phase in the individual's life. Soon to be mothers often create A Write of Passage Process Journal. This journal is often used as a reflection journal throughout the process, and it strengthens the Rite of Passage process for the soon to be mothers due to it assisting the individual through the transition of being an individual to becoming a mother.

When both transitions are completed, the mother and the child are then celebrated and welcomed by relatives and other individuals. There are often rituals and ceremonies that occur in order to honor the Rite of Passage of childbirth; it also recognizes the process of one phase coming to an end in their life and the beginning of a new phase in their life . The materials used throughout the celebration are candles, music instruments, often individuals share a few words or songs, and individuals often dance or have body work completed to show respect and to bring awareness of this new life.