I couldn't do it....

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The article I have says this:
"TOM Cruise's pregnant fiancée Katie Holmes will be reminded to keep her vow of silence during birth - by signs plastered around their home. "

That spells home birth to me!

What I want to know is why silence for 7 days? Seems like torture for the baby who is used to hearing mommy's voice and lots of other womby noises.

Also what about the stay on medical treatment--at least the baby won't have to be vaxed, I guess, but I don't know anything about scientology--what if there's a problem? Can they treat it?

OOOps! SO sorry! I found this thread on a search...didn't ee it was a DDC. Excuse me.... .

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Ok now if this is true, then I spoke too soon. This is or alteast could be a good thing. Although I still have an issue with Tom having so much control over what Katie does & how she does it.

They were discussing this on the c-birth yahoo group.
Apparently scientology also has a seperation peroid of the baby from parents from 24 hours up to 7 days after the birth.
They also dont breastfeed or formula feed, rather feed their babies an alternative barley milk.
And yeah, the mama has to remain silent as well

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Deep breath. Maybe its the pregnancy hormones but I can't bite my lip! This is not going to be popular.

My first reaction is... WHO CARES!!! Some (definitely not all) of the posts here are so judgemental I can't believe it.

Calling someone "crazy" and a "freak" because you don't understand their beliefs? Yes I did say "don't understand." Clearly there are no scientologists around to explain their traditions, this hostile little club has no room for different opinions!

So you don't respect thier religion? You don't agree with their birth choices? I would have hoped that on this "alternative" board we would be a bit less judgemental about other people's choices and a bit more accepting of people different than us.

Think about it. How frustrating is it when we are faced with "mainstream" friends who don't understand our choices (homebirth, not vaxing, etc) and insult OUR choices?

I am NOT saying that I agree with their traditions. But I know enough about life that I am not so hostile and judgemental about something I don't understand.

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I believe (and I might get my head bit off for this) that all organized religion is dangerous.
Especially when that certain religion has a set rules TELLING women HOW TO BIRTH, seperating mamas for up to a week from their newborns and robbing babies of their birthright to breastmilk. I think its funny how you used the phrase "birth CHOICES" When I dont see a "CHOICE" in the clearly-layed-out rules of L. Ron Hubbard.

I am getting soooo sick of getting the "judgemental" book thrown around anytime anyone here on mothering dares to form an opinion.

One big reason I "don't understand" Scientology's practices better is that they won't explain the details to those who don't pay literally thousands of dollars. Any religion that seems to discourage independent thinking makes me VERY alarmed, and that includes branches of my own religion.

As for the specifics of Scientology birth practices, I'm sure there are many worse things you could do to your baby than making yourself and everyone else stay quiet during birth and leaving the baby alone for a day or more after it's born (http://www.slate.com/id/2128041/?nav=ais). But both practices seem highly unnatural to me, and I wouldn't trust a sci-fi writer from the 1950s to tell me otherwise.

As to why we care, well, I don't know. TomKat is very famous, and it seems to be human nature to observe and comment on (and judge) the rich and famous. I don't lose sleep over the TomKitten, but if it were my sister or best friend doing this, I would be trying to talk them out of it til my throat was hoarse.

Ashley, I hear what you`re saying & I agree that its not cool to judge what works for other people. I think the issue here is that what Scientology recommends is the complete opposite of the classic AP values. A baby born and kept away from his mom and not breastfed (as recommended by Hubbard) is very alien to MDC & very disrespectful of the baby`s basic needs, the first being his mother`s loving arms. This is a safe place where people can comment on that, IRL I`m sure most of us would be more diplomatic if we were actually talking to Kelly ******* or somebody.

As a pro life Catholic who doesn`t use birth control I see threads on here all the time bashing people like me, Oh well, I just avoid them. Many people are very rigid in NFL communities, but I think most of us agree on basic standards of baby care.

"I think its funny how you used the phrase "birth CHOICES" When I dont see a "CHOICE" in the clearly-layed-out rules of L. Ron Hubbard."

Yes I call them birth choices because that is exactly what they are. If a couple chooses to follow a specific tradition that is their CHOICE. No one is forcing this couple or other scientologists to do something against their will. They obviously believe that is the best option for them and their child. They have made their CHOICE to follow this doctrine. Enough said.

I have not read anywhere that scientologists do not allow for breastfeeding but Andrea seems to really understand the tenents of scientology (which is interesting considering Mimi's point, that it is difficult to study.) I can't believe this is true but if it is I am definitely curious why they feel the way they do but my point is the same: let's save our rightousness for what we understand. Let people be!

Mimi, I agree with you that if it was my sister or best friend, I too would try to talk them out of it. But I'd also listen to the reasons why they want this kind of silent birth and try to understand the traditions that they obviously embrace.

Bowing out now.