Seriously – when did it happen?
(This goes right along with my recent post “The Lazy Woman’s Guide to Being Green”.)
When did birth get so complicated? Just relax, learn about birth, trust your body, hire an awesome midwife (or don’t), and squirt your baby out at home. Going to the hospital is so complicated. You have to pack a bag with all your stuff. You have to decide when the “right time” to go in is. You have to get in the car and actually drive there. Once you get there you’re filling out a crap ton of paperwork, answering a load of questions over and over again, waiting in triage for them to “confirm” that you are in fact in labor, inviting a host of strangers that you’ll have to field through, and a host of interventions that you will have to recover from.
What about breastfeeding? And formula? And pumping? And bottles? Just nurse your baby. Learn about breastfeeding, trust your body, and feed your baby. You knew how to grow a baby. You knew how to birth a baby. Did you think this deeply ingrained instinctual “knowledge” would suddenly cease when you birthed? A little engorged? Put some cold cabbage leaves in your bra, hand express just to the point of relieving discomfort, and nurse your baby. Cracked/bleeding nipples? Consult one of the many amazing lactation consultants, rub some breast milk on your nipples, air them out and expose them to sun.
Tired of waking up at night, walking across the room or across the hall to get your screaming baby, having to change the diaper, feed it, and soothe it back to sleep? Get your baby in bed with you. Lay it on a chux pad without a diaper. Roll over and nurse it if it starts to stir. What’s the big deal?
Baby food? In jars? Expensive baby food makers? Just feed your baby what you’re already eating. Are you not eating things you’d give to your baby? Maybe it’s time to reexamine your diet. Babies don’t need anything outside of breastmilk for at least the first year, often times longer. Listen to your baby. If your baby is interested in food – feed it at normal family meal times. Mash up a little of what is already on your plate. No need to make special food in advance for babies.
Medications? Side effects? Covering up the symptoms? Why not get to the root of the problem. There’s a short list of ailments that can’t be alleviated with improved digestion, proper nutrition, herbs, exercise, environmental changes, spiritual/mental/emotional work, and general lifestyle adjustments.
I’m no belittling anyone’s woes. Their certainly is a place for Western medicine, of course. It just seems like we are so quick to go to an MD, reach for drugs, or just generally blow something a bit out of proportion.
Health is a sensitive subject. It’s an important subject. One that many people are scared to take responsibility for. Going to the doctor, or filling the prescription is much easier than owning the concept that we create our own reality. We manifest everything, good or bad. This includes health. And these concepts are much harder to believe when we are in a less than ideal situation. “What?? My body knows how to heal itself?” Why, yes. Yes it does. Connect. Listen. Learn. Marvel.
I have to ask – when did we start making things so complicated? When did we start believe that the answer is outside of ourselves?
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