Thought I´d throw this into the mix, just for the hell of it Here is what the basis of our culture thinks about women giving birth, and the difference in "uncleanness" between giving birth to a boy and a girl (makes me furious on so many levels!)
Sorry, I found this in Danish and put it through Google Translate:
Say to the Israelites: When a woman is pregnant and gives birth to a boy, she is unclean for seven days; she is unclean as long as during her period.
[......] [. . .]
3 Genesis 12.4 In thirty-three days she must stay at home while she blood of her purifying; She must not touch anything sacred, and she can not get into the sanctuary, until her catharsis days are over.
3 Genesis 12.5 If she gives birth to a girl, she is unclean twice seven days and during her period. In sixty-six days she will stay at home because of the blood of her purifying.
3 Genesis 12,6 When her ablutions days are over and after a son by a daughter, she shall bring a yearling lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeons or turtle dove for a sin offering; she must bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
3 Genesis 12.7, he shall offer it before the LORD and make atonement for her; she is clean after his bleeding.
3 Genesis 12,8 But if she can not afford a lamb, she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement her; she is clean.
After giving birth..... I could vomit literally - and cry! I realize that the Old Testament has a lot of cultural value, but I would like that it would be seperated from our church and only regarded as historical documentation. As is is, this is part of our Christian doctrine.