I've been begining to feel pressure / wierd looks when i breast feed Lucy (breastfeeding toddlers should be normal people) it is in so many cultures and in the bible, hey Jesus was properly nursed well into/past toddlerhood.

i like breastfeeding Lucy i view it as a blessing a giving of myself to her (the health giving effects of breastmilk continue as long as you breastfeed)

"The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast" (Gen. 21:8). Isaac was probably 4 to 6 years old.

(Genesis 49:25-26)
25 The God of your father, who helps you, God Almighty, who blesses you, With the blessings of the heavens above, the blessings of the abyss that crouches below, The blessings of breasts and womb,
26 the blessings of fresh grain and blossoms, The blessings of the everlasting mountains, the delights of the eternal hills.

Breastfeeding and God's Name

Within scripture, God reveals Himself to His people by His holy name. "God the Almighty" used in Genesis 17:1, and elsewhere in the Bible, is the Hebrew term "El Shaddai." "El" in Hebrew stands for might and power--our God is almighty and all-powerful. Biblical scholars differ on the origin of the term "Shaddai." Some believe that the term affirms the mightiness of God and the root word comes from the idea of the mighty God of the mountain. Other scholars contend that "Shaddai" is from the Hebrew root word "shad," meaning a woman's breast. Just as a nursing mother meets the needs of her infant child by giving of her very self, our powerful God meets all the needs of His people. Although our God is mighty, He is also all-sustaining, and One who pours forth His blessings and His very Self for His people. The omnipotent God is a loving, nurturing and all-provident God.

Whether there is a linguistic connection between the word "Shaddai" and "breast," as Christians, we have to agree that our relationship God is based on much more than His might. He loves us with the intensity of His Being and through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross, gives of His very Self for our lives-just as a nursing mother gives of her very self out of love for her child.

Growing into Grace
by Mary Maslen
"Let faith happen. Your child will discover God in a whole host of ways—from the songs you sing to the way you comfort him when he cries. Everything you do for and with your child contributes to his understanding of love, which will eventually frame the way he understands God's love." ANOTHER REASON WHY ATTACHMENT PARENTING MAKES SENCE

peop.le look at me real strange when i say Lucy doesn't wear nappies and hasn't since she was 7 months old. (i only discovered EC then i know bubs that are diaper free from birth)
i don't have a walking stink bomb, or deal with nappie rash, or think of how disgusting it must be for her to be marinating in her own urine.


for lots of great lines on going peepee
see this father site
here are some goodys

"Some of the kids are old enough to be walking and talking (and probably playing skilful computer games) but they just lay there while their parent wipes the crap off their butts (and back)"

"Nappy is just another name for a strap-on poo bag. Don't be caught in a confined space with a toddler or child in nappies!"

"privilege of fermenting "

Home Birth Week.
here is my Home birthing experience

Lucy Aurora’s Birth Story

On Saturday Night I had some achey period like cramps which I thought nothing of ‘cause I had been having these off and on for about 2 weeks. I didn’t sleep to good and woke up and relised that David was listening to the Rugby with headphones which for some reason was really annoying. I felt great on Sunday morning and we went to church. Had more crampy feeling that came and went (now I realise they must have been contractions) . After church we went round to a friends house “(I was liking the idea of not having to prepare my own lunch at home,(hehe being tired from the night before”) any way we left before lunch was even ready, ‘cos I had some bloody show and more intense cramp feelings.

(1;30pm) While driving they started coming on stronger so we rung the midwife who said that labours often go on for awhile (24 hours +) and to ring her when things get full on. (which was only bout half an hour later)
The car decided to overheat at this point, and we had to ring some friend who lived near by to give us a ride home. (I really felt I needed to be at home now not trying to fix the car beside the road).

We got home and I started doing the dishes, every now and the having to stop and lean on the bench, and David and Kathy (a friend who was staying with us) got to work setting up the birth pool in the lounge.
No longer feeling comfortable doing the dishes, (which was a bummer cos i also wanted to bake a birthday cake).
I went to hang out on the bed leaning on a Swiss ball, (having a hard time accepting that I was in labour and that it had ruined my plans for an afternoon nap) David rang the midwife at this point and I threw up. And went to have a shower, which was sooo good, I remember trying to get out then having another contraction and stepping back in , I did this about 4 times knowing that I didn’t want to be in there when the hot water run out.
(2;15pm)Suzanne the midwife turned up just as I was getting out of the semi cold shower.
The pool was still being assembled and excruciatingly slowly being filled with water (the hot water coming from stock pots on the stove)
David stayed with me rubbing my back almost constantly now as I laboured in the bedroom, (much better now that I had accepted that this was gonna happen now and no longer fighting the contractions but visulising my body opening up as it was designed to do) I remember the afternoon sun streaming trough the windows between breaks in the clouds.
(2;55pm)Fiona the other midwife turned up and helped Kathy with the pool filling, At one stage Suzanne mentioned that I may have this baby on dry land, But I made it to the pool (4;20pm)(the pool was up to my belly button when I got in). but it was so good.
It was amazing going from the bedroom to the lounge and seeing that Kathy had brought in some of my pots of flowers from out side and placed them around the room also evening had fallen and the lamps where dimly lighting the room. I remember noticing it starting to rain as I got into the water.
I laboured in there for an hour before David decided to get it with me (which was much easier for rubbing my back and belly and talking me through relaxation). Which he did amazingly during each contraction he would tell me to relax my forhead, my shoulders, my feet , I concentrated mentally on doing this and remember floating my hands on the surface of the water and staring intensely into Davids eyes of at my artwork on the walls. the completely becoming a rag doll between contractions and having David support me completely,
I cant pinpoint transition but I remember Suzanne mentioning that it seemed to be getting more intense, I just smiled and nodded,
I didn’t really mentally register an overwhelming urge to push I just started doing it I remember Suzanne mentioning that I could properly feel the bulging head, I feel it and automatically (instinctively I guess )scraped my finger nail against it and my waters broke, (7;15 pm) then I could feel Lucy’s hair which was amazing.(7;30pm)(she didn't have much hair though)
Suzanne said that either David or I could catch her and bring her to the surface (I was in a squatting position grasping my heels) and Suzanne armed her self with our camera, David brought Lucy to the surface and gave her to me and we all cuddled in the pool for awhile. David cut the cord once it stopped pulsing.
Lucy was born at 7;52 pm just as a mighty storm started raging outside. 10 minute later the placenta came.
I got out of the pool and snuggled with Lucy on the couch she breast feed beautifully for awhile. At (9;15pm) Fiona took her to do the newborn checks and I had 2 tiny papercut tears checked out.
(9;25) David’s parent turn up and midwifes leave. I snuggle on couch with Lucy and David. While David parents make them selves a coffee ,heated up some leftover soup (I was hungry), and put some clean sheets on the bed. ('cos clean sheets are yummy not becouse they were dirty as such)

They didn’t stay long and soon we were alone still cuddling on the couch in our lounge, David ,Me and Lucy. Then off we were to Bed, yes! all three of us , cuddling up the wind and hail shaking our bed room. Glad we were at home.

If we hope to create
a non-violent world
where respect and kindness
replace fear and hatred

We must begin
with how we treat each other
at the beginning of life.

For that is where
our deepest patterns are set.

From these roots
grow fear and alienation
- or love and trust.

© Suzanne Arms

it' home birth week.

so i wanted to write a post myself but Lucy's bashing the keyboard so it's a cut and paste job again.

Home Birth: A Safe Option
by Sheryl Wright

.....Firstly let me say I don’t fit the profile many people have of homebirther’s. This is the biggest myth that surrounds homebirth – that the only people “who do that” are candle burning, new age, hippy radicals! In fact the reality is that women of all ages, races, beliefs and economic brackets choose homebirth – and most are just average women like me! Some of the more common reasons for choosing a homebirth are:

	Midwifery led care
	More involvement for partner, other children and family
	Familiar surroundings and home comforts
	Privacy, freedom of movement and expression
	Less interventions
	Less disruption to regular family life
	No uncomfortable (or embarrassing!) travel to and from hospital
	Not having to comply with hospital protocols
	No separation from baby
	Drug free
	No risk of cross infection (remember hospitals are full of sick people!)

The biggest concern people seem to have about homebirth is that it is not safe and it’s best to be at the hospital “just in case”. In fact the reverse is true and study after study has shown that for healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies birth at home is as safe – if not safer!

A study published in the British Medical Journal ⁽¹⁾ found that Home Birth is “safe in selected women, and with adequate infrastructure and support”. Another NZ study published in the NZ Medical Journal ⁽²⁾ concluded that 'Home birth was a safe and increasingly popular, though minor, option for New Zealand women from 1973-93'. Even the World Health Organisation reports "it has never been scientifically proven that the hospital is a safer place than home for a woman who has had an uncomplicated pregnancy to have her baby”.

So with all these benefits and proof that it’s as safe why do so many people choose the hospital? One issue is often the lack of pain-relief. People say they are “not brave enough”. While pharmaceutical options are limited at home there are some other very effective pain relief options such as water, birth pools, relaxation techniques, massage, heat packs, music, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, homeopathy, herbal remedies etc to consider and in fact generally women find labour and birth less painful at home.

In a study into the pain of birth researchers ⁽³⁾ compared couples planning both home and hospital births and asked them to rate the pain of childbirth, compared with other painful events. They found that "the hospital birth group rated childbirth pain significantly higher than the homebirth group".
The UK based National Birthday Trust Report ⁽⁴⁾ into home births in the UK also found that 95% of home birth mothers said they enjoyed the birth, compared to 76% of hospital birth mothers. In the same study, 62% of home birth mothers felt completely in control during labour, compared to 29% of hospital birth mothers; and a fortunate 14% of home birth mothers felt either no pain or very little pain, compared to 8% of hospital birth mothers. This may be due to the three factors which have been shown to hinder or obstruct the progression of labour in mammals: the feeling of being watched, labouring in an unfamiliar environment and being moved from one place to another. Sheila Kitzinger a UK midwife and author says, “"The right environment for birth is exactly the same as the environment in which to make love".

Another myth is that you can’t have your first baby at home. The most likely "problem" with first births is things "taking too long". Fortunately, that isn't an emergency. It might mean that you end up transporting to the hospital, but it's not going to be life threatening.

Birth is never without risk, whatever the location, but generally birth is a slow process and there is usually ample time to transport even in the rare case of a true emergency. Midwives attending a homebirth carry a lot of equipment (often as much as small maternity units) and with experienced skilled one-on-one care potential problems are picked up long before they cause concern.

In closing I always like to point out that just because you plan to birth at home you can at any time change your mind and go to the hospital but the reverse is not true! Maybe it’s an option worth considering when next you are asked “where”.

References:

(1) British Medical Journal No 7068 Volume 313
http://www.bmj.com/archive/7068e.htm

(2) Home Birth in New Zealand 1973-1993 Gulbransen G; Hilton J; McKay L; Cox A (Auckland Home Birth Association.) N Z Medical Journal, 110(1040):87-9 1997 Mar 28
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=9137308&form=6&db=m&Dopt=b

(3) Home birth and hospital deliveries: a comparison of the perceived painfulness of parturition. Morse JM, Park C Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3399698&dopt=Abstract

(4) National Birthday Trust - Report of the Confidential Enquiry into Home Births. Chamberlain, G, Wraight, A & Crowley, P (eds). 1994
http://www.homebirth.org.uk/homebirth2.htm

events in the wellington area

(1) Wednesday 26 October: Home Birth Information Evening

Gandalf Group offices, level 1, 4 Market Grove, LOWER HUTT 7pm
Phone: Tracey 04 586 7955 for info

(2) Thursday 27 October:
A Celebration of Birthing at Home - come share your stories evening

OTAKI Birthing Services, Otaki at 7pm
Phone: Liz 06 364 8337 for info

(3) Friday 28 October: Film screening “Singing the Bones”

Ground Floor Theatrette, BP House, 20 Customhouse Quay, WELLINGTON 7pm
Tickets $15.00 - send cheques payable to "Wellington Homebirth
Association" by Thursday 20th October to PO Box 6676, Marion Square,
Wellington (limited tickets available on door so pre-booking preferred)
Visit www.nurturenz.com/wellington.php or
Phone: Vida/Willow on 04 972 7802 for info

If you live nearer to Palmerston North then Community Birth Services are
showing it on Wednesday 26th October - info here
www.nurturenz.com/palmerstonnorth.php.

This film has previously been shown in NZ in 2003 in Wellington, Rotorua
and Dunedin - the comments/feedback from the audiences (including many
midwives/childbirth educators who you may know :) from this list) are
here www.nurturenz.com/testimonial.php.

(4) Sunday 30 October: Family Picnic / BBQ

Alicetown Community Centre, 38 Victoria St, ALICETOWN
12.30pm – 3pm
Phone: Jo 04 976 3419 for info

Please forward on to as many people as you think may be interested.
Especially re: the film screening as we have our costs to cover before
we can fundraise!

http://www.labouroflove.org/ oh this is a great site
great articals like


Changing the World through Conscious Parenting

• What is it that enables us to love?
• How do we learn to connect?
• Why is it easier for some people to 'feel comfortable in their own skin'?

Could there possibly be some 'recipe' for creating these kinds of qualities in people – in our children?

I'm really struggling to find titus woman in my community.
they all seem to have learnt mothering/womanly arts from men (or books by men)

MOTHERING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS Rebecca Prewett

diaper free babys (Elimination communication) was on the front page of the New York Times yesterday

and fact from this artical of interest are
"Some parents who adopt children from other countries say they are startled to find that their babies arrive ready to use the toilet. More than 50 percent of the world's children are toilet trained by the time they turn 1, according to Contemporary Pediatrics magazine."

and the Diaper free baby site

** Eight Attachment Parenting ideals for infants:

Preparing for childbirth,
being emotionally responsive,
breastfeeding,
sharing sleep,
avoiding frequent and prolonged separations,
using positive discipline,
maintaining balance in family life.

after a bit of a blog drought from me .

i am really excited about my new cake mixer and will post photo soon (yay for old skool retro stuff)
Lucy is spunky
her black and white checked punk pants match my kitchen floor which matches my new mixer. oh life is glorious!

sunny day garden grows yay summer and pav's made with retro mixers