Re: [ozmidwifery] loss of scared birth

[Geoff & Louise Wightman]

Here is a gem out of the mouths of babes: My 7yr old daughter asked yesterday why would a mummy want to have a baby cut out of her tummy and not have the baby like normal mummy's from her vagina? She thought having an operation was really scary but having birthing a baby would be just fine. I hope in years to come she has a choice Louise ----- Original Message ----- From: Dean & Jo To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 4:44 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] loss of scared birth One of the things that really upset me about the 60min report was the woman's comment about birth not being the right of passsage into motherhood/womanhood.  When I speak to women about their births and what is important to them I find that I often have to prompt them to think about what the birth means to them.  What is important to her as a person...not just healthy baby.  One of the healing steps of recovery for cs is to name 10 positive things you got from the experience...NOT including the baby.  usually some women just shug and say "dont know".   With attitudes from people like Tracy and the wonderful doctor Malloy (is there at least one in every state??!!)  it is little wonder why women are lossing the sacredness of birth.  The more we are programmed into the medical interventions, the more we have to relinquish of our spiritual experience that is birth.  Even a traumatic birth should be seen as experiencing something very powerful.   How do you as a care provider explore the spiritual meaning of birth for each womanyou care for?  Do you believe yourself that birth has a huge impact on the feminine psyche...if not have you asked yourself why?  If you do believe it, how do you facilitate for others?  Do you ask women?    My philosophy seems to be steeming to needing to nurture the nurturer.  As mothers ourselves we are aware that our children learn from us; our nurturing, gentle explainations and paitent understanding.  Should we not look at our new birthing mothers and say 'in order for this woman to nurture herself and the baby when she goes home,  she needs nurturing in the transition period from maiden to mother.'   Just trying to provocke some positive discussion from an extremely sad, waste of 20 minutes we all suffered last Sunday night.   cheers Jo