At one time a pregnant woman went forth as a nun. After giving birth, she asked the nuns what to do with the baby boy. They told the Buddha. “I allow you to rear him until he becomes self-reliant.” That nun thought, “I’m not allowed to stay by myself and other nuns are not allowed to stay with a male child. What should I do now?” They told the Buddha. “The nuns should appoint a nun as her companion. And she should be appointed like this. First a nun should be asked, and then a capable and competent nun should inform the Sangha: ‘Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. If the Sangha is ready, it should appoint nun so-and-so as a companion to nun so-and-so. This is the motion. Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. The Sangha appoints nun so-and-so as a companion to nun so-and-so. Any nun who approves of appointing nun so-and-so as a companion to nun so-and-so should remain silent. Any nun who doesn’t approve should speak up. The Sangha has appointed nun so-and-so as a companion to nun so-and-so. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I will remember it thus.’”