Just a quick link to info on pregnancy massage. I'll add more later.
http://www.epregnancy.com/Pregnancy/RSM-Prenatal-Massage.aspx
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Important work
Last week I assisted at a birth. It had progressed slower than the mama had hoped for and she had to work really hard. She birthed at home as planned and everything was good. We thought about the respect and support that we gave to this family and wondered what would have happened if this couple would have planned to birth in the hospital. Of course, there is no way to really know - but it seems unlikely that in that setting, there would have been a calm acceptance of the slower progression that took place. Both baby and mama were doing great and there was no need for medical intervention.
As we were leaving we felt such satisfaction that this precious family was upstairs falling in love with their baby in the coziness of their own bed and in the comfort of their own home. They were all doing great. Mama had a wonderful meal and was going to get some much needed rest.
We talked a bit about the birth as were walking out to our cars. The midwife said, "We do important work." I agreed that it is indeed very important work and I really don't care who dislikes us for doing it - it's so important. How we treat pregnant, laboring and birthing women matters - it matters so much, and has far reaching effects.
I went home feeling very full and privileged to have a share in this very Important Work.
As we were leaving we felt such satisfaction that this precious family was upstairs falling in love with their baby in the coziness of their own bed and in the comfort of their own home. They were all doing great. Mama had a wonderful meal and was going to get some much needed rest.
We talked a bit about the birth as were walking out to our cars. The midwife said, "We do important work." I agreed that it is indeed very important work and I really don't care who dislikes us for doing it - it's so important. How we treat pregnant, laboring and birthing women matters - it matters so much, and has far reaching effects.
I went home feeling very full and privileged to have a share in this very Important Work.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Moms choosing Cesareans
> http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1731904,00.html
Read this article about 1 mother who chose a Cesarean birth.
I wrote my thoughts in the comment section. What do you think?
Read this article about 1 mother who chose a Cesarean birth.
I wrote my thoughts in the comment section. What do you think?
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Out of the mouths of babes
Well, I thought I'd tell about some play that my 7 year old twin granddaughters were engaged in several months ago. Their mom, my daughter-in-law, shared this with me.
The kids have an extensive dress up wardrobe. E was wearing a lovely costume/ dress that was given to them by their older cousin who wore it in a dance recital. It is quite fancy. Fancy enough to wear to a Ball, which was exactly where E said she was going.
She told her sister, M, "I'm going to the Ball". Then she said, while holding the lump under her dress- "I really want to go to the Ball, but I'm going to have a baby". She grunted and pushed her baby out. Now with babe in arms, she looked conflicted. "I really want to go to the Ball but I just borned out this baby!"
M tells her that all is fine as she, M, will watch the baby for her. E considers this and says, "Well, I do really want to go to the Ball, but I did just born this baby... I don't know..." M assures her it will be fine and E remains conflicted.
Finally M tells her "It's O.K.- I've taken a special class in baby sitting!" E still is unsure- she really wants to go to the Ball- but she did "just born this baby". M tells her, " It will be fine! Look! I've got this special bed just for the baby."
Well, that does it! E looks with disdain at the bed & cries, "A bed! NO! Babies belong with their mamas! I guess I just can't go to the Ball."
Initially, I thought it was just cute, but after I shared it with some moms and have thought about it, I realized that it was really more than just cute. E has already figured out birth and parenting. Mamas put their own needs on hold to care for the needs of their children. They may "really want to go to the Ball" but just can't because of their children's more pressing needs at the time.
She knows that babies should be with their mamas & not stuck in a bed off in another room.
How does she know this? I'm not sure. She feels it, she's had it modeled for her. My daughter-in-law is a most wonderful mama and so E and her siblings have first hand experience with attachment parenting. My daughter,who is also local, attachment parents her 3year old & her 15 year old daughters.
I'm so thankful that my grandchildren have had these healthy models to follow. But that doesn't always mean they will get it right away. Remember, her own sister wanted her to leave the baby with her! This same sister told E during another play moment, "You have to do what I say- I'm the HOSPITAL LADY!!"
Swimmimg against the cultural current. We'll keep doing it & hope that eventually, they all get it. For now, at least E knows that "Babies belong with their mamas!"
The kids have an extensive dress up wardrobe. E was wearing a lovely costume/ dress that was given to them by their older cousin who wore it in a dance recital. It is quite fancy. Fancy enough to wear to a Ball, which was exactly where E said she was going.
She told her sister, M, "I'm going to the Ball". Then she said, while holding the lump under her dress- "I really want to go to the Ball, but I'm going to have a baby". She grunted and pushed her baby out. Now with babe in arms, she looked conflicted. "I really want to go to the Ball but I just borned out this baby!"
M tells her that all is fine as she, M, will watch the baby for her. E considers this and says, "Well, I do really want to go to the Ball, but I did just born this baby... I don't know..." M assures her it will be fine and E remains conflicted.
Finally M tells her "It's O.K.- I've taken a special class in baby sitting!" E still is unsure- she really wants to go to the Ball- but she did "just born this baby". M tells her, " It will be fine! Look! I've got this special bed just for the baby."
Well, that does it! E looks with disdain at the bed & cries, "A bed! NO! Babies belong with their mamas! I guess I just can't go to the Ball."
Initially, I thought it was just cute, but after I shared it with some moms and have thought about it, I realized that it was really more than just cute. E has already figured out birth and parenting. Mamas put their own needs on hold to care for the needs of their children. They may "really want to go to the Ball" but just can't because of their children's more pressing needs at the time.
She knows that babies should be with their mamas & not stuck in a bed off in another room.
How does she know this? I'm not sure. She feels it, she's had it modeled for her. My daughter-in-law is a most wonderful mama and so E and her siblings have first hand experience with attachment parenting. My daughter,who is also local, attachment parents her 3year old & her 15 year old daughters.
I'm so thankful that my grandchildren have had these healthy models to follow. But that doesn't always mean they will get it right away. Remember, her own sister wanted her to leave the baby with her! This same sister told E during another play moment, "You have to do what I say- I'm the HOSPITAL LADY!!"
Swimmimg against the cultural current. We'll keep doing it & hope that eventually, they all get it. For now, at least E knows that "Babies belong with their mamas!"
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