The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS, a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA

Attachment Parenting List

This list is a support forum for parents who are planning to conceive or who are currently expecting children and who plan to parent their children in an intimately attached, gentle fashion, incorporating the principles of Attachment Parenting, as defined by the principles below. Parents already practicing Attachment Parenting are also welcome, but because other excellent Attachment Parenting lists already exist, the focus of this list is mainly limited to issues surrounding and directly related to conception, pregnancy, and the newborn.

Interested parties should send mail

pgap-request@kjsl.com

In the body of the message, type:

subscribe [youremailaddress]

Subscription information will be sent to you when you are added to the list.

Topics of discussion incorporate the following tenets of Attachment Parenting:

* The belief that gentle pregnancy and birthing promotes optimal bonding between parents and children. Therefore, informed decisions that result in achieving a gentle pregnancy and birth are important. Emphasis is placed upon an empowered birth without intervention.

* The belief that midwifery care, childbirth preparation and education, and doula/labor assistant attention can assist in achieving a gentle birth without intervention.

* The belief that homeopathy and herbs are helpful in conceiving and can be used to ease pregnancy and childbirth.

* The belief that breastfeeding, extended breastfeeding, and delaying solids, in addition to the myriad of health benefits, contributes to a strong attachment between parents and children.

* The belief that minimal separation between a primary parental caregiver and child (especially in the early years) promotes optimal attachment, self-esteem, and security.

* The belief that an infant's wants are his/her needs in the early years. Crying, therefore, is understood to be the infant’s only means of communication of his/her needs and so must be attended to promptly and consistently in order to foster trust and self-esteem.

* The belief that shared sleeping promotes bonding and security.

* The belief that slings can be used as a tool to promote bonding.

* The belief that overuse of infant carriers, swings, playpens, and similar devices can detract from bonding.

* The belief that making informed decisions regarding a child's health (circumcision, immunization, diet) affects the parent/child attachment.

This is a *support* environment. Therefore, an exchange of ideas is encouraged. Criticisms or challenges to ideas and concepts in a generalized fashion is acceptable. However, harsh criticism, rudeness, and judgments directed to people subscribed to PGAP is counterproductive, and therefore unacceptable to the group. Flames of any nature will not be tolerated and "trolling" for reaction will be grounds for immediate and permanent removal from the list.

Interested parties should send mail to:

pgap-request@kjsl.com

In the body of the message, type:

subscribe

Subscription information will be sent to you when you are added to the list.