Silent Birth??

I know that everyone has heard about the whole Scientology deal where a mother cannot make a sound while she is giving birth and cannot talk to her baby for a week after birth--- (btw I don't know where this topic is best suited, so mods if neccessary move the thread to a more appropriate place)

I have never read any real evidence saying that doing the above things was better for the baby's development. The only real things that I have read, and is an ongoing study, is about how a quiet and relaxed environment is better for premature babies, because then there isn't any overstimulation that could lead up to future behaviors that are predictable for premies.

I'm thinking that this silent birth stuff is kinda kooky-- what are the rest of your thoughts?

What I don't understand is why the mother can't speak to her child-- just because a mother is separated from her child by touch such as in an incubator doesn't mean that there won't be bonding-- psychologically, bonding can still happen because the child has recognize the mother's voice. It has been noted that a baby can recognize and physicaly turn in the direction of their mother's voice when the baby is only several minutes old! So what I don't understand is, why do you deny that?

Scientologists and other proponents of silent birth also maintain that with a mom making noise during the birth, or a husband talking to his wife to coach her during birth will later on be psychologically detrimental to the baby's welfare later in life-- sounds like crock to me! Noone can remember their birth--- you don't even have a good sense of memory at that time. I can understand someone being traumatized by abuse or something at just several months of age (that kind of experience would continue to expound on itself as the child continues through toddlerhood and so forth) but when you just went *pop* outta the womb! nonsense.

I don't see this Ron Hubbard person carrying the anatomy of a woman, or a psychology degree.

I think what is supposed to be more important is that afterwards, the baby is placed in a soothing environment-- birth is very unlikely going to be soothing, getting your body squashed through the birth canal, after having to leave the environment of being surrounded by amnionic fluid!