The Wisdom of Instinct and Nature

Primal Mothering is about following the dictates of nature and your own instinct. It’s about not listening to so-called “wisdom” from the “experts” but listening to and watching nature. Some examples:




Sleeping

• Modern Philosophy: Letting a child cry from a crib in another room, teaches him to calm himself.


• The Truth: This teaches your child that you won’t be there for him when he’s sad and needs you. . Yes, in time he’ll stop crying for you. this doesn’t mean he learned to calm himself. It means his spirit was broken an dhe gave up the idea that he can depend on you or that he's worthy of your love.


• Wisdom of Instinct: Your heart breaking at hearing him cry is your instinct to hold and comfort him. His tears at being alone are his instinct to be held and sleeping next to his mother’s warm body.


• Wisdom of Nature: All mammals sleep with their young. Studies have shown that when a mother sleeps with her child, the child’s heart and breathing rhythms are regulated by her own; she is more attuned to her child; these facts naturally lower the risk of SIDS. Responding to your child’s cries teaches him trust. You are teaching him that he is worthy of your love and attention. It builds a natural affection between you.

Pregnancy and Birth

• Modern Philosophy: Pregnancy & Birth are medical conditions and should be taken care of by a medical doctor in a medical environment.


• The Truth: Birth is as natural as nature gets. Since the beginning of time, women have given birth on their own.


• Wisdom of Instinct: The fact that , while in a hospital, we find ourselves entering a fearful state is a true sign that we were never meant to be there. The fact that we find ourselves frustrated and even angry at their policies (such as not allowing us to eat and drink), shows that it’s not natural. When left to our own devices, we can manage our births ourselves. We know the correct positions for giving birth instinctively–and they are faster, more productive and less painful than lying in a bed on our backs hooked to machines.


• Wisdom of Nature: What other animal gives birth in a medical environment? Watch an animal birth. They are quiet, calm and focused. They know what to do and when to do it. So do we. The statistics show that homebirths have a much lower rate of emergencies and mortalities than doctor-assisted births. That says it all.

Breastfeeding

• Modern Philosophy: Bottle-feeding is almost or even just as good as nursing a child.
  The Truth: It doesn’t come anywhere near “almost as good”. It’s like saying “well intead of bananas, I’m feeding my baby a nice bowl of melted plastic” Not the same thing at all.


• Wisdom of Instinct: Our bodies create the milk When they cry..we automatically draw them to the breast. When they cry.. our milk “lets down”.


• Wisdom of Nature: No other mammal gives its child an artificial nipple or the milk of another animal. The risk of SIDS, respiratory infections, & illness in general is greatly increased by bottle/formula feeding. Breastfed children have higher IQ's. Greater attachment between mother and child and even father and child are present in breastfeeding relationships. Mother’s who nurse are less likely to suffer post-partum depression, are more attuned to their children’s feelings and needs. The list goes on… and the list shows us that nature works in our benefit.

These are just a few examples. But you can see that 100% of the time.. the wisdom of nature is superior to the wisdom of man. This is what primal mothering is all about.