Then, looking at my little newborn, it dawned on me that I was in an emotional state that somewhat resembled her physical and emotional reality. She was entirely a sense organ of touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight, and was completely defenceless against the sensory onslaught of the outer world. It suddenly seemed to me as though the emotional space I found myself in was giving me a natural insight into the baby's reality and sensitivities, if I could turn my attention to it. It made me smile, that yet another thing we often consider inconvenient, or as something we just have to go through, in the whole birth process may really have an undiscovered purpose that nature intended.
ARTICLES
Gaskin, Ina May - post partum depression.htm
Winnicott - the mother's contribution to society.htm
[1] Gaskin, Ina May. Spiritual Midwifery. Book Publishing Company, Summertown 2002
The Nativity by Arthur Hughes
Caresse by Keith Mallett
A personal thought about this time: Something occurred to me in the first days after the birth of my child. I had an extreme sensitivity to thoughts and words: I felt intense gratitude, but I also had a heightened awareness of everything and everyone surrounding the baby, of people's words and moods, of sounds and light, temperature and textures, and I was feeling so very vulnerable, teary and raw.
The changes in the body and in hormones are tremendous after the birth and it is very common for new mothers to be emotionally more sensitive or moody for some days, even weeks. There are varying degrees of intensity and more extreme cases could be post partum depression, which should be followed by a doctor. All women feel and react very differently in this time. If you can arrange to have support from family, friends, or even a doula in the first weeks, it can be of immense help.[1]
BABY BLUES AND POST PARTUM DEPRESSION
Conscious Parenting Guide www.consciousparentingguide.com 2009
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