Rebozo Massage for Pregnancy & Birth

The rebozo is a traditional shawl woven and used by Mexican women. Traditional Mexican midwives use the rebozo to do the manteada, a rocking massage technique that is very useful in relaxing the pregnant women and encouraging the baby into the best position for health and labor. The rebozo massage is very relaxing, it balances and relaxes the pelvis, low back, uterus, and ligaments, allowing more room for the baby to tuck his chin and rotate into the best position for labor.

There are many variations of rebozo techniques for abdominal support, pelvic support, massage, rocking, turning posterior babies, and acynclitic babies. The rebozo is also helpful for the doula, midwife, or dad to support the laboring women in different positions. The rebozo is also used to carry babies after the birth. There are traditional rebozo massages for fertility, pregnancy, labor, complications, and postpartum. In addition, the rebozo massage is wonderful for all ages, far beyond pregnancy.

Here is a slideshow of a few rebozo techniques that I teach my doula clients and at the Birth Arts Doula workshops:

The Politics of Midwifery

I highly recommend this wonderful article about the politics and spirit of homebirth midwifery by Jennifer Braun. "Midwifery is Messy" is published at Reality Sandwich, an interesting website with an eccletic array of articles about evolving consciousness.

Here is a fascinating and inspiring story of lobbying for state midwifery licensure in Colorado, despite some lunatic escapades by the oppossing politicians and lobbyists! This is the first installment of a three part series of articles by Jennifer, and I look forward to reading the rest.

As a mother who gave birth at home with the loving support of midwives, and as a birth activist, doula, childbirth educator, and midwifery assistant, I am so grateful for the tireless work of midwives around the world in ensuring that women and babies can receive the gentle, safe midwifery care that they choose.  I'm glad that there are midwife activists such as Jennifer out there making a difference in the United States and globally.

To all the Midwives!

Happy International Midwives Day!
 
To all the amazing midwives who work so hard so ensure that women have the choice and availability of safe gentle home or birth center births!

To the midwives who welcome babies into this world with soft hands and a warm home!

To all the midwives, midwifery students, birth educators, birth assistants, birth activists, and moms and dads who work tirelessly to promote and educate the public about the availability, importance, and value of midwifery care!

To all our ancestor midwives who carried this tradition of midwifery through many cultures, generations, and through waves of oppression from witchhunts and patriarchy to bring this honorable women's work to us today!

To all who are midwifing the future of a peaceful humanity through facilitating conscious birth!

To all the midwives - Thank you! We love you!

*** 

For more information on International Midwives Day - http://www.mana.org/IntMidDay.html

Placenta Encapsulation

When I was pregnant, I heard about the benefits of consuming one's placenta after the birth to replenish energy, facilitate a speedy recovery, and to prevent postpartum depression. I knew that placenta was an ancient remedy used for a variety of conditions for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

However, the few articles I read about it mentioned unappetizing recipes such as stir-fried placenta with onions and garlic, blending raw placenta into smoothies and drinking it, or even just eating it raw and plain. None of these methods appealed to me. I happily planted my son's beloved placenta in the garden behind the home he was born in.

I wish that I had the information then about placenta encapsulation. I am delighted that now I have been guided to Placenta Benefits - www.placentabenefits.info - an informative website about the powerful benefits of placenta medicine for postpartum health and more. The founder Jodi Selander offers placenta education and encapsulation services. You can also order a kit with instructions and tools to dry, powder, and encapsulate your own placenta.

The reported benefits of placenta consumption include increased breastmilk, increase energy, prevention of postpartum depression, and less postpartum bleeding. Your own placenta capsules are also excellent to save in the freezer for menopause. Small amounts of one's own dried placenta can be given to the baby or child for separation anxiety, such as the first day of school.  

I believe the placenta is a powerful healing remedy for the mother and baby and I am glad to see more modern methods of bringing this free and safe home remedy back to women and families. Placentas have been honored by cultures around the world since ancient times. In fact, the word placenta comes from old English placent and it means a round, flat cake. Thus, every year on our birthdays, we gather round and celebrate around a cake - known in olden days as a placenta - and eat it.

Birth Arts Doula Workshop in Maui, Hawaii

I am thrilled to be traveling to Hawaii next week to teach a Birth Arts International Doula Training in Kahului, Maui!

There are still a couple more spaces left in Birth Arts Doula Training on Maui for February 8th, 9th, and 10th. This is an intensive three-day workshop including optional doula certification distance-learning work.

This is a wonderful opportunity to study to be a holistic trained labor support companion, providing nurturing care and encouragement to mothers, babies, and families as a birth doula. On your off time, enjoy tropical Maui!

More info about Birth Arts Doula Training in Maui here: http://www.maiahealingarts.com/birth-arts-doula-maui/ 

More info about Birth Arts International here: http://www.birtharts.com/

For inquiries or to register contact Kara at kara@birtharts.com or 541-520-0681