Post by L R Hubbard on Apr 18, 2006 12:32:21 GMT -5
HEALTH BEAT: LABOR AND DELIVERY
A lot of noise about `silent birth'
By Frances Grandy Taylor
Tribune Newspapers: The Hartford Courant
Published April 18, 2006
Ever since father-to-be Tom Cruise said Katie Holmes would have a "silent birth," many have wondered why Scientologists want to deliver a baby without making a peep.
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard mentioned silent birth several times, including in his book "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health."
"Maintain silence in the presence of birth to save both the sanity of the mother and the child and safeguard the home to which they will go," Hubbard wrote.
Hubbard touched on the subject around the same time that natural childbirth methods, involving a calm, quiet and relaxed birthing environment, were becoming popular, said Carole Yingling, director of special affairs for the Church of Scientology in New Haven, Conn.
Hubbard suggested that traumatic incidents create "engrams," or unconscious memories of pain, that lead to despair later on in life.
"A child ... should have a silent, as painless as possible, birth," Hubbard wrote. "The delivery itself should ... be as calm and no-talk as possible."
That means no screaming.
But Yingling said absolute silence isn't required of the mother.
"It's important she be relaxed, have someone there to hold her hand and be supportive. If the mom wants to pant, that's OK. Screaming doesn't always help. ...
"This has been exaggerated beyond belief."
But this is Tom Cruise, who wears his faith on his sleeve. He attracts enormous attention every time he talks about his religion.
So all the noise about silent birth has spun out of control.
"I've read [that] people said that Scientology says the [newborn] baby should not be held for several days," Yingling said. "That's just ridiculous. Who would believe that?"
Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune
A lot of noise about `silent birth'
By Frances Grandy Taylor
Tribune Newspapers: The Hartford Courant
Published April 18, 2006
Ever since father-to-be Tom Cruise said Katie Holmes would have a "silent birth," many have wondered why Scientologists want to deliver a baby without making a peep.
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard mentioned silent birth several times, including in his book "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health."
"Maintain silence in the presence of birth to save both the sanity of the mother and the child and safeguard the home to which they will go," Hubbard wrote.
Hubbard touched on the subject around the same time that natural childbirth methods, involving a calm, quiet and relaxed birthing environment, were becoming popular, said Carole Yingling, director of special affairs for the Church of Scientology in New Haven, Conn.
Hubbard suggested that traumatic incidents create "engrams," or unconscious memories of pain, that lead to despair later on in life.
"A child ... should have a silent, as painless as possible, birth," Hubbard wrote. "The delivery itself should ... be as calm and no-talk as possible."
That means no screaming.
But Yingling said absolute silence isn't required of the mother.
"It's important she be relaxed, have someone there to hold her hand and be supportive. If the mom wants to pant, that's OK. Screaming doesn't always help. ...
"This has been exaggerated beyond belief."
But this is Tom Cruise, who wears his faith on his sleeve. He attracts enormous attention every time he talks about his religion.
So all the noise about silent birth has spun out of control.
"I've read [that] people said that Scientology says the [newborn] baby should not be held for several days," Yingling said. "That's just ridiculous. Who would believe that?"
Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune