Bathtime for Babies

I love taking a bath. I take one nearly every night almost without exception. I find them very healing and purifying. Years ago a Medical Intuitive told me that I take on other people's "stuff" easily, especially when giving them a massage. He also said that I let it all go each night when I take a bath. About a week ago I was listening to a conversation between two new moms. Both had babies about 4 months old. They both said they rarely bathe their babies. I reflected on this a while and the following thoughts arose:

If taking a bath has the ability to clear our energy field(especially when salt is added), then it could be assumed that giving a baby a bath would aid in clearing the field of the baby?

Should we perhaps add a bit of sea salt to the water to enhance it's ability to purify and be more womb-like?

Isn't taking a bath(or being in the ocean) for an infant as close as you can to being in the womb?

How much more powerful would the clearing of the baby's field be if mom or dad's intention when bathing is to wipe away all the stress?

Wouldn't it be nice if mom could treat herself often to a warm, candle-lit bath with sea salt and her favorite essential oil?

I have been hearing a lot about these upright tubs that are all the rage in Europe and are starting to catch on in the states. I can easily see why a baby would be happier sitting upright so I am glad someone thought of this. If you are interested, do a search for upright baby tubs. I know of an American company that is making them and I hope to carry them in the boutique soon! Here's to baths for moms and babies! They do so much more than take away the dirt!

Licking and Loving: Labor as baby's first massage

One of the most memorable books I read in massage school was called "Touching" by Ashley Montague. I highly recommend it to all parents and parents-to-be. There are a number of case studies regarding touch and quite a few relate to breastfeeding,pregnancy and childbirth. The author points out how all mammals, aside from humans, lick their babies after birth. They are not just "cleaning" their babies, they are greatly increasing their chances for survival. The licking serves to wake up their body's systems and without it some will die. Interestingly, it is believed by the author that a human baby's systems are WOKEN UP DURING LABOR. Systems like the respiratory system, the circulatory system, the digestive system and especially the nervous system are greatly stimulated by labor. All of that squeezing and downward movement during labor does more than just encourage the baby out of the mother's body. Essentially, it is a baby's first massage and is very important. I always encourage moms who have had a cesarean without labor to take this into consideration and be sure and massage their newborns! Spa Materna has books in our boutique and our lending library that teach parents how to correctly massage their babies. We also sell the sweet almond oil recommended for infant massage. Infant massage is a wonderful way to calm and connect with your baby no matter how your baby came into the world.

Gentle entry: Dr.Leboyer's guide to the ideal first moments on Earth

I recently read an excellent book on Osteopathy by Dr. Robert Fulford. I have never experienced osteopathy myself, but will soon after having read this book. I was particularly intrigued by a story within the book where a Dr. Leboyer describes how an infant would ideally enter life outside the womb. First of all, he says the umbilical cord should not be cut until the last pulsation from the mother. I have heard this before and although it is not routinely done unless requested, I intend to request it at my own delivery. One positive outcome I have heard about is that the blood at the end is very rich in iron,thereby giving the baby a great start. The second recommendation I found positively fascinating. After the cord has been cut, the child should immediately be placed in a bath of water up to its neck, which of course is very womb-like. At that point, the caretaker should put their hands underneath the baby, bringing it slowly up out of the water. If the baby tightens, the caretaker returns it to the water, and then tries again, until he can finally raise the child into the air without its bursting into tears in fear of its new environment. It is believed that a child's lifelong breathing and muscle patterns can be strongly linked to their first moments on Earth. This is one method to assist a child in establishing a healthy pattern for life. Sounds good to me!