Monday, April 2, 2012

Why is it a big deal?

Why is it such a big deal all over the celeb gossip shows, sites etc. about January Jones eating her encapsulated placenta (It's in pill form, people!), Mayim Bialik breastfeeding her 3 year old and Alicia Silverstone basically bird feeding her 10 month old? I'll admit, the chewing up the food thing I haven't heard much of, but the encapsulated placenta and extended breastfeeding is not something even remotely new or strange. It's been commonly practiced outside of the US for ages and within the US these have become more and more popular in recent years.

Encapsulating the placenta is something I could have chosen to do. I have never done it, but I knew it was available to me if I chose to do it. Animals eat their placenta after giving birth because it provides them with necessary nutrients that their depleted bodies need to recover from birth, nurse their babies etc. As humans, especially humans not living in serious poverty, we may not need these nutrients because we have access to vitamins and good nutrition, but some women choose to utilize this natural form of nutrients and vitamins.

Extended breastfeeding is the norm in other cultures. It's gaining popularity in the US and I think that is awesome! There are numerous benefits to breastfeeding longer than the "acceptable" 6 months or 1 year. Both nutritional and emotional.

Now, this chewing food and spitting it into the baby's mouth thing, well, it might be something I haven't heard too much of, but what's the big deal? If it's your child and you're helping to nourish them, why is that so gross or nasty? Is the alternative of the yucky jar food, that can have a certain number of bug parts and rat hairs according the the FDA's guidelines, really so much better? Chew on that thought.

So here is where I'm going with this. I think that instead of these things being talked about as if they are gross and weird, they should be embraced. These are mothers practicing different aspects of attachment parenting. They are doing what they feel is best for their children. I've never encapsulated my placenta, all of my children have self weened well before 3 and I don't chew their food for them (well... technically I don't. I have fed them my food, biting pieces small enough for them, so it's almost the same thing. And, lets not mention how many parents have popped a bite of food their kid spit into their hand, into their own mouth.) While I may not practice what these mothers practice, I don't think it's fair for the choices to be looked down upon because they are "gross", "weird" or whatever else people have called them.

These celebs are not some kind of pioneers in a new form of parenting. None of these things are new, so the media should quit saying they are.


Londa said...

I completely agree with you. Everyone has to parent in the way that is best for them and for their children. It's a different parenting world now then when I was raising babies. I have to wonder if more moms embraced some of the new ideas if we would see less ADHD, Autism, and other behavioral issues.
Good Job, Sarah!

StaceyN said...

I agree with you! I got my placenta encapsulated as well. My midwife calls it happy pills. hehe As long as the child isn't being harmed who cares. People are bored I guess.