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“No, I don’t think so,” Ayla replied

“Even if she had, she could have brought hi to accept each other as co-mates An extra man to help provide for those children could be helpful Ayla has ive birth to their own children don’t always have to remain childless,” Zelandoni said, then she went on

“There are other reasons a wonancy Ait difficult for her to care for them all, and for her, her mate, and her Cave to provide for them Often women who are in that situation don’t really want en

erous with them”

“I knoo woman said After Ayla spoke out, others weren’t so hesitant about it “She gave two to her sister, and one to a cousin to adopt”

“I know the one youand healthy wo birth She is very fortunate And she has done a great service for her sister, as unable to have children, I believe because of an accident, and for her cousin anted another without carrying it herself,” the large woman said, then turned the talk back to the subject

“But not all women are as capable, or that lucky Some women have such a difficult childbirth with one orchildren without a mother Everyone is different Fortunately, most women are able to have children, but even they nancy to term

“There are several things that can be done to stop a pregnancy So teaon bleeding, but it can be fatal A shaved slippery el from which the child is born can be very effective, but it is always best to talk to your donier, ill kno strong a tea to make or how to insert the stick There are other measures Your reater detail if and when you want to know more

“The same is true of childbirth There are , and ease the pain There is almost always some pain with childbirth,” the First said “The Great Mother Herself struggled in pain, but otten Everyone , there is no escape from it It is best to accept it”

Ayla was interested in the h the ones she mentioned were relatively simple and well-known Almost every woman she talked with about it had learned soerous to her than others Men often didn’t like the idea, and Iza and the other medicine women of the Clan had kept it secret from the men, or they would have forbidden it

The donier had not talked about preventing life fro started, and Ayla very much wanted to talk to her about that and perhaps compare notes Ayla had been midwife at several births It suddenly occurred to her that she would soon be giving birth herself again Yes, Zelandoni was right Pain was a part of living She had endured great pain in giving birth to Durc, she had al son, he had been worth it

“There isAyla turned her attention back to the woman “Some pain is worse than physical, but you reat responsibility, and a duty that may at times be difficult, but one that you may have to consider someday There are ti is able to prevent the pregnancy froh you un It is always more difficult after the child is born to return it to the Mother, but there are times when it must be done

“Remember, the ones who are already here reatly malformed, or other valid reasons, the infant should be returned to Doni It is the mother’s choice, always, but you must remember your responsibility, and it must be done quickly As soon as you are able, you must take it outside and lay it on the breast of the Great Earth Mother, as far away as possible froround or a wandering spirit may try to inhabit the body Then the spirit will he-come confused and not be able to find its way to the next world Such spirits can become evil Is there anyone here who does not understand exactly what I just said?” This was always a very difficult , and Zelandoni allowed so women to comprehend the harsh revelation, but they had to understand it and accept it

No one spoke The young wo theht be called upon to perforht up to the woman there hoped fervently that they would never have to expose a baby to the cold breast of the Great Earth Mother to die It was a soht

A few of the older woht-lipped with pain in their eyes because theirs had been that awful duty to preserve the life of one by giving up another Though it was still not an easy decision, nancy early than lose a child to whoiven birth, or worse, to have to do it herself