A rushed and rough translation of the Aftenposten article, by me. .
I am Leah
Princess Märtha Louise (33) is happy with Leah. Aftenposten got an exclusive meeting with mother and daughter on the occasion of today's christening.
WENCHE FUGLEHAUG
Leah Isadora, Leah for everyday use, lies and mumbles in her mother's arms. She has dressed in a white dress, in honour of the photographer, and is very much present with an aware gaze. But she soon falls asleep.
"She sleeps all the time. The three first weeks she barely opened her eyes when she ate. In that manner she is very different from her big sister. With Maud Angelica there has been very many waking nights. But now she is starting to sleep better, while Leah is starting to be more awake and interested in her surroundings."
April 8. Leah came into this world at Bloksberg, the summer home of the Princess and Ari Behn at Hankø.
"To me it was natural to have a home birth. I thought about it during my first pregnancy, but didn't dare. I had a great birth at the hospital, and it has nothing to do with that. I'm not very brave either, but it just felt right."
The Princess pays attention in the debate surrounding home births.
"To me it is important that women have the option to choose for themselves where and how they want to give birth, and have the objective information and knowledge to make that choice. Personally it was very comforting to give birth at home in regular surroundings. It was very quiet, no stress like moving around."
The Princess' first birth took 14 hours, the last one 4. But she underlines that her choice of home birth in no way whatsoever is a disqualification of the public health service.
"Absolutely not. They too do a wonderful job. You can't compare it from woman to woman, because birth is such a personal thing. It is important to respect the choice of every individual. To me it is just as good to give birth in a hospital with epidural as to give birth at home without pain relief."
"But many say it is dangerous to give birth at home?"
"Foreign studies by, among other people, the statician Marjorie Tew, shows that it is statistically no greater danger for child mortality at home births than at hospital births. It is rather the other way around. Marsden Wagner, who for 16 years headed WHO's mother and child section, has said that the risk is minimal."
"Wasn't the princess afraid?"
"No, never. But my pregnancy was uncomplicated. We had checked that the umbrilical cord was right, and I knew that it would be fine. Ari's support in advance and during the birth was also important. He was fantastic. As he was the last time. I was only focused on him. If he hadn't been there like a rock, I would have collapsed."
"Because?"
"I thought, how am I going to get out an entire child?- It is a thought the rational sense doesn't quite get," says the princess.
Leah Isadora Behn is number five in the line to the Norwegian throne.
"The choice of home birth was ours, and we didn't need any permission. But it was of course, natural to talk about it in the family."
Princess Märtha Louise thinks it was wonderful to be mother the first time. "And I'm, if possible, enjoying this even more," says the princess. "I bake bread and Ari cooks. We don't miss the resturants and the city; we have our lattes at home. Ari writes a lot, but I've got "feeding fog" and isn't focused enough to write. Nature is good like that; you enter a sphere where nothing but the closest matters"
The oldest daughter Angelica (2) as she is called, is in a nature kindergarten, with horses, pigs and rabbits.
"She loves her kindergarten and is very fond of animals. She has been nice to Leah the whole time, but had a difficult period with anger-outbreaks. But that is natural," says the princess about the sibling jealousy.
The princess tells she is frustrated by the lack of sleep, but since Leah sleeps a lot, she has time and energy to Angelica as well.
"How is the princess as a mother?"
"I hope I am a warm mother, a listening person, also with the children. I think it is important to develop their personality. They have the right to be themselves, and I will respect who they are and where they are at all times in life, says Märtha, who means that children needs limits.
"I think I'm stricter when it comes to raising children than my husband is. I try to be consequent, and it is more important to have few limits/rules that we follow, rather than many that aren't followed at all.
To be a couple and not just the parents of small children, is a challenge to all.
"When the children are in bed, we try to talk together and not just watch TV and read. But I collapse on the couch from time to time. Ari and I talk a lot together in the car when we drive to and from Oslo. It is important to be updated on where we are as humans, and not just talk about children."
Today Leah is baptized in the Palace Chapel.
"The best about a christening is that she is welcomed into the world with the water of life. It is important to belong; that the child is welcomed into a religion and that the name is put into that context. I am glad that love for others and forgiving is such a vital part of Christianity, and for us it is wonderful to be part of the Christian tradition of baptism.!
Queen Sonja carries her youngest grandchild to the baptism. The King carried Maud Angelica.
"It is very nice, and she was happy when we asked her," the princess smiles.
Princess Laurentien, who is married to Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, is also sponsor. The couple will be the only foreign guests.
"Christening means closeness to us, and family and friends means a lot on a day like that. I have known Princess Laurentien for some years now, and I treasure her friendship. She is a wonderful woman, and we meet as often as possible," says Märtha who is the godmother of five children herself.
"And the name Leah Isadora...?"
"Ari took the initiative because he has always been fascinated by the dancer, Isadora Duncan's life and tragical death. He has also traveled much in the middle east, and that's where Leah comes from. And I have to admit that I've always been a big Star Wars-fan, and Princess Leia have always been the most beautiful in the whole world."
The Princess and Ari hope for a childhood that is as normal and nice as possible for their children.
"They will attend regular kindergarten and school. It is important for us to have a personal life, and that the children won't be used in the press to sell things. It is awful how some medias do that. It is difficult for a child when a photographer jumps out of nowhere; it provokes me," says the Princess who accepts that she and Ari are photographed.
"We are adults, who can deal with it. But the children should be protected.
"But the princess is a public person and daughter of the king?"
"Yes, but it is human right to have a personal life as well. We do show our children quite often," says the princess who hope her statement reaches the presss.
"It is probably quite naïve to believe, but I want the media to think about it."
Many think that the princess will draw back from her princess assignments. It probably won't happen.
"Will the princess represent more in the future?"
"If the King and Queen asks for my help: I'll gladly help."
