Week 32: Instincts Shmintincts

I got another ultrasound today and saw le baby's face for the first time.

I'm convinced that he is the most gwapo creature in the whole wide world (Even though the ultrasound was 2d, reception wasn't clear, my head was facing away from the monitor and the child might as well be humpbacked and harelipped*)!!! ^____^

His tummy is smaller than the rest of him for some reason, and his cord's settled into a loose noose around his neck. The technician told me he isn't in any danger tho, so I guess this just means I need to give in to the food porn more often.

I heard home births weren't allowed in the Philippines anymore months ago. My doctor assured me I'd be able to as long as she assisted with the birthing. But with the due date coming closer and closer (8 weeks to go today!), I decided to investigate my rights. By investigating, I mean:

1. Constantly bugging maternal lola (admin of the local hospital) for information from the DOH representative about the homebirth ban;
2. Googling the keywords "philippine homebirth ban";
3. Asking people on facebook about it.

My investigation proved fruitless, and since I was all set anyway, I didn't bother any further. It sounded too silly to be taken seriously anyway. I mean what are they going to do, sue Nora Aunor**?

Mommy friend Rei told me the homebirth issue was on TV tonight. I don't watch TV tho, so I googled again and found this philstar article about an unnamed NGO opposing the DOH policy posted just tonight (Ah, so it's a DOH policy. Thank you philstar for clearing that up!)

I agree with this group, on all counts.
It would also suck if it turns out we had a perfectly functional birthing system rooted from instinct and tradition and it died because of western influence and profit. Specially when the west is already trying to incorporate indigenous practices that we've taken for granted. Like tattooing. Or language.

Then again, they're right not to trust instincts.

Suicidal fireflies weren't always a thing.  Before the advent of electricity, fireflies used to fly towards the moon instead of impending death. How this made them better at navigation when they never got to the moon, I have no idea. I'll ask next time I catch a conversational firefly.

There are lots of ways our instincts screw us over. You know those midnight cravings you get now and then (regardless of buntisness)?

Ehem Daddy-o. ehem.

Another way instincts screw you over, at least according to my research, is when your overpowering need to protect your child... overpowers you.

Yes, you can overdo it.

For example, in the case of SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, there are a lot of supposed causes but nobody really knows why it happens (altho accidentally smothering baby under pillows and your drunk husband sounds like asphyxiation rather than a mystery to me). I found an article that claims it's the material used in baby beddings, specifically the chemicals that make them fire proof. It's a theory, but if proven right, this means a safety measure ended up killing baby anyway. "Love you to death" takes on a whole new meaning.

And then there are cases when one instinct overrides another.

I woke up to this article (by the journ teacher who taught me how to blog. Cheers Madame Tabada!) and thought two things: First was "Yeah!" Second was "This is going to step on some toesies."

I'm assuming the mama in the article was just too green to flash a nipple on the MRT. Prolly afraid she'd be accosted for indecent exposure. I thought humanity LOVED naked boobs? Swelling boobs even better. It's instinct. It's something we're born with so that we don't die of hunger. If you're into DD cups, it's probably because you remember being smothered by mammaries bigger than your head. It's not a fetish. It's called ROOTING.

mama?

Suddenly, the overemphasis on boobs and cleavage makes more sense now. It's the inner child and his comfort zone taking over whenever kuya is looking elsewhere when your eyes are WAY UP HERE.

Now because modern society has gone and sexualized this instinct, the other instinct - the one where you're supposed to actually use engorged breast for the reason why it's engorged becomes a problem.

I have news for you:

Under all those clothes is a naked body. Naked bodies come in all shapes and sizes too. It doesn't matter who you're imagining taking off those clothes. She/he will not have sex with you. She/he is just going to take a poop now. Get over it.

In a perfect world, there would be no such thing as indecent exposure. In a perfect world, we wouldn't be so concerned about having coca cola bodies and fair skin. Maybe concern over looking your best is healthy, but not everyone looks like barbie, the popularity of plastic surgery should tell you that. In a perfect world, we wouldn't see "nakey". We'd see human beings. You don't look at a cat and go "Oi Miming, cover yourself up be!"

For now tho, all I'm asking is for mommies to feed babies in peace without anyone being offended by a little skin.

It just seems that we've gotten to a point where the general reaction to something supposedly natural is disgust. You just don't see it so much you'd be used to it anymore.

The same goes for a whole bunch of things too (home births included). Sometimes we don't realize that the inner voice that's telling you to do certain things sounds too much like the guy on that infomercial you were only half listening to.

* No in case you were wondering, the baby is not hunchbacked like Quasimodo or harelipped like Joaquin Phoenix. Too bad.
**I saw Thy Womb with my mom. I bawled like a newborn baby but I kept wondering, what were those umbilical cords for? Indigenous cord blood banking ba ni?