MALAYS BELIEVE THAT babies never grow in the womb alone. The placenta, attached to the top of the mother’s womb, facilitating the processes of nutrient and oxygen exchange, hormone production, waste removal and immune protection, is an essential entity. Malay and Islamic belief deem the placenta as a baby’s closest companion—almost like a sibling or a twin. In fact, the word “tembuni”, referring to the afterbirth in Malay, is synonymous with the term “kakak anak” or the child’s sister. Thus, its disposal cannot be done willy-nilly.
The Traditional Malay Way
Malays believe that burial is the best way to return bodies (and body parts) back to the earth. This ruling extends to the placenta as well, once the baby is born. A proper burial with care and respect honours the dignity of both the mother and baby, and can also prevent the placenta from misuse in black magic rituals. While the mother recovers from labour, caring for the placenta becomes a father’s first duty—a rite of passage into parenthood.
