[Care during postpartum "confinement." Beliefs and taboos in a group of puerperal women]

In our milieu, postpartum confinement is surrounded by cultural manifestations and taboos which are based on natural, supernatural, and social interpretations. This work has identified the meanings attributed to self-care by puerperae under the theoretical framework of culture. The subjects were women soon after childbirth who attended health units with their children for routine procedures. The results showed that the beliefs revealed a symbolic power in the infrastructure of conducts and behaviors of these women in relation to manifestations and care during the postpartum stage. It is important that health professionals incorporate the values and beliefs of women soon after childbirth into their practice, thus sharing the knowledge involving puerperium and favoring the critical understanding of reality and the promotion of health for mothers and their children.