This cloth flipchart was donated to Thackray Medical Museum by a photographer who had spent time working in Afghanistan. The chart was apparently used as a teaching aid for women living in remote rural locations. Little else is known about the chart and, until recently, the Museum had no translation for the text which appears on the back of each flipchart image. However, members of a local Afghan Women's Association have since provided an explanation of the text, which is apparantly written in both Dari and Pashto.
Click on the 'item details' for each image for an approximate translation of the accompanying text.
A pregnant woman should travel by car rather than walking. If she feels pain she should travel by car to the clinic.
Pregnant women must be careful when travelling to the hospital, resting rather than walking.
If experiencing these symptoms it is important that the mother does not try to rectify the situation herself, as doing so could pose a risk to her womb and her hips. She should instead sleep and visit the doctor.
Pregnant women should be careful to protect themselves from tetanus and make sure to be clean.
Before cutting the umbilical cord, wash hands and also make sure to tie a knot to make a bellybutton. Make two knots and then cut between the knots.
Do not breastfeed the first milk; only use this after a couple days. It is important to make sure the placenta is delivered.
If the placenta isn’t delivered, treat this as soon as possible and make sure it all comes out.
The woman’s womb should not be pushed but massaged slowly to get the placenta out. Go to the clinic if it is not delivered.