May 2001 Newsletter
Mother Summer
May 6, 2001
+ Letter from Catherine
+ Going to the Doctor (humor)
+ We Don't Want Daycare
+ Pacifiers recalled
+ Pitocin Stimulates Lawsuit
+ Dear Mother Dear and Tea Talk
+ Litters
+ To Be A Mother
+ As I Awaken
+ On Children
+ True Poverty
+ Subscription renewals on web
+ Advertisers - please see what they offer
MESSAGE FROM CATHERINE
(Summer 2001)
Wishes, apparently, sometimes come true.
My breast cancer worked diligently and efficiently all fall, during my
vegetable fast and after, gobbling my bone marrow and crumbling my bones.
A surgeon at a teaching hospital replaced my fractured hip with a titanium
unbreakable one in December and my grown children brought the presents to
open in a hospital room.
Margaret Mead said it first: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that
ever has.
Before I entrusted my crippled self to the medical establishment, I came
across a woman named Gail, via the internet and telephone. Her cancer had
trespassed from breast to liver, and she was given six months to live,
max. She belonged to an informal group of cancer branded women who
couldn't see the point in taking drugs that didn't help them win the fight
of their lives.
In her relentless quest for wellness, she uncovered a potentially exciting
study goin on in Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital, and shared it with me
gladly. It involved a blood thinner (Fragmin or Tinzaparin) and a low dose
chem., which work together to starve the offending tomours. It took her
three frustrating months to find a doctor who would sign her prescription
and it took me even longer.
I spent 16 weeks in hospital, a particularly dis-empowering address for
fighting mother or cancer patient wanting to recover. As good an idea as
the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative is, we need People Friendly
Hospitals also. Finally, my oncologist wrote the prescription I wanted,
and needed.
A week after self-injecting the daily blood thinner into my belly, I began
to feel noticeable change. I could laugh again. I found my smile. I
didn't ache so much and I felt like reading books. .I longed for my home,
and needed my computer. I was alive again. Gail called, still of this
world, full of hope for her own recovery.
I could get out of bed, albeit with walker and wheelchair, and my appetite
returned. I went home, with my priceless blood thinner in my purse and
hope in my heart.
In my last editorial I asked for someone to take over the publisher's
position of this magazine. It is a valuable publication that I feared
would expire when I did. I had no reason to think that wouldn't be soon.
Responses were in the hundreds, and I was astonished how many like-minded
souls share this earth. Back home, with my cancer being fought with blood
thinner and optimism, I have every reason to believe I can manage page
layout and telephone answering for a good while longer.
-Catherine
<<<>>>
TEN OUT OF TEN BABIES PREFER BREASTMILK
<<<>>>
GOING TO THE DOCTOR
A woman and a baby were in the
doctor's examining room, waiting for
the doctor to come in. The doctor arrived, examined the baby and asked if
the baby was breast fed or bottle-fed.
"Breast fed" she replied.
"Well, strip down to your waist,"
the doctor ordered. She did. He
pressed, kneaded and pinched both breasts for a while in a detailed
examination.
Motioning to her to get dressed he said,
"No wonder this baby is
hungry. You don't have any milk."
"I know," she said, "I'm his
Grandma, but I'm glad I came".
<<<>>>
WE DON'T WANT DAYCARE
We have heard the thundering noise that only a dozen or more pre-school
children and toddlers can make. We have seen the running noses, the shared
teething toys, and we shudder for the vulnerability of babies who are not
strong enough to fight communal germs. We watched the fruit juice and the
animal cookies disappear in clutched hands as another disposable diaper
was changed by another disposable caregiver. We heard one more Early
Childhood Education graduate read one more Golden Book to one more circle
of daycare kids, and we wept for the impossibility of him/her to love them
all - or even one..
We don't want somebody else to hug, lift, cuddle, carry, caress, kiss, or
capture the heart of our children. And we sure don't want nobody to.
We know no one can breastfeed our babies, like we do. And perhaps that is
why we have such a defined, certain sense about what it is to parent a
child. To Mother a child. Many of us have breastfed our babies; all of us
have loved our children with all our hearts.
Nice to be clean. Fed. Given water. Kept warm. Vaguely amused. Allowed to
exercise. But they do all that in prisons, don't they?
We want our babies to be loved, loved, loved as well. No ECE grad, no MD,
no comp7uter consultant and no government bureaucrat can do that. No
publishers, no factory bosses, and no next door neighbors can. No radio
announcers, no anthropologists, and no vacuum cleaner salesmen.
Babies need their Mothers. Babies with Fathers are lucky people, and
perhaps to be emotionally and sexually well-balanced, a child has to have
a Father. Certainly a child without a Mother would be lost without a
caring Father, and vice versa.
The point is, universal and "free" daycare is hardly that. Those
of us who
know what it is to share a three year olds' world wouldn't swap it for a
minimum wage or a five-figure paycheck, so it wouldn't be universal. And
free? Who will pay for the daycare center, the heat, light, and mortgage
on the building, if not those of us already paying for the heat, light,
and mortgage on our own buildings? Paying through the nose, incidentally.
We don't want daycare. We want something a whole lot more sound.
Mother's Money. In recognition of the vital work a mother does by
instilling a sense of self-respect, joy, and belonging by being with her
child in the formative, pre-school years, we want to see Mothers receive
an independent income of substance. GAINS, UID, or Family Allowance, you
work it out. You could make it the same amount of government dollars that
it would take to run universal daycare, per child.
Send it to the Mother. Let her have true choice about care of her young
child.
- Summer 2001 issue
<<<>>>
PACIFIERS RECALLED
Platex Products Inc. is recalling two pacifiers because they pose a
choking hazard. The latex ages quickly and can detach from the shield. The
pacifier brands are "Cherub" and "Soft Comfort."
PACIFIERS INTERFERE
In a study of 265 breastfeeding mothers in upstate New York, infants given
pacifiers were breastfed less often than their breast-only peers.
"If you substitute the pacifier for the breast, your milk supply is
going
to go down," said Dr. Cynthia Howard, a professor of pediatrics at
the
University of Rochester.
Infants who used pacifiers breastfed an average of eight times a day;
breast only babies nursed nine times a day, and stayed at the breast for
longer durations.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says breastfeeding decreases ear
infections, allergies, diarrhea, bacterial meningitis and more serious
illnesses. About 62 per cent of American women breastfeed.
-Summer 2001 issue
<<<>>>
PITOCIN STIMULATES lawsuit
A class action lawsuit has been filed in Tennessee against the
manufacturer
of Pitocin, a drug used by doctors to induce contractions during labor.
The lawsuit alleges a preservative in Pitocin called "chlorobutanal"
is
"dangerously defective" and may be linked to the deaths of
several mothers
and health problems with some babies. It may be linked to autism in some
babies
and low oxygen levels in others.
Manufacturers of the drug say there are some health risks for some women
given the drug, but defends both the drug and its label.
<<<>>>
DEAR MOTHER DEAR
Dear Mother Dear;
After five ectopic pregnancies, Leif was born 13 months ago and I'm
pregnant again, expecting in April. I need info on tandem nursing! If you
have recurring tobals, don't give up.
-Sandy Magnussen, Brigtish Columbia
Dear Mother Dear;
Any midwives, doulas, traditional birth attendants available to assist at
a waterbirh
near Windsor, Ontario?
- Sandy Wright
(604) 872-2784
Dear Mother Dear;
I HAVE AN INFANT SON BORN Jan. 20, 2001. Unfortunately due to a breast
reduction I had in 1994 to alleviate back pain, I can only supply about
25-30% of his needs in mothers milk. I have had to supplement mostly with
formula, and a bit of donated milk from a dear lady in Quebec. (Shipping
is very expensifve). However I am still using 13 oz. Formula per day.
Anyone in southern Ontario who would consider donating mother's milk,
please email:
[email protected]
<<<>>>
TEA TALK
Both my wife and I love the excellent tea. She's just starting eight
months now, and looks beautiful.
-Boyd Vanderheul, Toronto, Ontario (Spring 2000)
Harvest Your Own
You can pick raspberry leaves as soon as fresh buds appear on old vines.
When the dandelions are in blossom, raspberry leaves grow into a good
size, and you can fill a basket easily in an hour. If you pick on a windy
day, the mosquitoes will be less likely to torment you.
Please your harvested leaves on a screen, and leave this in a darkened
room for about 10 days.
Turn them over once or twice in that time. Leaves are ready to put away as
soon as the crinkle to the touch.
You can store them in a paper bag, jar, tin, basket or a box, to keep them
away from spiders. If you have room in your freezer, pop them in there.
Since raspberries are forever sending up new shoots, you will have fresh
leaves all summer waiting for your harvest. Take a dog, cat or several
noisy children to pick with you, if you are afraid of snakes, which seem
to be fond of the company of both "rubus strigosus" and "rubus
idaeus."
-Catherine
<<<>>>
Sacred Birth, Legal or Not
I had an unassisted homebirth because we've lost our lay midwives in rural
(Canada) areas. Legislation of midwifery has been good for many parents,
but criminalization of lay midwifery is very sad and unfortunate for us
all.
The last thing we need is more criminals, especially around the sacred
event of birth. Not all go as well as mine. Bless all families who do not
let oppressive governing bodies keep us from birthing our babies the way
we hold sacred, safe and true, legally or not.
(Summer 2000 issue)
- Alexandra Boydell
<<<>>>
This newsletter is subscribed by 2,000 mothers. We are offering a great
special
for your ad. If you advertise in the magazine ¼ page or larger, we will
advertise your business here for free! Please email me at [email protected]
for
details.
<<<>>>
LITTERS
Just bought a new teapot and need something to put in it, so send the
Winter Supply.
- Carry Richmond, Perrysburg, Ohio
~~
I'm amazed cancer would dare touch Catherine. Sign me up for another two
years.
- Astrid Blackburn
~~
The publishing of "The Mother" the last 15 years has given the
world an
incredible gift. I can't tell you what this magazine means to me and
others.
- Molly Davis, Snohomish, Washington
~~
I just finished reading "The Mother" I received as a sample when
I ordered
a breastfeeding T-shirt. What a great thing you've got there. It is nice
to know there are more people out there who believe in alternative
medicine and long-term breastfeeding. Send me a subscription.
-Tana Anderson, Columbia Falls, Montana
~~
I backordered all the Compleat Mother's from the previous year and had a
hard time putting them down, so I stayed up way too late reading. You have
a bad influence on people's night rest!
I moved from Holland where it's very normal to have a homebirth. After a
nasty experience in Germany (where we lived for a year and where I had my
daughter C-section) I educated myself to have a natural vaginal birth the
second time. We arrived at the Indianapolis Birthcenter at 3:30 am; my son
was born at 4:30 am!
I'm the only person around us who didn't birth in a hospital. After
reading "The Mother" I know I'm not as strange as some perceive
me.
-Esther Joosten, Indianapolis, Indiana
~~
Over the past two years of reading "The Mother," my whole
outlook on
motherhood and womanhood has changed. What power this little magazine
generates! Also, after 3 ½ years trying, we are finally pregnant.
-Elke Tocher, Ontario
~~
Thanks for existing, providing reassurance to many dedicated parents that
aren't weird or unacceptable just because the western civilized culture
can't relate to our parenting beliefs. Keep up the voice; you have been
read and heard.
-Please don't use my name, not weird, just not going public
~~
"The Mother" does a mighty thing keeping us all networked, sane,
motivated and inspired as we love, parent and and birth our children as the true
gifts from God.
-Patrica Tillou, Pella, Indiana
~~
Congratulations on another interesting issue of "Compleat Mother." I liked
the new cartoons and drawings and always look ahead for a chance to use
them.
-David Chamberlain, San Diego, California
<<<>>>
POSTPARTUM AFFIRMATIONS
My body is beautiful, capable and strong
My baby will thrive on breastmilk and love
I am adjusting to my new life a mother
There is plenty of love in my family
My baby knows all is well
-Mary C. Shaw, Buellton, California
<<<>>>
To Be A Mother
I lay her down closest to the wall
Crawling in beside her
She is anxious
I help her roll onto her side
I lift my shirt laying out a breast for her
She quickly latches on
I pulled the covers up over us
She suckles for a while and falls asleep
I remember I have not double-diapered her
For the night
I gently undo her pajamas
She awakens and smiles
Her pajama is back on
She is fully awake and smiling big
We switch sides and start over
With her bright blue eyes
She looks into my dark brown eyes
Without words she tells me
What an important person I am
With a warm smile I tell her the same
Any amount of self-worth
Society has drained from my veins
She has replaced
Thank you daughter
-Shamron Cook, Talent, Oregon
(Spring 1997 issue)
<<<>>>
As I Awaken
I think of the babies
Being born today.
Some willingly,
Choosing this date
And embarking on their
Birth journey.
Others abruptly,
Surprised.
While in their protected haven
Suddenly,
Comes the invasion
Of the surgeon's knife.
I mourn the state of obstetrics today
And wonder what the babies make of it.
-Kimberly French, Cleveland, Ohio
(Spring 1997 issue)
<<<>>>
On Children
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughter of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you, but not from you.
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love, but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies, but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit not
even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows, are sent
forth.
The archer sets the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you
with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
So He loves also the bow that is stable.
Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
<<<>>>
TRUE POVERTY
The Father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country
with
the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people can be.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be
considered
a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his
son,
"How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked.
"Oh Yeah," said the son.
"So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We
have a
pool
that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no
end.
we have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
Our patio
reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small
piece
of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have
servants
who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow
theirs. We have
walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect
them."
The boy's father was speechless. Then his son added,
"Thanks, dad, for showing me how poor we are."
<<<>>>
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Read The Mother while breastfeeding!
<<<>>>
HELP A MIDWIFE IN TROUBLE
http://www.compleatmother.com/yvonne.htm
<<<>>>
GET SOME TEA FROM CATHERINE
http://www.compleatmother.com/tea_company.htm
<<<>>>
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Contact Greg Cryns at [email protected]
or call the office at 1-815-678-0880
Very reasonable costs and I will help you learn about the Web.
<<<>>>
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The Friends of Breastfeeding Society
Posters and bumperstickers
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Heart To Heart Designs for Mothering
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CANADIAN CHILDBIRTH TEACHIN AIDS
Educational materials with an emphasis on childbirth
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Email: [email protected]
<<<>>>
Peace!
Catherine Young, Jody McLaughlin, Greg Cryns
Inside Mother
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Birth,
Joy, & Raspberry Leaves
-a new video compiled by Catherine and Amanda Young
of The Compleat Mother
Go HERE for more information on the waterbirth video!
Click here to read:
The Farmer and the Obstetrician
Click here for the Home Sweet Homebirth (Video)
