It is said that there were twelve fairy midwives, also known as Bà Mụ.

In ancient times, after opening up the earth and sky, the Jade Emperor began to create life on earth. He used the dregs to create all kinds of large creatures such as elephants, rhinoceroses, etc. However, for humans, the Jade Emperor selected the purest essence and assigned the task of shaping human beings to twelve midwives - skillful and meticulous fairies.

Some legends say that the twelve midwives worked together and were responsible for each person they created together. Others believe that each of the twelve midwives has a separate task: one shapes the ears, one draws the eyes, one creates the nose and mouth, one creates the limbs, one teaches the child to smile, one teaches the child to speak, etc. In the South, people believe that the twelve midwives are equivalent to the twelve zodiac animals, each in charge of childbirth for a year, taking turns changing.

We cannot fully understand the details of such heavenly affairs. We can only affirm that any human being born into this world has been carefully molded by the fairies. And we are cared for, watched over, and taught by them to become human beings. 

At the same time, the twelve midwives, although they are gods, cannot avoid shortcomings and mistakes.

List of twelve midwives, each with their task including:

1. Bà Trần Tứ Nương is in charge of childbirth.

2. Bà Vạn Tứ Nương is in charge of pregnancy

3. Bà Lâm Cửu Nương is in charge of conception

4. Bà Lưu Thất Nương is in charge of shaping male and female fetuses

5. Bà Lâm Nhất Nương is in charge of fetal care

6. Bà Lý Đại Nương is in charge of labor

7. Bà Hứa Đại Nương is in charge of obstetrics

8. Bà Cao Tứ Nương is in charge of confinement and nursing

9. Bà Tăng Ngũ Nương is in charge of newborn care

10. Bà Mã Ngũ Nương is in charge of holding children

11. Bà Trúc Ngũ Nương is in charge of babysitting

12. Bà Nguyễn Tam Nương is in charge of witnessing and supervising childbirth

Traditions

Bà Mụ altars are found at some pagodas such as: Hoc Ong, Bien Hoa, Phuoc Tuong Thu Duc, Minh Huong Gia Thanh Cho Lon. In addition, families make offerings to the Bà Mụ at home when a woman has just given birth or when a child is sick.

Paying homage to the midwives is a practice to express gratitude and pray for blessings from the midwives, the gods who, according to folk beliefs, are responsible for giving birth and shaping the human body. To ask for the help of the midwives, people often hold a ceremony to make offerings to the midwives after the baby is three, seven or nine days old, this is called the full-pregnancy ceremony; when the baby is one month old, it is called the full-month ceremony; and when the baby is one year old, it is called the full-year ceremony, or the first birthday ceremony.

Offerings Practice to Bà Mụ 

Offerings for the midwife must be prepared carefully and thoroughly. Furthermore, the offerings must be divided into twelve small parts corresponding to the twelve midwives, and an additional large part for the queen midwife. 

Prayer to Bà Mụ 

Nam mô A Di Đà Phật!

Nam mô A Di Đà Phật!

Nam mô Đại Bi Quan Thế Âm Bồ tát!

Homage to the Twelve Midwife Mothers and all respected spirits.

Today, we sincerely offer our prayers and gratitude to the Midwife Mothers, who have ensured the safe birth, good health, and intelligence of this child.

We humbly ask for your continued protection, that this child may live a peaceful life, free from illness and misfortune, with intelligence, agility, and good fortune.

May the Midwife Mothers guide this child to grow strong, succeed in learning, meet kind-hearted people, and have a bright future.

We offer these humble gifts with deep sincerity, hoping for your blessings and protection.

Nam mô A Di Đà Phật  – repeated 3 times as a closing invocation.