I don't know if it would make a difference to anyone. I was invited to Mensa when I was 17. If I were a member, and people knew I am not writing from a Forest Gump place, would anyone listen?
I was listening to Marshall Rosenberg of Non Violent Communication, and it came to me that grief had been a weight. My embroys and my miscarriages are ALIVE in Heaven. This gives me a different feeling than feeling the loss of the babies that didn't make it. The March of Dimes states that 1/2 of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, and all of these women in the world are hurting when they think of their loss. To think of the life as waiting for us on the other side has a different feeling, and freedom. To heal emotionally and spiritually is what I am about, as it is for all women and men who want children to be happy. We can only give what we have. To be full of grief and worry allows no room for joy. This is why I wrote the book Fertile Prayers, and I make rice cozies and I have done research about infection undertreated to give people a better chance for having children. Can you imagine if only 1/4 of pregnancies ended in miscarriage instead of 1/2 or more? Can you imagine if more women could have children, and more men could father children? Can you imagine a healthier world?
This Christmas 2006 I needed my book. Someone asked me what I was worth, and then was it worth it to try to have children because of the debt we still have. This from someone who lost a baby to infection and who has three living children. We all risk everything to bring the next generation to life. Thank you God for bringing me closer to you when I hurt and filling me with joy to replace the pain.
A prayer like those in Fertile Prayers: Daily Fertile Prayers by Charlotte Fairchild is below. Fertile Prayers is available as an ebook only. I have given all my copies away, except one and I just gave that to Krista Tibbet at the Carter Center. This could be a ministry of your church. When a woman loses a baby, the couple could receive this book to show caring, and bring healing. Half of all pregnancies end in miscarriage--so think of how many people in each church could benefit. This could help retention, if not bring people to church because of the healing power of love.
God,
When we think of fertility/infertility, let us include the survivors of domestic violence, the survivors of molestation, the survivors of infection/hysterectomy and abortion. Perhaps we will live in a world where this will be less common one day. So many women and men suffer. Religous groups can offer ceremonies for loss, if they would.
Please let us pray for others who may be hurting from the emotional scars we cannot see. Let us remember those who lost the baby, the being inside, and know that as much as the body hurts, the spirit, the emotions and soul remain thankful to have the chance for life, but very sad that this miracle was lost. God, peace, love and gratitude are tools we have to help. The judgement that comes so easily, if it is in the Holy Book to give instead relief, to give love, to help, then each minister (paid or unpaid) may want to help by bringing truth
to each hurting person. I thank you God for continued blessings and the forgiveness that allows healing, sleep and peace.
I got this from the Moravian Conference in Winston-Salem in 2006.
Jeanniehill654@msn.com
Christian Myths about Sexual and Domestic Abuse
By Mary Potter Engel, Ph.D.
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
1. Sexual and domestic abuse do not occur in nice Christian families.
Statistics show that sexual and domestic abuses occur as frequently in religious households as in non-religious households.
2. Sexual and domestic abuses occur in “those other” denominations, not in the Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, (etc.) faiths.
All Christian denominations are affected by sexual and domestic abuse. To deny this is to try to find yet one more way to avoid the injustice and shift the responsibility.
3. Theology is irrelevant to sexual and domestic abuse.
There are some reports that members of more rigid Christian groups are at higher risk of abuse. While we have no reliable data on this as yet, it is the case that a theology that is more hierarchical and patriarchal than egalitarian is one, among many other factors, that can increase the likelihood of the abuse of women and children.
4. The power of God alone will change the situation.
By “turning it all over to God,” the individual avoids the help that God sends to us through the hands and hearts of other human beings, whether they be social workers, ministers, friends, other family members or counselors. In other words, it is a fallacy to assume that God works WITHOUT any effort on the part of human beings. We are created to be responsible selves, and thus we are human beings. We are created to be responsible selves, and thus we are obligated to use the gifts for healing that God places before us in this life.
5. Accepting Jesus as his or her personal savior will solve the problems of the abuser.
Domestic and sexual abuse are rarely one time events. Often they are patterns of behavior that are very difficult to overcome. A flash conversion experience will not cure a person of deeply ingrained patterns immediately. Therefore, it is necessary to make use of whatever legal, psychological and pastoral aids and service s that are available to assist the perpetrator in his or her recovery toward wholeness.
6. Redemption comes only through suffering.
Personal suffering can be an occasion for our own growth, but it is never the cause of growth. In other words, suffering is not necessarily redemptive. It embitters some persons rather than urging them towards growth. WE can be redeemed in our suffering but we are never redeemed because of our suffering. God does not require any one or any groups of persons to pay a demanding price in order to purchase redemption. God grants wholeness and healing as free gifts of peace.
For women in the church, the revolutionary theology of the cross of Christ, a witness to his active choice to take a stand against the injustice in the world, has been distorted into a reactionary theology of suffering, a justification for the passive and unprotesting acceptance of their own unjust victimization.
7. God teaches us, trains us, through suffering, therefore it is to be accepted as a gift.
The belief that God has a divine plan, purpose or reason for the ills that one must suffer during her or his life may bring comfort ot some victims by giving them a sense of control of their reality. (If they cannot control what happens to them, they can at least control the interpretation of it.) In other words, this theological belief may be part of the survival mechanism of the victim and should be dealt with sensitively and gently. The aim, however, would be to lead victims and survivors to see that there are acts of violence that have systemic roots, (i.e. caused by an unjust system in society) and that impinges upon their individual lives rather than that of others in a random way, (I.e. the acts are irrational and they personally are not singled out for some divine purpose).
8. Suffering is a punishment for past sins.
Many women feel that they are beaten or raped or otherwise abused as a punishment for previous sins (usually previous sexual activity). They need to know that being sexually active is not in itself sinful and therefore requires no punishment. They also need to know that they do not deserve the treatment they are receiving; that they are unwitting and involuntary victims of an explosive system; and that it is the perpetrator, because of his abuse of his force or authority, who carries the full responsibility for his action toward her.
9. Suffering is a divine vocation.
Women will occasionally argue that it is their “mission” or vocation to save their husbands by their example of patient forbearance. While each one of us is given a divine vocation, no one of us is called to save another human being. That is as presumptuous as it is impossible. It is the work of God to save.
10. Suffering presents us with opportunities to show compassion and love in our suffering with the victims of abuse.
According to Mother Theresa, God is present in suffering human beings and we are to take the suffering of others as opportunities to do works of compassion and love. This is an individualistic and passive approach that accepts the whole system of injustice and does not work to change that system or to understand the social causes of the problem of exploitation of women and children. We do not need to accept unjust suffering in order to show compassion and love. In fact, acts of social justice that aim at restructuring the entire patriarchal system so that there will be no more victims can be fine works of compassion and love.
11. Suffering gives victims a “moral edge” or moral superiority.
This is basically a romantic view of suffering that treats victims of abuse as one-dimensional creatures, as victims alone, rather than seeing them as the incredibility strong and resilient survivors that they often are. Our own need to romanticize suffering can blind us to the great strength and dignity that are present in the lives of survivors as well as to the full horror of the harm that has been done to them.
12. The suffering of women and children is random.
In his popular book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Rabbi Kushner presents suffering as a random event. While I think this view is helpful to counter the suffering as punishment and to help us understand the suffering we experience with terminal diseases and other “natural” physical ills, I do not think it is helpful for the victims of sexual and domestic abuse. The suffering in our society of women, children, and elders, like that of Jews, lesbians, gays and people of color is rnot totally random. Rather, it is a necessary consequence of a sexist and exploitative patriarchal system that dehumanizes women, trains them to be willing victims, and blames them when they cry for help.
13. The suffering of individual women is a result of choices they have made.
While the suffering of women as a group is not random, the suffering of a particular woman is. What this means is that there may be no final explanation for why a certain abuse happened to this woman, and not to her sister or friend. In other words, we must be extremely careful not to blame for the suffering that she experiences individually because of the exploitative system that exists in our society.
Reprinted with permission from Marry Potter Engel, Ph.D. in Creating Peace: Encourage to Change (Family Peacemaking Materials for Clergy, Lay Leaders, Staff & Laity)
Anoka County Faith Community Peace Initiative 2000, Anoka County , Minnesota .
4 comments:
Pregnancy and Fertility
It is a common observation that birthing seems to be more comfortable for women who were under chiropractic care during pregnancy. The following studies mention how common spinal problems are during pregnancy (up to 90%). The chiropractic drugless approach is ideally suited for pregnancy care.
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Follow-up of patients with low back pain during pregnancy. Brynhildsen J, Hansson A, Persson A, Hammar M. In: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Feb 1998; 91(2): 182-6.
“Women with severe low back pain during pregnancy have an extremely high risk for
experiencing a new episode of severer low back pain during another pregnancy and when
not pregnant.”
Note: According to revised guidelines from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vaginal delivery should be routine in women who previously underwent cesarean section birth, JAOA, Feb.1989, Vol.89 No.2, p.164.
AMA study shows that pregnant women under chiropractic care have easier pregnancy and delivery. American Medical Association records released in 1987 during trial in U.S. District Court Northern Illinois Eastern Division, No. 76C 3777. Irvin Hendryson, M.D. a member of the American Medical Association board of trustees did a clinical study which revealed that pregnant women who received chiropractic adjustments in their third trimester were able to carry to term and deliver children with more comfort. (This information was suppressed and never revealed to the public or media. In the meantime, the AMA continued to attack chiropractic as “unscientific and dangerous.”
Medical expert states that less painkillers needed during delivery if patient under
chiropractic care. Freitag, P. Expert testimony of Pertag, M.D., Ph.D. comparing results of two neighboring hospitals. U.S. District Court Northern Illinois Eastern Division, No. 76C 3777, May 1987.
A study was conducted in which chiropractic adjustments were incorporated during many
patients’ pregnancy. It revealed that the need for painkillers during delivery was reduced by half. This study was suppressed by the AMA because it showed chiropractic effectiveness.
What is the role of osteopathic manipulative therapy in obstetric care? For normal patients? For patients with problems (e.g. toxemia of pregnancy)? Hampton D. J Am Osteopath Assoc 1974; 74(3): 192-7.
Manipulation keeps the segments of the pregnant woman’s structure freely and normally movable. It permits a constant free flow of all body fluids and a normal venous supply to control function. During the second 6 weeks of pregnancy, the growing fetus and expanding uterus often settle in the hollow of the sacrum and relief of nausea may be achieved. Manipulation results in an easier pregnancy and an easier delivery. The postpartum return of the mother to prepartum health is also expedited by manipulation. Manipulation has a part in the prevention and cure of toxemias.
Case history: premature labor. Cohen Eddy, D.C., F.I.C.A. Chiropractic Pediatrics Vol 1 No. 4 May 1995.
This is the report of a woman experiencing premature labor at 32 weeks of gestation. She
was also diagnosed with severe endometriosis resulting in inflammation of the ovaries and was informed that she would never be able to become pregnant and recommendation for treatment was laparoscopic surgery. Patient refused treatment. She went to a hospital where the M.D.s wished to inject oxytocin to stop her contractions. “While at the hospital, the patients husband...adjusted her. The intensity of the contractions decreased somewhat. However the contractions maintained the same frequency of every five minutes.” She was adjusted C-2, Toggle Recoil Technique. Contractions reduced markedly and then discontinued completely “Patient then continued with weekly adjustments until the occurrence of labor and delivery at 40 weeks gestation, with no complications. The patient’s newborn infant was checked and adjusted 20 hours after the birth.
Some preterm labor may have a neurologic condition that responds to correcting/
reducing vertebral subluxation complex. Found in Chiropractic and prenatal reference
manual. Peet, JB, The Baby Adjusters, Inc. 1992. Shelburne, VT.
Mother’s smoking linked to child’s IQ drop. Science News, Feb 12, 1994. “Preschool
children whose mothers smoked heavily during pregnancy scored significantly lower on
standardized I.Q. tests than kids whose mothers didn’t smoke.” Study of 400 women.
Pregnancy and caffeine don’t go together. Mindell EL. Let’s Live, June 1994, p.6.
A study done at McGill U School of Medicine in Montreal of 133 women who lost their
fetuses and 993 control women who had normal pregnancies showed a strong association
between fetal loss and intake of caffeine. For every 100-mg dose of caffeine taken daily
during pregnancy, the ratio increased their chances of losing their fetuses by 1:22.
The short leg syndrome in obstetrics and gynecology. Sicuranza BJ, Richards J, Tisdall, LH American J of Obstetrics and Gynecology. May 15, 1970. pp.217-219.
Of 63 women found to have this syndrome, 90% achieved excellent relief with this therapy.
Effect of pressure applied to the upper thoracic (placebo) versus lumbar areas (osteopathic manipulative treatment) for inhibition of lumbar myalgia during labor. Guthrie R, Martin R. JAOA, Dec. 1982, Vol. 82 No. 4, pp.247-251.
From the author’s abstract: “In a study of 500 women during labor, 352 experienced pain in the lumbar area during labor, an incidence of 70.4%. One of the most interesting findings of the study was the association of back pain during labor and abnormal fetal presentation. Application of pressure to the lumbar area to inhibit lumbar pain reduced the need for major narcotic pain medication and minor tranquilizing medication.”
More on OMT in obstetric care. Journal of the AOA Vol 74, March 1975, Wentling, P: “In the past, I have delivered over 6,000 babies. Each one of the mothers has received osteopathic manipulative therapy. Specifically, I move the sacroiliacs, keep the pelvis lined up, and loose. I feel that this helps to facilitate deliveries.”
Low back pain during pregnancy. Berg. G. et al. Obstetrics Gynecology, 1988;71:71-75.
Sacroiliac dysfunction is common in pregnancy and manipulation is found to help it.
Low back pain in pregnancy. Fast A et al (1987) Spine 12(4): 368-371.
A study of 200 New York women indicated that 56% suffered low back pain during pregnancy and the most frequent onset of the pain was during the 5th to 7th months.
The effects of chiropractic treatment on pregnancy and labor: a comprehensive study.
Proceedings of the world chiropractic congress. 1991; 24-31. Fallon J.
Dr. Fallon reports that subjects who received chiropractic care from at least the tenth week of pregnancy through labor and delivery experienced mean labor times significantly reduced compared to controls. Primagravidae subjects receiving chiropractic care averaged 24% shorter labor times, and multiparous subjects receiving chiropractic care average 39% shorter labor times versus controls.
Adjustive procedures for the pregnant chiropractic patient. Esch S., Zachman Z. Chiropractic Technique. May 1991; 3(2): 66-71.
Discussion of the technique and modifications needed to facilitate spinal adjustments for the pregnant patient. The authors used pillows under the abdomen and flexed the knees while prone to reduce stress on the low back.
Pregnancy and chiropractic care. Penna M. ACA Journal of Chiropractic/Nov. 1989 p.31
from the summary: “Regular adjustments can make pregnancy less stressful and delivery
less uncomfortable. Chiropractic treatment can continue safely until the day of delivery.”
Conservative obstetrical procedures - part 11 Tyler R., Digest of Chiropractic Economics, March/April, 1983, 25(5): 18-19.
Mentions that in the last trimester of pregnancy, especially in the last month, when the
likelihood of difficulties and discomforts is greater, frequency of visits may be increased to up to three visits a week.
Chiropractic cares for the pregnant patient. Moore P. Digest of Chiropractic Economics. May/June, 1983, 25(6): 60-61.
“The frequency of visits of the pregnant patient should not vary drastically from ordinary
proper procedure.”
Chiropractic and pregnancy, a partnership for the future. Fallon J. ICA Review Nov/
Dec 1990. Pp. 39-42.
Discusses neurological conditions associated with subluxation in pregnancy: brachia neuralgia, compression of the brachial plexus causing tingling and numbness in the shoulder and arm; neuralgia paresthetica, compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve causing pain and paresthesia of the thigh; intercostal neuralgia, compression of the intercostal nerves causing radiating pain between the ribs; sciatic neuralgia, compression of lumbar plexus causing pain of the pelvic region and/or radiating down leg; coccydynia, pain at site of coccyx; separation of the symphysis pubis, causing pain at the symphysis pubis and SI joint; Carpal tunnel syndrome, compression of median nerve; Bell’s Palsy, compression of CN V11 causing paralysis of facial muscles; traumatic neuritis, motor and sensory deficits of L5, S1 and S2 after labor.
From Science News Sept. 21, 1991 Vol. 140 p.182. Fetus tells mother: It’s time for labor.
“A specific region in the fetal brain may serve as the biosensor that triggers the events
leading to birth, according to two new studies of sheep.” This “dramatic” finding represents the first solid proof that the fetal brain initiates labor, at least in an animal model.”
Back pain during pregnancy and labor. Diakow, PRP, Gadsby, TA, Gadsby JB et al.
JMPT Vol. 14, No. 2 Feb. 1991.
From the author’s abstract: An interview of 170 consecutive female patients. Of the 170
pregnancies with reported back pain, 72% also reported back labor...The treated group
experienced less pain during labor. Eighty-four per-cent of patients receiving spinal manipulative therapy reported relief of back pain during pregnancy. There was significantly less likelihood of back labor when spinal manipulative therapy was administered during pregnancy.
The effect of chiropractic treatment on pregnancy and labor: a comprehensive study.
Fallon J. New York, NY: Yeshiva University. From 1991, World Chiropractic Congress
Abstracts.
Abstract: One half of all pregnant women complain to their obstetricians about backache
(LeBan et al. 1983).
From the conclusion: It can be demonstrated that chiropractic care significantly reduces the mean labor time.
Ostgaard HC, Anderson GBJ. Spine, 1991; 16(4): 432-436.
428 pregnant women who had back pain before pregnancy and 375 pregnant women with no previous back pain were followed at regular intervals. Back pain occurred twice as often in the group with a back-pain history.
Labour pain: correlations with menstrual pain and acute low-back pain before and
during pregnancy. Melzack R, Belanger E. Pain, 1989; 36:225-229.
Viscersomatic reflexes may be responsible for low back pain during birth. Low back pain
was significantly correlated with labour pain. Both menstrual pain and the increased labour pain may come from the same mechanisms.
thanks for the info
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