|
At the dawn of life At the dawn of life babies want to feel safe and welcomed. This first development stage begins in the womb, possibly as early as the second trimester. It spans through the ordeal of birth, to around the sixth month of life. Baby's emotional needs at this time include: • to be talked to in the womb • to have a natural and gentle birth (see below) • to be tenderly welcomed into the family • to be in a gentle and peaceful home environment • to sleep close to mum and dad • to be held throughout the day • to have loving eye contact • to be free of imposed routines • to be responded to promptly Home or hospital? Birthing at home in a familiar environment is not only good for babies, but is also good for their mothers and fathers, as well as extended family. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that 80% of women should be able to have a normal birth with no intervention. Unfortunately, over 80% of women in New Zealand are birthing at secondary or tertiary maternity units with specialized care, rather than at either a primary birthing unit or at home. When a woman enters a tertiary, or base, hospital the spiral of intervention takes place in a majority of cases. Examples
of intervention include administration of intravenous pitocin to
augment labour, if not progressing to the hospital's schedule, an
epidural to cope with the increased pain of an augmented labour,
electronic fetal monitoring, and usually either an instrumental
(forceps or ventouse) or a ceasarian delivery, due to a decreased
ability to push effectively or "fetal distress". Many studies have shown that planned home births are as safe, if not safer, than hospital births, however, the statistics for unplanned home births (which are analogous to giving birth in the car on the way to the hospital) are often combined with the statistics for planned home births, thus making them seem less safe. The benefits of home birth compared to birthing in a hospital are numerous (see list below). A
couple of differences include the fact that babies born at home
are significantly more alert than their counterparts born in hospital,
presumably because their little bodies are not full of the drugs
normally given to a labouring woman in hospital. Secondly, there
is little continuity of care in a hospital, with midwives/nurses
coming and going as their shifts change, however, it is continuity
of care which enhances and protects the normal process of childbirth. It is safer - many international studies have repeatedly shown that planned homebirth is as safe, and in many cases safer, than hospital birth. With a trained homebirth attendant there are fewer deaths, injuries and infections, and a much lower level of intervention at home than in hospital. Less intervention - the labouring woman is encouraged to believe in the natural birthing process, to listen to and work with her body and natural instincts, thus avoiding unnecessary intervention. Studies have shown that women giving birth at home rated labour significantly less painful than did women giving birth in hospital. No medication - drugs commonly used in labour and birth have risks for the mother and baby and can lead to further interventions. Alternative methods that can be used at home include water, massage, counterpressure, heat, cold, aromatherapy, acupressure, breathing, movement, different positions, vocalising, emotional support, etc. Less infection - mother and baby are less susceptible to infection form the bacteria they encounter in their own home. Studies have shown newborn infection rates up to four times higher for hospital birthed babies (including dangerous organisms such as MRSA - Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus). Familiar environment - a women feels more comfortable, relaxed and in control in the environment of her own home; she is also surrounded by familiar people whom she trusts. Studies have shown that labour can be compromised by an unfamiliar environment, while there are less likely to be complications, such as from interruptions, during labour at home. Discomfort and fear can increase the pain experienced in childbirth, while relaxation can diminish maternal stress, improve oxygen flow to the baby, and facilitate labour. No travel - travel during labour is painful and stressful and has been shown to inhibit labour and contribute to unnecessary intervention. Travel closely following the birth could also potentially disrupt mother-infant bonding and affect initiation of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding - mothers and babies who have had a relaxed and stress-free birthing experience without the effects of drugs are less likely to encounter some of the common breastfeeding problems. Studies indicate that breastfeeding is easily established by homebirth mothers. Midwifery care - homebirth midwives believe that birth is a normal life event and provide continuity of care throughout pregnancy, labour and after the birth. Privacy
- a woman at home can move about, change positions and vocalise
as she feels free to - there are no protocols, routines or strangers
to inhibit her.
Blessingway First,
is to allow the pregnant woman to feel the power of the good will
and love that the women close to her feel toward her and her baby
- to feel the powerful sisterhood between women. Blessingway
practices • Weaving of a 'God's eye' for the child. This is created with two bamboo sticks, tied together in a cross, woven around and around, starting in the middle, with different coloured yarns chosen by each woman from a basket of yarn. The midwife usually begins, using white yarn, as a symbol of the purity of the baby to come. • Each woman, beginning and ending with the pregnant woman, can be woven together in a circle with yarn (across one woman's belly and around the next woman's back, or around each woman's left wrist). The yarn symbolises an umbilical cord linking all to each other (and to the Goddess). The yarn is then cut and tied around the left wrist (the side of intuition) and can be left there until the birth of the child. •
Each woman can bring a bead or crystal of special
significance chosen especially for the occasion and thread a bracelet
or necklace for the mother to wear during her birth and/or for the
baby after the birth. • Each woman can take turns rubbing the feet of the pregnant woman with cornmeal. Apparently corn is a symbol of the nourishment of the Earth Mother. It is to help the pregnant woman in her ability to draw the nourishment and strength she needs to mother through her stance on the earth - through her feet. A full body massage could also be carried out if the woman chooses. • The attending women can form a 'circle of love' around the pregnant woman and each take a turn saying positive and empowering qualities they see in that woman. Each person can also place their hands on the pregnant woman where they would like to give her strength (belly, back, heart etc) - there is usually crying and a lot of love. •
Sharing of a sacred herb tea that has been made
with herbs thrown into boiled water and stirred. Each herb is meant
to bless the pregnant woman with a particular quality she'll need
during labour (eg Eyebright for clarity, Squawvine for strength,
Lady Slipper for endurance, Black Haw for peace of heart, and Mother
of the Meadow for honouring the goddess). The woman could pick herbs
that she especially likes, or each attending woman could bring a
particular herb. How much is a child “aware” of at birth? The child is a conscious being when it enters the world, regardless of being undeveloped, and is a bundle of potential. It is said that the soul of the child chooses the moment it is to enter the world. It chooses the moment based on the circumstances in space and time. The child is extremely open and vulnerable as it enters the world and is affected strongly by the environment. The “environment” it enters into can be seen at many levels, one of which is the planetary energetic environment. The basis for astrology is that everything is essentially energy and the myriad forms of energy have certain meanings. Each of the planets are essentially energy and have particular meanings, including the relationships they have to each other. In astrological terms, when a child enters the world, they are strongly impacted by the planetary energies of the moment. That moment sets a blueprint or pattern that the child works with throughout their life. A
child not only has a physical body, but is also a psychological
being with characteristics and different aspects making up the nature
of the child. By looking at a child’s birth chart this can
be an indication of the natural tendencies and by being aware of
these attributes, the child can be encouraged along natural lines
of development and helped in areas that are not so strong in his
or her make-up. For example, some children are more structure oriented
and need routine and more discipline. Other children are more liberal
and don’t need so much structure.
|
Copyright
© 2004 Embrace, Christchurch, New Zealand info@embrace.net.nz |