The Meaning of “Ploo” in Motherhood Transitional Ritual in Malay Society in Satun Province

Abstract

 This study aimed to study the meaning of “Ploo” in the transitional motherhood ritual in the Malaysian community in Satun Province. The data were collected using in-depth interviews of 24 key informants, Tok Bidan, women who had been through the rituals and are preparing to be mothers and family members. Malay believe that “Ploo” is the ritual plant. The “Ploo” is related to woman in three phrases as the stage of preparing to have a baby and during pregnancy, the stage of delivering newborn to the seventh day, and the stage of forty-four days postpartum. “Ploo” meaningful relationship with big push women and children for six reasons: 1) it is an ancestral origins authority of knowledge, 2) as the media expressed gratitude to ancestors who helped her give birth easily and securely 3) medicinal plants used to treat the symptoms of the mother and the baby 4) as predicting the sex of the babies are born, 5) as predicting whether women will be through difficult or easy birth, 6) as a shield, protection for women who are pregnant, and the baby, hence the 'betel' it still is the key to building a complete family of Malay society.