What do you think of the Scientology approach to childbirth?

[Hello Kitty]

So in the light of Katie Holmes adopting the scientology approach to childbirth (completely silent) could you have done that or if you are pg are you planning to do that for this birth?

[Princess Fiona]

Ooh i read in a magazine somewhere when i was in the US that she has decided to go for a hospital birth (as opposed to Tom's preferred HOME birth) and that she doesn't want to do the scientology thing anymore :huh: :huh:

Personally i couldn't have done it through the labour and birth, i didn't scream and swear like i thought i would but i certainly wasn't silent. Dh said i sounded like the girl from the exorcist and said he was waiting for my head to start spinning round before i pushed Lu out :oops: :laff:

Also i don't get the not talking to the baby for X amount of days, surely its reassuring for the baby to hear familiar voices once its outside the womb?

[Cherrypie]

I was very lucky with my labour with Eilis - in that it was very straightforward, despite being induced.
Anyway, I don't think I made much noise - until it got to the pushing out bit. I had a water birth, and just gas and air. But as the cylinder had run out by this stage (which I didn't find out till later :laff: ) it didn't provide much pain control.
I could feel every blummin thing, and I can still remember it being a pain like no other. There was no way on earth I could have remained silent. And I didn't - screamed very loudly I believe!

But as for it traumatising the baby - no evidence of that with Eilis! She was very alert but chilled, wee eyes open and looking up to us.

What little I know of scientology is that it's very wierd. I looked after a young man who was scientologist years ago, and I remember how involved his religious leaders were trying to be in his treatment. All very oppressive.

[Annie Goolahey]

I think it is totally inhumane...

in fact,, this is what I think of it...

IT IS one of the most natural instincts in the world to soothe a crying child- Lord only knows I have spent a considerable amount of time over the last two years hushing, cuddling and drying tears.


When my child, or indeed any child, is crying and in pain I get an almost irresistible urge to scoop said child up in my arms, kiss their wee heads and try my very best to make it all better.
I imagine that urge does not make me a freak of nature and that I'm not the only person in the world that feels that way. That is, I guess, the primary reason I won't be swapping my Catholic guilt for a healthy bout of Scientology any time soon.
For the uninitiated, Scientology is the increasingly popular religion favoured by Hollywood hunks and starlets- most notably Tom Cruise and his soon-to-give-birth missus Katie Holmes.
Now generally I'm very much of the opinion that when it comes to religion we are all under the care of the one God anyway and how you choose to believe in his (or her) representation on earth is your own business. I'm a live and let live kind of gal- but not when it comes to the teachings of Scientology.
You see Scientologists believe that if a child is sick or injured you should, of course, tend to their physical needs, but you should not, under any circumstances say anything to them while they are distressed.
Scientologists believe that soothing an injured children- with a hug, a kiss or a simple "I'm here baby"- will leave a negative imprint in their brains- something they call an engram.
This 'negative impact' philosophy is also used to support their policy of maintaining silence during childbirth and, indeed, making sure the newborn baby hears not one sounds in the first hours and days of their lives.
As a woman who has given birth largely without the aid of pain relief (not through choice- I'm just one of the 15% of women who the epidural doesn't work for), I cannot for the life of understand how it can be helpful, productive or even possible to stay silent throughout the experience.
My labour, along with being quite sore, was a time when every emotion possible bubbled up to the surface. I laughed, I cried, I grunted, I moaned, I told my husband I loved him, I chatted with the midwife- I even sang along to a song on the radio. The one thing that I did not do was shut up.

Kiss and hug
Similarly when all 6lb 9oz of babyness was placed in my arms it would have been the most painful and unnatural thing in the world for me not to have acknowledged him with a kiss, an hello, a hug and promises of great things to come.
Apparently over the last week giant billboards have been arriving at the house of Mr. Cruise and Ms. Holmes proclaiming, basically, she is to keep hush while birthing their baby.
Then ickle baby Cruise will reportedly be wrapped in swaddling cloths and taken away to be left in peace for a day without any of that old intrusion from his/her doting parents. There won't be any cuddles, proud pictures or early bonding. Katie will not have the chance to lie awake all night staring at the newborn creature in the cot beside her marvelling to herself that she is now a mother and that wee miracle of life is her own.
God love the poor woman if she then goes on to develop Post Natal Depression because, just like the children who won't be comforted if they fall or get ill, she won't find soothing words from her Scientology friends.
They don't believe in psychology, you see. They don't believe in taking anti-depressants to help make it all better. Apparently if you get really bad, however, you will get a 'Introspection Rundown' which, as far as I can see, involves intensive therapy where, you've guessed it, no one talks to you until you can admit you have a problem and suss out what that problem is.
Now if you use that little Google tool on your internet, and type in the words 'Introspection Rundown'- the name Lisa McPherson will jump out at you. You see Lisa McPherson was a member of the Church of Scientology and had a nervous breakdown. Her 'friends' took her aside and arranged a wee introspection rundown and a mere three weeks later Lisa was dead. It is believed by many her treatment by the compassionate souls in the Church may have directly contributed to her death.
Now I can't help but wonder that if Lisa had been talked to, and listened to, would she still be here today? There are times in all our lives, when we are scared, in pain and vulnerable when the thing we need most of all is simply for someone to listen to us and tell us it will be okay.
If you can't get that kind of comfort from the source of all love- your God- then where can you get it?
[/i]

[Jamtart]

I think it's inhumane too Lola... and your piece about it is spot on and I totally agree with everything you have put!

I love your writing btw!

[Damsella]

Aargh, Lola, I was going to publish that piece on Monday!!! :doh: :laff:

Will do anyway.

What L Ron Hubbard thought he "knew" about childbirth and babies, I can't imagine :roll:

[cheeky_biscuit]

The things I've heard about scientology have all been from tabloids & 'sleb gossip mags, so I'm taking it with a pinch of salt!
There is NO way I could've stayed silent during DD's birth, how would've I have been able to explain to OH that it really f-ing hurt? :huh: in sign language?
I don't know about all the cuddles thing, if that is the case :shock: I thought Tom & Katie were quite touchy feely types, or is it just babies they aren't allowed to hold :huh: :-(
You can tell it was all dreamed up by a man :doh:

[Muppetgal]

now I read somewhere that you don't actualy have to be completely silent, its more about negative words and screaming, but surely she can talk and make some noise?

[Annie Goolahey]

FRom what I've read, there has to be silence- full stop.
If you read up on 'Introspection Rundowns' you will see that silence, complete silence, is a big part of how they (Scientologists) operate.

[Damsella]

Thiis is what it says on their website (http://www.scientology.org/en_US/news-media/index.html):


What is a quiet or silent birth?

Having a quiet, gentle birth is all about providing the best possible environment for the birthing mother and her new baby.

It is labor and delivery done in a calm and loving environment and with no-spoken words by everyone attending as much as possible. Chatty doctors and nurses, shouts to “PUSH, PUSH” and loud or laughing remarks to “encourage” are the types of things that are meant to be avoided.

As L. Ron Hubbard, Founder of Dianetics and Scientology, wrote, “Everyone must learn to say nothing within the expectant mother’s hearing during labor and delivery.” And, “A woman who wants her child to have the best possible chance will find a doctor who will agree to keep quiet especially during the delivery, and who will insist upon silence being maintained in the hospital delivery room as far as it is humanly possible.”

Does this mean that a mother cannot scream or moan at all?

Of course they can make noises — the point of silent birth is NO WORDS. This is a principle of Dianetics and to fully understand why, read the book Dianetics the Modern Science of Mental Health, by L. Ron Hubbard. It is words that are the culprit. Outside of not speaking, the objective is generally to have as peaceful and relaxing an environment as possible for the mother and child. It is doubtful that any woman could give birth without making any noise at all.

Mothers naturally want to give their baby the best possible start in life and thus keep the birth as quiet as possible.

[Annie Goolahey]

Thanks for that Damz- that clarifies things..
but if anything it makes it even more ridiculous

so a woman can scream her lungs out, but can't say "Hello baby" in case it damages the child??? :huh: :no:

fecking loons, the lot of them!

[Damsella]

I'd have to agree with you there, Lola :roll:

[August Girl]

I think it's all ridiculous tbh. From what I remember of Del's labour, I was shouting 'I'm scared' every 5 minutes and DH was reassuring me. Was I just supposed to keep how I was feeling to myself? It didn't do her any harm at all as when she was born she didn't even cry! I was panicking because Z wasn't breathing properly when he was born and I was asking the midwife why she wasn't crying, thinking something was wrong. The midwife said, look at her, she's fine, she's just happy!

What shocked me the most was in the article about Katys bump over on Celeb Gossip, it was reported Tom had had a special dummy made for Katie to bite down on during labour. Seems a bit OTT to me.

[karenmcc]

As with most organised religions things always seem geared to keep the woman in her place don't they? :x
If she has to keep silent during this birth I really hope she keeps her hands on Tom Cruise's balls through every contraction. :clap:

I hope she tells him 'on yer bike' vile little man that he is. :sick:

Karenx

[*Fallen Angel*]

I dont' think I could have been silent it I'd wanted too.

I always used to like TC, but now I think he's just plain weird. As for the dummy thing :doh: :doh:

[tekkencat]

Im never one to critisise another religion (but dont get me started on these!!!) but excuse me for saying that this is the biggest load of Crrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap that i have ever heard - (if i ever have another child i will be screaming at the top of my voice for the chicks like KH!!!)

TC
xx
(the REAL TC that is)