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My Son Tells His Birth Story

My 2 year old son recently started talking to me about his birth. His birth was very traumatic for me and it is what started me on this road to birth activism. Certain things that happened during his birth were forced on me, and other things I consented to under duress. When the midwife decided to break my water when I was dilated to 9.5 centimeters, I had little choice in the matter. I technically consented, but it was very clear that this was not what I wanted. I had always secretly imagined that my baby would be born in the caul (the amniotic sac), and apparently that was his intention as well. The link below is his birth story, told by him, interpreted by me. It is important to note that I didn't discuss these events with him before this, nor did I truly believe that children could remember their births until this happened. I tried not to lead him, but simply interpret what he was trying to tell me, as I always do in any situation.

Here is his story: Owen Remembers His Birth

Owen has a craniosacral therapist that we were working with before this happened, and now we are working with her specifically on his birth issues. He is still going through a tough stage as far as separation anxiety goes, but it has gotten better. He has mentioned his birth a few times since this happened. A couple times he mentioned coming out of a big hole, but then quickly dropped the subject after that. I've been able to talk to him more about his separation from me right after the birth, and he seems to be dealing with that a little better. His verbal skills have dramatically increased in the last couple months, and I am considering bringing the subject up again to see if he can explain things better now that he has more words.

This story with my son really showed me that newborns are sentient beings that have an emotional reaction to interventions that are done during the birth process and the procedures done afterwards. The fact that my son has such a sadness about the 20 minute separation that we endured directly after his birth really shows me that he was very aware of what was happening. I wish that care providers and nurses knew this about newborns. If they did, perhaps they would not be so eager to snatch them away from their mothers in those first hours and days after they are born.

By mamablogess at 11/30/2007 - 4:10am | mamablogess's blog | add new comment | email this page

My son shares his birth story

I was so interested to read this post and the linked posts. When my son was 2, I was reading Babies Remember Birth and asked him, "do you remember when you were born?" He said, "Yes." I asked him what it was like and he said:

Swimming.
Swimming down out of Mama.
Crying (Me: was I crying or you crying? Indicated himself)
Nursies.
Happy now!

My water didn't break until I was pushing. I was interested by the "swimming" connection to your son's "no more water" connection.

Best wishes,

Molly

By Molly (not verified) at Fri, 11/30/2007 - 8:49pm | reply | email this page

That is very interesting. I

That is very interesting. I think I need to get a copy of that book, I have found so little information about this. The water must be so very important to them, it seems to make such a big impression. I mean, a lot happened during my sons birth, but the biggest thing to him was the water breaking, which is not what I would have ever guessed. It just really makes you think before doing anything at all to tamper with their little world during birth.

By mamablogess at Tue, 12/04/2007 - 4:02pm | reply | email this page

A good movie

There's a really great movie called "What babies Want" that addresses the fact that babies are sentient beings at birth and focuses on the importance of gentle, peaceful births. It also mentions that babies and moms need to talk about the birth if it was traumatic in any way to provided healing for both mom and baby. If you haven't already seen it, I highly suggest that you do.
http://www.whatbabieswant.com

Miranda

By Guest (not verified) at Tue, 12/18/2007 - 12:37pm | reply | email this page

Thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks for the suggestion. I had heard of that movie, but didn't know it focused on that at all. I'll have to watch it.

By mamablogess at Fri, 12/21/2007 - 10:58am | reply | email this page