So
while thinking of a topic today I spent a bit of time looking through the
internet for a contemporary issue to blog about... I came up with nothing that
could spark my interest. So I started thinking of the issues I had been
pondering this week. So that’s what I want to talk about today.
The
first thing I’d like to bring up is baby formula. For years I had thought baby
formula was great and just a thing that made life easier for mothers. Then I
learned why baby formula was created; baby formula was created as a substitute
for nursing for mothers that could endanger their child by breastfeeding
(mother’s with HIV/AID, or other diseases which might be transferred through
breastfeeding). I also learned that babies which receive formula as opposed to
breast milk have a myriad of health issues that go along with that using
formula. In addition to that there is a certain amount of bonding that is
achieved through the pain of the baby nursing from the mother.
The
second thing I struggled with this week was the facts about cesarean sections.
I think this topic is a little difficult for me because of my own past. My
mother had a hell of a time with both of her pregnancies, at one point she
turned yellow. My sister and I were both born 8 weeks early after repeated
attempts to delay our births. My sister came out blue and I came out with a
spot on my brain. The doctors told my
mom that I wouldn’t make it to a year old, 23 years later and I’m still here. I’ve
had nurse friends of mine tell me that women who do not experience a natural
birth don’t bond as well with their children. I have to say I can’t imagine
having a better relationship with my mother.
On
the other hand, my husband was not born by cesarean section… but probably
should have been. When he was born his mother had hepatitis, which had been
passed from their recently adopted son. Children born vaginally while the
mother has a disease which can be passed on by bodily fluids are much more
likely to be born with the disease as well. Thankfully this was not the case
for my husband.
One
more musing I have about how this week’s topic relates to my own life, I can
honestly say that as a 23 year old, married women, I have not felt the pressure
to have children… in fact it’s pretty much the opposite. My parents would like
us to wait until we’re more financially stable, which is what my husband and I
want anyways. However, my mother-in-law wants us to wait ‘til we’re at least
30. I constantly hear how my mother-in-law doesn’t want us to have children
anytime soon. It gets a bit wearying.
Excellent blog! On the topic of baby formula, I would also like to add that from my perspective, I see more mothers using it as an excuse to opt out of breastfeeding- not just health prevention. God wouldn't give us all boobs if they weren't going to serve a purpose... come on now! I too was born via cesarean. I think there is a fine line between "convenience" and "emergency" that more and more doctors are blurring. Being 'Baby B', my twin was born first (vaginally). If someone was to claim that children who are born naturally- and I believe you mean by vaginally- have a better relationship with their mothers, I too would disagree! Seeing that both my twin and I have a strong and equal relationship with our mother, I too can say otherwise!
ReplyDeleteThis blog is so awesome because the author was able to share so completely about her own life. It is so important when we talk about issues to also put ourselves into prospective. As far as caesarian section goes, I think it very much depends on the mother what kind of connection there will be. It is the same with formula. My sister (for lactose free reasons) had to take formula. She is a great kid that has an awesome relationship with my mother. There are so many things that people will tell you are going to affect how you mother a child. I think it is less that than the environment. Some effort needs to be done and otherwise it is up to the individual as a person.
ReplyDelete-Rachael Belcher