My daughter Caroline freaks out when she sees "hospital" type settings

[KimD]

I have identical 19-month old twin daughters and I have mentioned one of them--Caroline-- in one of these posts. She is the one who has this strange affinity for Barbie Dolls. At the ripe old age of 12 months, she would bounce up and down at Toys R Us when we went by the Barbie aisle, pointing and gesturing that she wanted one. We have never really been big "Barbie" type parents and only let our oldest daughter (she's five. We have three daughters--the twins and the five year old) own the ones she receives as gifts and she only plays with them once in a blue moon as well. Caroline was never exposed to Barbies, but she seems to know the whole thing. It was like she recognized the pink "Barbie" logo and box or something. At Toys R Us she would frantically point to ANY Barbie thing--clothes, shoes, the car, etc--not just the dolls themselves.

In addition to Barbies, Caroline seems to recognize hosptital-type, operating room type settings. When I was pregnant with our youngest son, I used to watch some show on TV about childbirth. I tried not to watch it around the kids, but I was really interested, so I would watch it when they weren't in the room. On at least two occasions, nothing too graphic was happening, so I watched it with the kids in the room. Caroline was intently watching the goings-on in the delivery room and suddenly started screeching and pointing frantically at the TV. I was taken aback because nothing was happening except doctors walking around! I had to turn it because she got so upset. She was about 15 months at the time. This happened twice on two separate days.

And just today, something was on TV that was very operating-room-esque. Caroline was again watching it (I really don't watch much TV with the kids around, I swear!) and she freaked out. I had to turn the TV. Then she looked at me like she was angry at me for putting it on. She said, "NO!" Now she is 19 months old.

I have no idea why, but why would that bother her so much? In this life, she and her twin sister were born in a delivery room, and Rebecca had some problems swallowing a huge amount of amniotic fluid, so it could be a birth memory from THIS life. But Caroline has always had a "waif-ish" appearance. Despite the fact that she is really bossy, she has these huge eyes and a thin face, and seems very fragile. She used to remind me of a sick child, for some reason, even though she is very healthy and strong. Her sister, by comparison, seems more robust in appearance, even though they are identical twins. And if anything, Caroline is the dominant twin.

Kim

 

[DJ]

Kim,

It *could* be a memory from this life. The 20th century's traditional birth---in a cold, white hospital room; bright lights; grabbing the baby upside down, plopping it down under more hot light; nowadays even taking a photograph directly afterward; --- all of this is and can be traumatic. I remember my birth and it is hard enough to get out, much less be treated in such a manner. People grow older and forget how cognizant they were as infants.
Caroline could be reminded of the experience, and esp. with her sister's difficulties, birth and the experience in the delivery room would have been that much worse. However, it could be a reminder of a past life experience as well. Or, I just thought of something: maybe it's not so much the operating-room type setting as the doctors themselves. Perhaps she had a bad experience with a doctor, or someone in a white coat.

Regardless, something about the operating-room type setting has triggered your daughter's attention.

Oh dear. I hope I've helped at least a *little* bit.

Light,
DJ

 

[Kelly]

Dear Kim

There's not much I can really add to DJ's suggestions, as she pretty much summed up all my thoughts - especially on present day birth!!!

One thing I did wonder, is has she ever said anything after these experiences or acted differently for maybe a little while afterwards??? Have you ever asked her what is upsetting her??? If not it may be worth a try, then maybe you could get to the root of her fears somehow (a little bit of mummy bonding and natural instincts needed here), if you get a hint or clue of what it si that disturbs her, maybe you can encourage her and comfort her and let her know that everythings alright NOW.

Lots of Love

Well

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Kelly

 

[KimD]

Thanks to both of you. Yes, both times she has responded this way, I asked her, "You don't like what's on TV?" and she said, "No." She's really smart, but she is only 19 months and a twin, so her language skills are not very developed. She understands everything that is said to her, but obvously isn't able to communicate her feelings very well to me.

Both times, I said I would change the channel, but I assured her that everything was okay. I really do think that it has something to do with their delivery in this lifetime. Caroline was born first (both vaginal births) and 16 minutes later, Rebecca was born. Both seemed fine until Rebecca started throwing up bloody amniotic fluid. This happened in the nursery where they took them shortly after their births and I guess the doctors just panicked and drew the blinds, etc., My then-four year old talked for months about how Rebecca "had a bleed". It turned out to be harmless, but it was traumatic for everyone. And delivery rooms (as opposed to regular birthing rooms) are SO bright and shocking. I can see how she would be bothered by the whole thing.

Kim

 

[Kelly]

Well Kim, it seems you're doing the best you can at present with her communication skills, maybe it 's something you'll have to shield her from and tackle at a later time, when she is more able to communicate properly.

Until then, one other suggestion is you journal downall your thoughts on the matter and add any new things that come about in this area, maybe by reading back on everything over time, you will find more in your "own" words than you realise.

Lots of Love

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Kelly