Michelle answers:

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? No
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Yes
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? Surprised and excited
4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? No

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 23

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? Had cramps, thought it was my period, best friend suggested pregnancy (implantation cramping) so i went home and took a test. It was positive.
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? Husband
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? No

9. DUE DATE? April 21
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? No
11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Apples & oranges
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? My students (I was teaching pre-k)
13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD’S SEX? Male

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? No
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? 17

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yes

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? It was supposed to be a surprise but I went into labor 3 days before so they told me about it to see if I’d still be up for it
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? No

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Hospital

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? 6 1/2
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? My husband
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? My husband

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? No

25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGHT? 6lbs 6oz
26. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? March 28
27. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM? Nathaniel

28. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 22 1/2 months

Michelle answers:

Doctors are trained to deal with illness, not normal life processes. OBs in particular are trained as surgeons, so they tend to view every labor as a possible surgery — and watch for signs that it will become one. Malpractice issues also play a role — doctors cannot be sued for doing ‘too much’, but CAN be sued for not doing enough.

One might also suggest that the more interventions the woman has, the more money the hospital (and the doctor) recieve. So they have a financial motivation for encouraging such things. Pitocin and c-sections also make life easier for the doctor … Like most of us they would rather NOT have to work at 2 a.m., so if giving pitocin (or doing a c-section) means that they can make it home for dinner by 6 p.m., that is very appealing.

(When I was pregnant there were basically 2 options for OBs in my community — a group practice of about 8 doctors, and one doctor working on his own. In the group practice women saw all the doctors, and were tended during labor by whichever doc happened to be on call that day. The on-call doctor spent 24 straight hours working in the hospital, delivering babies, seeing OB/GYN related cases in the ER, etc. I had several friends who opted for the solo-practice doc, thinking they’d get more ‘personal’ service. But, as it turned out EVERY person I knew who used the solo-practice doc had a c-section, while only a tiny handful of those who used the group did. It’s pretty obvious that Dr. Solo had a strong motivation to do c-sections .. He could work them around his office hours and his time at home. The group docs had no such motivation — they were at the hospital anyway, so had no reason to rush things.

Michelle answers:

It’s very hard to save baby rats, so hopefully the mom does fine and you won’t have to worry about it. Worst case scenario.. KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer), Fresh Goat’s Milk, Enfamil (without iron), Esbilac (puppy formula) or Soyalac human formula can be used to feed orphaned rats. They will need to be fed every 2 hours. After each feeding you will have to massage and stimulate their bottoms with a warm damp cloth to encourage them to urinate and pass solid waste.

This website has some good information for you:
http://www.afrma.org/rminfo8.htm

Good luck!

Michelle answers:

The 9 Appellations of Durga – While I agree with your symbolic meaning mentioned above, I also understand that the nine nights have the following symbolic meanings too –

Nava – that also means ‘new’ – denotes ‘nine’ the number to which sages attach special significance. Hence, we have Nava-ratri (9 nights), Nava-graha (9 planets), and Nava-Durga (9 appellations)…. All the nine names of goddess are narrated in ‘Devi Kavacha’ of the ‘Chandipatha’ scripture.

(1) Shailaputri – Shailaputri literally means the daughter (putri) of the mountains (shaila). Variously known as Sati Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati, the daughter of Hemavana – the king of the Himalayas, she is the first among Navadurgas. Her worship takes place on the first day of Navaratri – the nine divine nights. The embodiment of the power of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, she rides a bull and carries a trident and a lotus in her two hands.
(2) Bharmacharini- The is worshipped on the second day of Navaratri and is the second form of Mother Goddess. Bharmacharini means one who practices devout austerity. She enlightens us in the magnificent embodiment of Durga with great powers and divine grace. She holds a rosary in her right hand and a water utensil in her left hand. She is blissful and endows happiness, peace, prosperity and grace upon all devotees who worship her. Filled with bliss and happiness, she is the way to emancipation – Moksha.
(3) Chandra Ghanta – The third facet of Goddess Durga is ‘Chandraghanta’, who is worshipped on the third day of Navaratri, for peace, tranquility and prosperity in life. She has a ‘chandra’ or half moon in her forehead in the shape of a ‘ghanta’ or bell. That is why she is called ‘Chandraghanta’. She is charming, has a golden bright complexion and rides a lion. She has ten hands, three eyes and holds weapons in her hands. She is the apostle of bravery and possesses great strength to fight in the battle against demons.
(4) Kushmanda – Kushmanda is the fourth form of the mother goddess and is worshipped on the fourth day of Navaratri. The meaning of the name ‘Ku-shm-anda’ is as follows: ‘Ku’ = a little; ‘ushma’ = ‘warmth’; ‘anda’ = ‘the cosmic egg’. So she is considered the creator of the universe. The universe was no more than a void full of darkness, until her light spreads in all directions like rays from the sun. Often she is depicted as having eight or ten hands. She holds weapons, glitter, rosary, etc., in her hands, and she rides a lion.
(5) Skanda Mata – The fifth aspect of the Mother Durga is known as ‘Skanda Mata’ – the mother of Skanda or Lord Kartikeya, who was chosen by gods as their commander in chief in the war against the demons. She is worshipped on the fifth day of Navaratri. She is accompanied by the Lord Skanda in his infant form. Skanda Mata has four arms and three eyes, holds the infant Skanda in her right upper arm and a lotus in her right hand which is slightly raised upwards. The left arm is in pose to grant boons with grace and in left lower hand which is raised also holds a lotus. She has a bright complexion and often depicted as seated on a lotus.
(6) Katyayani – The sixth form of Mother Durga is known as ‘Katyayani’, who is worshipped on the six day of Navaratri. The legend behind her name goes thus: Once upon a time, there was a great sage called Kata, who had a son named Katya. Kata was very famous and renowned in the lineage of saints. He underwent long austerities and penance in order to receive the grace of the Mother Goddess. He wished to have a daughter in the form of a goddess. According to his wish and desire the Mother Goddess granted his request. Katyayani was born to Kata as an avatar of Durga.
(7) Kaal Ratri – This is the seventh form of Mother Durga and is worshipped on the seventh day of Navaratri. She has a dark complexion, disheveled hair and a fearlessness posture. A necklace flashing lightning adorns her neck. She has three eyes that shine bright and terrible flames emanate from her breath. Her vehicle is the donkey. Her raised right hand always seems to grant boons to all worshippers and all her right lower hand is in the pose of allaying fears. Her left upper hand holds a thorn-like weapon, made of iron and there is a dragger in the lower left hand. She is black like Goddess Kali and holds a sparkling sword in her right hand battle all evil. Her gesture of protection assures us of freedom from fear and troubles. So she is also known as ‘Shubhamkari’ – one who does good.
(8) Maha Gauri – She is worshipped on the eighth day of Navaratri. Her power is unfailing and instantly fruitful. As a result of her worship, all sins of past, present and future get washed away and devotees get purified in all aspects of life. Maha Gauri is intelligent, peaceful and calm. Due to her long austerities in the deep forests of the Himalayas, she developed a dark complexion. When Lord Shiva cleaned her with the wwater of the Ganges, her body regained its beauty and she came to be known as Maha Gauri, which mean extremely white. She wears white clothes, has four arms, and rides on a bull. Her right hand is in the pose of allaying fear and her right lower hand holds a trident. The left upper hand holds a ‘damaru’ (a small rattle drum) and the lower one is in the pose of granting boons to her devotees.
(9) Siddhidatri – Siddhidatri is the ninth form of Goddess. She is worshipped on the ninth day of Navaratri. Siddhidatri has supernatural healing powers. She has four arms and she is always in a blissful happy enchanting pose. She rides on the lion as her vehicle. She blesses all Gods, saints, yogis, tantrics and all devotees as a manifestation of the Mother Goddess. In ‘Devi Bhagvata Purana’ it is mentioned that Lord Shiva worshipped her and was blessed with all Siddhis (supernatural powers). By her blessings his half body became female and other half body male in the avatar of Ardhnarishvara.-