In Cambodia, many women deliver their babies at home with the assistance of a
traditional midwife, or contact her at least once before, during or after giving birth.
This is particularly the case for indigenous people. For the Bunong, one of the
indigenous minorities in the north east of Cambodia, traditional midwives, or
kru njut ndüll – the traditional healer who holds the belly1 – have offered their
services to pregnant women and mothers as far back as people can remember.
Accordingly, there is no doubt that the traditional midwives play an integral part
during pregnancy, delivery and the time of early motherhood. In general, their role
is to take care of mothers as soon as labour starts, to massage their abdomen, to cut
the umbilical cord, to wait for the placenta to be expelled, to advise the women to
drink traditional medicine and to eat the right food. She will prepare weng oing,
the fire that warms the woman’s body, and will visit her regularly during the first
few days after she gives birth. Prenatal visits are only carried out in case of
problems and pain. The traditional midwife is usually a relative or a close friend of
the family, and needs to be informed a few weeks before the couple would like to
call on her skills for the upcoming event