Scientology & Silent Births

[jodawi]

[Quoting helenangel from another post]:

Some background about me- I am the moderator for naturalbirth, am starting a doula (childbirth assistant) outreach program for underprivileged mothers, am a doula in training, want to be a midwife, and wish to be both a lactation consultant and a certified childbirth instructor. Labor and delivery is my bag. =)

$cientologists believe in a natural birth- no augmentation, no medication, etc. However, it differs from traditional natural birth because not even holistic applications may be applied. So one could not use blue/black cohosh to help along a stalled labor or use willow leaf as a mild anesthetic, etc.

$cientologists also believe in a SILENT BIRTH. Yeah, can you tell Scientology was thought up by a MAN? The birthing suite must be completely silent and the mother isn't even allowed to do any vocalization including breathing too heavily. After the child is born, it cannot be talked to or otherwise verbally communicated with for a week. They used to mandate that no tests could be performed on the child either for a week, but Federal regulations require it now. Many $cientology-style births START as homebirths (notice the key word there, I'll explain.)

Has anyone actually accomplished this yet? Doubtful. Even Kelly Preston admitted she started screaming to be taken to the hospital during the birth of their second child and had to vocalize with the first. Of course what does this do? In $cientology, the mother and the birth is considered a FAILURE. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association both have condemned $cientology-style births in the past for several reasons.

1. Potential danger to mother and/or child. Even in unassisted homebirths, people use fetal heartbeat monitors to prevent against distress and to monitor the condition of the baby. Since $cientologists have silent births, monitors are not allowed. If the child goes into distress, there is no way of knowing and hence steps cannot be taken. Monitoring equipment of mother and baby is standard among midwives and doulas assisting with homebirths as well as hospitals, etc.

2. Damage to the mother. It is natural and normal for a mother to vocalize during childbirth. The woman's body is put under a tremendous amount of stress during labor and delivery. To then force a woman to not release this stress is both physically and mentally damaging to the mother, and also to the child who does not get to associate the mother's voice with voices heard inside the womb (but I'll talk more about that later).

3. Elevated cesarean rates and infant mortality due to lack of proper medical care. I think this speaks for itself but I can explain. Basically, c-sections are BAD BAD BAD last-resort things. Non-monitored, unassisted homebirths have the HIGHEST transfer & cesarean rate when there is not infant mortality. Infant mortality is a high and very real possibility in $cientology-style births due to complications not being addressed. Mother fatality is also uncommon but has been reported, however MOST OF THESE DEATHS ARE NOT REPORTED so it is very hard to get evidence. (Really, don't get me started on how $cientology tortures and oppresses women.)

4. FAILURE TO THRIVE in newborns due to lack of parental care within the first week. Infants need constant care after birth- not only hygiene and feedings but also contact withe the parents. The first week of life is one of the most crucial times of parent-child bonding. Hearing the mother's voice, feeling her skin, and smelling her is critical for a newborn to thrive- this is why even premature and ICU infants are encouraged to have vocal, sight, and physical contact with their parents. I believe there is a correlation between $cientology-style births and SIDS but I cannot find the study.

You know, I am very respectful of people's beliefs and what they want to do. However, I draw the line when their beliefs interfere in the right of another person to have a healthy and happy life. It is my opinion that $cientologists oppress women and children as it is a heavily misogynistic and greed-based cult.