Jan and Robyn: I think your stories have captured the essence of children and animals at birth beautifully. Where else but at home could the family pets be there too. Imagine the birth suite if the family dog/cat/cockatoo also showed up with the two year old. Of course it would literally be a zoo in such a strange environment. I must admit I was caught by surprise at the first homebirth I attended where the family dog was part of the scene. I love dogs, just hadn't even imagined having them at a birth. And what unfolded was the same devoted concern and gentle attention to the mother, by a rather boisterous 2yr old german sheperd (male). Lovely. And never in the way or underfoot as a dog can be at times. You need to write the book.
marilyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jan Robinson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Robyn Thompson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: "Annie Sprague" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, November 29, 2002 10:37 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Re: Children with birthing are innate > On 27/11/02 10:30 PM, "Robyn Thompson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I just need to comment on little and older children with their mum and day > > at the very special family occasion - birth of a new baby. > > > > Flexibility, inclusion, patience, discussion, eye contact, listen, touch, > > talk and be very aware of the innate individuality of children with their > > mum's at birth. I have been given the most wonderful opportunity to learn > > how creative, astute and innate these children are and even the family > > animals are when they are present at this wonderful life-time experience. > > Again they are just as wonderful at the other end of the life cycle death. > > My grandchildren have given me the most wonderful assistance and I have > > learnt how they are able to cope with anything when they helped me care for > > their dying grandfather at home. Peter Lucas will support me on this one. > > > > I have a plethora of slides and these are used on Power Point to share with > > others, to show how these children are innate and how they each participate > > in their own special way. Children are wonderful full of innate knowledge. > > Each child is special and will deal with the situation in a very individual > > way. Just tune in and see and feel the experience. I have been involved > > with hundreds of children and family pets and they are my teachers. My video > > Birthing Naturally shows the involvement of 4 children in the same family. > > I am sure Jan Robinson and Annie Sprague will back me up on this. Listen to > > the children they know than we can imagine they know. Just like the newborn > > so far advanced they have taught me just how wonderful they are at > > communicating right from the minute they are born. > > > > Best wishes to all > > > > > > Robyn Thompson > > Melbourne Midwifery > > Specialist Services Pty Ltd (abn 34 007 423 994) > > Independent Midwifery Practice > > > > Midwife Practitioner > > * Homebirth > > * Lactation > > * Maternal & Child Health > > > > www.melbmidwifery.com.au > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > I agree entirely with what Robyn has put forward here. > I too have learned much from children and family pets present at births and > love to prepare them to be present if that's what they want ... Many > memories came flooding back as I read Robyn's contribution. > Seeing the role of the white rat held in a young child's arms for comfort as > he watched his new sister come into the world (my first homebirth 21 years > ago).... then on to pet budgies talking through the woman's noises but > respectfully quiet when she was quiet also .... to small dogs running in > circles around the room, joining in the family's excitement at the new > arrival ... and a cat (not belonging to the couple) coming and sitting on > the doorstep and cleaning itself just after I had to resuscitate a newborn > baby (we all thought the cat had come to share one of it's nine lives). The > cat just sat in the filtered morning sunlight cleaning itself for a while > and then when all had settled in the household, disappeared, and we never > saw it again. The couple had never seen it before either... It just seemed > to come from nowhere during the crisis and then disappear after all was well > again. > > The latest episode of animal behaviour was "Mohican" a Rhodesian ridgeback > who doted on his mistress and never left her side all day of her first > labour. When she entered the pool late in the labour and was resting her > head on the side, Moey just put his head right next to hers and let her know > he was still there with her and waiting. After the baby was born he never > left his side all night. Every day I would visit and Moey would be there > beside the baby (apart from greeting me). Pets really understand the art of > comforting. > The children already seem to gather great understanding of fetal growth and > development as they are closely involved in the prenatal visits. They pat > the baby, measure the baby and listen to it's heartbeat and always tell me > "their" name for the baby. They love to feel the baby's movements under > their hand (sometimes little ones are a bit rough on their poor mother who > patiently lies there while they "attend" to the palpation. Often little ones > then lie down on the floor beside their mother and demand that I listen to > "their" baby as well. Up comes the T-shirt while I listen to their heart > with the Doppler. > At birth children are so supportive of their mother (if they are awake.) > Sometimes the older boys just want to get back into bed and be woken when > the baby is coming, the the girls stick by their mother through thick and > thin and learn so much about patience and perseverance through this > experience. All love to get into the action with the new baby and cuddle > into mum while she breastfeeds. I have even seen little boys sit beside Mum > with their teddy who they breastfeed while Mum feeds the new baby. > > Really tiny toddlers can sometimes be a nuisance in that they take away the > mother's focus on her contractions. Often the labour slows down and not > until they are taken for a walk or a special treat does the labour suddenly > hot up and the baby pops out like magic. New babies seem to know innately > when the time is right to get Mum's undivided attention. > > The major benefit to older children is that they see natural birth and their > father supporting their mother in a loving way while they all welcome their > new baby into the world. They can then move on to have baby's of their own > without fear sometime in the future. > Tiny tots reinforce what they have learned from the experience by acting out > the maternal role (and sometimes what they have seen their father doing) for > ages. They talk unceasingly about "when we had our baby" and will often tell > me when I visit "they can't talk know, they are busy having the baby!" > My own grand daughter is good at that one! She uses it as an excuse when she > does not want to come to me. When she eventually goes through the motions > and decides to honour me with her presence I often remind her about the > placenta.. And she pops back into her favourite place and stands up and > "pushes the placenta out". Then we have a cuddle. > > I'm started on one of my favourite subjects here, thank you Robyn and Annie. > Perhaps there is an idea for a book here .... Any other ozmidders want to > contribute their stories of children and pets at birth? I'd better get off > this list before I start to write it! > > Cheers to all > Jan Robinson > > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. 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