[ozmidwifery] Caul

[Julie Clarke]

My youngest Ryan was born in the caul and Maggie fished it out of the water rinsed it off and we photographed her holding it up for us. We wanted to preserve it other than wrapping it in a gauze muslin cloth which was the olden days tradition. Mum was a tremendous help here coming up with the idea of placing it on lovely soft green coloured cardboard and having it laminated to keep it safe and protected. When he went to school he proudly took it along for show and tell !!! You should have seen his teachers face when I picked him up at the end of the day J  He had apparently told her all about his birth at home and Maggie and his membranes etc.  Very knowledgeable little fellow and very interested in his story.  For those at the NMAP launch in Sydney at Parliament House Ryan was there. I keep it as a beautiful artistic wall mounted feature in my ante-natal classroom – Ryan very kindly let’s me look after it for him down here – and when we discuss ruptured membranes or not ruptured membranes in the sessions it comes down off the wall for the group to have a closer look.  A very good teaching aid J Hug to all   Julie Clarke Childbirth and Parenting Educator Transition into Parenthood 9 Withybrook Pl Sylvania  NSW  2224 T. (02) 9544 6441 F (02) 9544 9257 M. 0401 265 530 email [EMAIL PROTECTED]   -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of mel gregory Sent: Monday, 3 February 2003 9:06 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Update on Reuben   it means with the membranes still in tact around the babe...certainly where I come fromm it means that the babe , amongst other things will never drown at sea and should ones baby be born 'in the caul ' the thing to do is to rush down to the habour and flog the membranes to the nearest fisherman...they will apparently want to buy them as it will prevent them from drowning at sea as well. However the baby is also supposed to have some sort of sixth sense or at least be particularly intuitive , one of my children was born with the membranes........................ ----- Original Message ----- From: Aviva Sheb'a To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 1:18 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Update on Reuben   Joy, that's a touching, and humbling, story indeed. What does "in the caul" mean? One can learn so much here! Hugs to you and your family, Aviva ----- Original Message ----- From: Joy Cocks To: Ozmidwifery Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 1:49 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Update on Reuben   Many of you will remember my daughter's surviving twin, Reuben.  He is doing EXCEPTIONALLY well, better than any of us could have possibly hoped for. He's 8/12 old today and had a routine paed checkup 10 days ago.  He's chubby, never been sick - not even a cold, bright, active and starting to catch up developmentally.  There is no sign of any residual problems from his prematurity - just some little scars from all of his i/v's, which he'll be able to show off proudly if they're still visible later on in life.  He's fully breastfed, of course, and paed couldn't believe how well he's doing, doesn't want to see him till he's 18/12 and then B4 he goes to kinder.  Even his umbilical hernia, which was measured at 5 cm has completely disappeared. He had 2 x inguinal hernias repaired (at the same time) just after he came out of hospital.  He's cuddly and quite an "easy" baby.  We are so, so grateful. Now for the goosebumpy stuff: a few months ago, when I was "visiting" Tilly at the cemetery I had the strongest feeling that she had died to save Reuben, so that he would have the strength of 2 babies.  I related this to Sally, she went quiet and asked if she had told me what Tas (her 4 y/o) had said a few days B4 - she hadn't.  He was in the bath and said, "mummy, can we talk about Tilly?", "yes, of course", "she died because of Reuben", "no, she didn't die because of Reuben, she died because she was very sick", "yes, I know that, but she died because of Reuben"!  Sally said, "I wonder if that's what Tas meant."  I'm sure it was, and recently when we were talking about it, Sally said that it really helped her to know this. Joy PS  Tas was born "in the caul" which, as we all know, makes him extra special (according to folklore anyway).  In any case, he does seem to be very intuitive, a quality to be nurtured. Joy Cocks RN (Div 1) RM CBE IBCLC BRIGHT Vic 3741 email:[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.   ---   Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.449 / Virus Database: 251 - Release Date: 27/01/03