Boobamma were traditional health specialists in rural South India, especially in regions of Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka, and some of them indeed performed baby deliveries along with childcare. Their role was deeply respected in the community, especially among women who relied on them for maternal and infant care long before modern clinics reached the villages.
👩⚕️ Who Was a Boobamma?
"Boobamma" (derived from "Bibiamma") was often a Muslim woman trained through oral traditions and practical experience passed down in her family, usually matrilineally. These women were not doctors in the modern sense but were skilled community-based health workers known for:
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Maternal care
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Infant health management
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Postpartum support
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Traditional medicine preparation
🧒🏽 Roles & Responsibilities
1. Child Healthcare
Boobammas were experts in treating childhood ailments using natural remedies:
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Colic & indigestion: Given herbal concoctions and massage.
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Teething pain: Used traditional powders and cooling agents.
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Colds & fevers: Used decoctions made from leaves and roots.
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Nutritional advice: Guided mothers on food for lactating women and infants.
2. Midwifery (Baby Delivery)
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Boobammas assisted or conducted childbirth in homes, especially when modern hospitals were inaccessible or unaffordable.
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They used clean cloths, herbal disinfectants, and traditional oils to ensure safe delivery.
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Provided postnatal massages and mother-baby care.
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Taught new mothers how to bathe, swaddle, and breastfeed the baby.
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Managed birth complications to the extent their training allowed and advised hospital visits if the case was risky.
3. Postpartum Care
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Administered post-delivery tonics to regain strength.
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Assisted with umbilical cord care, baby massage, and early hygiene.
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Advised diet for the new mother based on hot/cold food theory in traditional Indian medicine.
📦 Remedies and Tools
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"Gadidha palu" (donkey milk): For digestive issues (used very rarely).
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Herbal oils: For massages and immunity-building.
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Iron-rich ash or plant-based powders: For treating anemia or weakness.
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"Nalugu" (bath powder): Used for baby’s first bath to remove birth residue and body hair.
🌾 Social and Cultural Role
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Boobammas were not formally educated but were trusted more than village doctors in some areas.
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They were often invited to neighboring villages, paid in cash, grains, or clothes.
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Maintained intimate, long-term relationships with families across generations.
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Often served across religious and caste boundaries, especially in multi-faith villages.
🕊️ Present Day
With the arrival of government hospitals, ASHA workers, and institutional deliveries, the Boobamma tradition is disappearing. Some still practice in remote regions, or when families specifically request their service based on ancestral trust.
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