Suffering During Birth: The Experiences of the Foetus : หน้า 64/263

suffering of the foetus, like being exposed to a rain of hot ashes. Each time the mother eats something spicy, the whole of the foetus’s body will itch and become swollen with the strength of the spices — like a prisoner being tortured by having salt rubbed into open wounds all over his body. This second aspect of suffering at birth is known as 'gabbha parihara mulaka dukkhā'. 1.3 The Suffering of Unnatural Delivery at Birth If the baby happens not to rotate itself properly when nearing the time of birth, and lies blocking the delivery path, the baby will have to be delivered by being forcibly dragged out of the womb by its arms and legs. This third aspect of suffering at birth is known as 'gabbha vipatti mūlaka dukkhā'. 1.4 The Suffering of being delivered at Birth When it comes to the time when the baby must be delivered, there will be a build up of ’natal wind’ [lamakammajāvata] which turns the baby upside down with its head down towards the birth canal and its feet up — as frightening for the baby as a person dangling upside down over a cliff face. Next the baby will have to endure the torture of childbirth — like a working elephant trying to make its escape by squeezing through a narrow space, or like denizens of the 'Sanghāta' hell who are condemned to being crushed beneath fiery mountains. This fourth aspect of suffering at birth is known as 'gabbha jājika mūlaka dukkhā'. 1.5 The Suffering of Being Cleaned-Up after birth The torture continues as the doctor or the midwife cleans up the baby and dries him off. To the baby with its sensative skin, the experience is like being pierced by sharp needles. ¹. see Saṅkicca Jātaka (J.530)().v.261ff.)