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Ina May Gaskin "Birth Matters" is coming to town Nov. 14-15, 2011. Check out the ACNM or U of M nurse midwife event board for further details.
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Tasha Scott
10/11/2011
What a wonderful website. I know that so many women will truly benefit from the services you provide!
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LaVonne
12/13/2011
I was listening to a discussion on KMOJ radio this afternoon about a mother being arrested for the neglect of her 13 yr. old daughter who became pregnant by an 18 yr. old boy and then was allowed to go live with him by her mother. Most of the comments during this discussion centered on the fact that the girl was obviously out of control and that the mother had probably lost control a long time ago. Yet, all I could think of was “It’s time to get back to the basics!” when kids are out of control there is certainly a problem, but it doesn’t always involve issues of neglect, drugs or other negative behaviors. Unfortunately, I think a crucial point is being missed; how a woman parents doesn’t just start after birth but before a child is even born!
A woman being disconnected from her body in pregnancy directly impacts a woman’s transition to motherhood. This is significant because it affects the choices she makes involving her pregnancy and birth. Her choices can affect her bonding and thusly the parenting of that child. First, the circumstances under which she becomes pregnant can affect her feelings about that pregnancy and rather they are positive or negative they will be known by the fetus (baby) she is carrying because it is a live being that can perceive her internalized feelings. Second, if she is not happy about being pregnant she may not stay connected to her body. This cannot only impact what she eats, but how she treats her body during her pregnancy. She may not connect the fact that good nutrition, not smoking, avoiding drugs and alcohol are all an important part of having a healthy pregnancy and birth.
Also, her decision for prenatal care may be impacted and she could decide to have a doctor instead of a midwife for her prenatal care and birth. This can greatly alter her birthing experience. Not having a midwife often limits the use of alternative options for pain relief. So, the risk of having an epidural may increase; which leads to an increased risk of C-section. An epidural interferes with the pain receptor sites in the brain that turn on the “mother lobe” of a woman’s brain; which promotes mothering qualities causing her to be protective, nurturing etc… These birthing choices can affect her desire and ability to breastfeed and impact her ability to bond with her infant.
This is important because breastfeeding improves bonding; which can positively impact the connection between mother and infant. Also, a breastfeed infant becomes a child that is less aggressive, more social and easier to parent. So, the circumstances surrounding conception, how one connects with their pregnancy, births, feeds and raises their infant greatly impacts their ability to parent later. So, when we get back to the basics what happened between this 13 y.o. and her mother started way before she was a pre-teen and actually before she was even born---now that’s something to think about
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LaVonne
4/25/2012
UpComing Birthing Celebrations
April 28-May 4: Childbirth Education Week
Month of May: International Doula Month
May 5: International Day of the Midwife
May 13: Mother's Day
I thoroughly enjoyed this blog and created a Weebly account too.
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Jean Loyd
12/3/2014
Your comments about the mother-child connection beginning at conception, was a well stated reminder. I just recently gave your information to a expectant mother. I pray she connects.
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