Pregnancy Event!
Check out this event from one of our friends.. MAMAS LINK!
"Pregnant Women Dinner: Meet the Experts": Connect with other mamas-to-be and learn from a Birthing Coach, Lactation Consultant and Sleep Expert at this fun-filled event!
Are you expecting within the next 9 months? Do you want to meet other mamas-to-be who are due around the same time as you? Mamas Link and Kidville present an evening with three local experts that will share tips on everything you need to know. Hook up with other pregnant women, enjoy dinner/dessert at Kidville and have a chance to win hot, must-have baby products. Dinner/Seminar costs $40. The first 25 women who RSVP will go home with an awesome swag bag filled with incredible goodies from our sponsors and partners. National sponsors include Happy Baby Food, Biddy Belly, EcoStore USA, Sleepy Wrap, Prince Lionheart, Crane USA and more.
For more info and to RSVP, please visit: http://mamaslinkmeettheexperts.eventbrite.com or www.MamasLink.com.
May's Jiva Focus: Detox
This comes from Heidi, who teaches our 9am Jivamukti class on Sunday mornings. Thank you for sharing this insight. Great thoughts as summer arrives and our bodies call for detox and awakening!
As a Jivamukti teacher, each month there is a focus that helps us create a theme for the class. This month it's "Yogic Detox". It's amazing how yoga postures, breathing, chanting, and meditation can really re-align the cells of the body and the mind. I have noticed the students in my class looking younger each week!
The following is a copy from Jivamukti website's inspiration page, written by David Life, co-founder of Jivamukti Yoga. What he's saying is that we need to get out of ourselves, to get in touch with our true nature, that of pure bliss and peace. I can certainly identify with that, having a seven month old daughter, Lucy. Every day she reminds me how much I need to let go of, to be in the moment. She is a perfect mirror to my nature and inspires me to "get out of myself" and just "be". But yoga is a journey, as is motherhood. Knowing that is enough, and just practicing. :)
Yogic Detox
Is yoga an effective method of detoxification? It may be, but it may depend on what you want to detoxify. While it makes sense that yoga asana practice could detoxify the physical body, there actually are no scientific studies that prove that. But the main toxin for the yogi is avidya-misperception of the true nature of the self; identification with our body, thoughts and feelings, rather than with the Absolute, Divine Self; thinking that there is a "you" that is separate from others-and the yoga practices can definitely clear that away. Avidya is the cause of all of our suffering: it creates all the emotional toxins, like sadness, fear, anger, anxiety, etc., while identification with the larger Self creates a "super" or "angelic" body that is invulnerable to pain, disease or emotional upset. Anyone suffering from avidya can benefit from detoxification through yoga.
How does yoga detoxify? Here are some of the ways:
Chanting. Chanting takes us "out of ourselves"-out of self-absorption and identification with our whirling minds. Negative thoughts create toxins. Also, the suffering of others toxifies the atmosphere around us, so for example chanting a mantra like lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu, which is an affirmation proclaiming that the chanter does not want others to suffer, creates an atmosphere free of suffering and toxicity. This is strong medicine and can act as a powerful detoxifier for the one reciting the mantra as well as those receiving the blessing.
Kriya. Yoga offers an array of cleansing practices called kriyas, each designed to eliminate particular kinds of dirt from the physical and subtle bodies. For example, kapalabhati-short, sharp exhales with passive inhales-eliminates excess air inside the body, helps us overcome our clinging to the inhalation and stimulates the ajna (6th) chakra-the third eye center. Another kriya is agni sara ("fire wash"), which uses the fire element in the body to burn up impurities and blockages in the subtle energy channels. Agni sara is performed by standing up and exhaling all the breath out, then pumping the diaphragm up and down without breathing.
Meditation. Our thoughts are not necessarily poison, and the goal of meditation or yoga practice in general is not to get rid of our thoughts. But identifying with negative thoughts-dwelling on them, letting them grow larger and spur on more and more thoughts, mistaking our true selves for our thoughts about ourselves-this is poisonous. In meditation, we watch our thoughts come up, and we let them go. We do this by constantly returning to the focus of the meditation, such as the breath or a mantra (like "LET GO"). Every time we notice we are thinking, every time we notice the mind wandering, we return to our focus without getting involved in the thoughts. Over time, we develop the ability to hold our attention on whatever we choose for as long as we choose, and we become less and less identified with our negative thoughts.
Asana. Culture limits our physical presence to an acceptable range of motion and movement. The asana practice takes us outside of that limited range of movement and introduces us to a whole world of possibilities we did not realize that we were missing. Asana improves our self-confidence and destroys the poison of low self-esteem. Asana also stimulates the endocrine system, which boosts our immunity so that we become less susceptible to physical toxins like the environmental pollutants in the air, water and food we eat.
All asanas offer these benefits, but twists are particularly powerful detoxifiers. When we twist, we put pressure on the internal organs, and when we breathe in a twist, we modify that pressure. It is like wringing out the dirty water from a dishtowel. Stagnant residue can be released from the organs, and when we exhale or release the twist, the organs are refreshed and better able to do their work. Twists also detoxify the subtle body by activating the manipura (3rd) chakra, located at the solar plexus, which is the seat of the ego. Twisting the torso where our ego resides can help break identifications with power or status. It may be interesting to note that every category of asanas has a twist variation.
Yoga teaches that we create our own reality by how we see things. Our perspective then, is key. Even if we are facing a serious illness, we have the choice to see ourselves as a living person, rather than as a dying one-after all, every living person is also a dying person, whether or not there is illness. Our point of view can be toxic or not, and through the yoga practices, we are always changing our point of view: we look at things upside down, right side up, from all angles, while breathing regularly or controlling our breath, etc. These practices offer the opportunity to experience life from a different perspective and thereby provide us with opportunities to root out the toxins that plague us.
-David Life
CAG : Concerts in the Park! Volta Park!
We had a blast ! Thanks to Citizens Association of Gtown for inviting us! We love volta park- and all the kids had a blast. Thanks to Amy Kuhnert, lil omm student, for being such an active part of the community and to Sarah Waxman kids teacher ( extraordinaire!) who really made it special. And the best part was we got our table next to Sprinkles Cupcakes, YUM!
Teachings from a teacher..
This past weekend, I got the PLEASURE ( thanks Sonja!) of attending a lecture from one of my teachers, Max Strom. His book has been next to my bed for months, his words of compassion, teachings on breath work, and safe strong yoga has changed my practice and my teaching. In short, I love him.
I promised a number of teachers and students that I'd "take notes" here they are... the golden nuggets, the take aways.. the teachings of Max, through my eyes!
1. One goal of yoga is to be self aware. This manifests through intentions, goals, and knowing our strengths and weaknesses.
2. What is a cost benefit analysis for our life? The traditional cost benefit analysis that we do for our businesses and our finances, DO NOT include our own family health and happiness. The new cost benefit MUST include health, family, happiness because happiness DOES NOT EQUAL pleasure.
3. We actually seek pleasure when we are not happy.. "I had a bad day at work, I'm going to go get a drink" .
4. Happiness is daily experience of a meaningful life. ( that says it all my friends.. )
5. When unhappy, change your meaningful internal life. Find ways to help others. There is GREAT meaning in helping others.
6. Some questions to help guide your internal priorities .. What are you most proud of in your life? What do you stand for? Make a statement of what you stand for and think about if that is how you are living your life? Are you conveying this message to others?
It's 3am and you have an emergency, whom do you call? Who would you answer the phone for at 3am? Do these phone lists line up- where is there overlap?Where is there disconnect? Are you spending the most time with the people who are most important?
7. Create MORE spare time to do nothing.. with the people you care about, and do nothing in particular with your family.
8. oh.. I love this.. it's an ancient eastern teaching.. We are all baskets that are full of light and we all have the same amount of light inside. As you practice self awareness, more piece of the basket are unveiled and more light shines through. The more we reveal ourselves the more people know who we are, the more light shines through.
Thanks Max for a great afternoon.
An Intro to Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga ( From Avacara Website)
Prenatal Yoga Prenatal Yoga is the beginning of your journey into motherhood. Practicing yoga while pregnant, with another life inside of you, teaches you the core practices of yoga: breath, mindfulness and awareness in the moment. As you approach your 3rd trimester you are forced to listen to your baby while you practice - what works for you, what works for them in each posture. If you listen closely you can connect on a deep level with your baby before he/she is born. I believe that what you do, think, read and listen to while pregnant helps to form and shape the being that lives within you. How magical it is to enjoy yoga and meditation with your child before they are born. Prenatal yoga is about being present on your mat with your body, breath, child and these are the foundations for mindful parenting. The benefits of prenatal yoga are tremendous and vary from mother to mother. I found that I not only cultivated my own inner and outer strength and flexibility but I also enjoyed indulging in prenatal yoga classes and practices for my children and I. Many of my students comment that they felt more prepared mentally and physically for labor and childbirth as a result of their prenatal yoga practice which includes specific poses, breathing practices and mantras to guide you through whatever delivery and birth option you choose. If you can’t get to a prenatal class, try to turn on some inspiring music, find a quiet spot in your home and spend time on your mat breathing and moving with your baby in postures that feel authentic to what you both need. In the morning it might be a more energizing practice with modified sun salutes and standing poses and wide legged forward folds to open the hamstrings for the day. An evening practice might be more focused on hips, seated poses, seated forward folds and restorative postures to help promote a restful sleep. Squats and pelvic tilts (on your back if comfy or on all fours) should be part of your daily routine. There are many controversies in prenatal yoga postures so it’s important to listen to your own body and your baby each time you practice. Even 10-20 minutes daily can greatly reduce swelling, insomnia, leg cramps and there are even some postures which help guide your baby into the birth canal for an optimal birth position. Postnatal Yoga Once you have given birth, postnatal yoga is a wonderful way to connect to your new baby. Many yoga studios have mom and baby classes or postnatal yoga classes that you can start 6-8 weeks postpartum. These classes are a great way to meet other new moms and move through postures to reconnect with your core. At my studio lil omm, we work on opening the shoulders which can be tight in moms from pulling forward when breastfeeding and carrying the baby and baby gear! We also work with reestablishing the stability in the hips in our standing poses and find unique and interesting ways to incorporate our babies into our practice. We may start with some infant massage, work on baby kissing push-ups, and gently move into a short vinyasa flow or moving lunges and squats. The babies LOVE the rhythm of moving around the room and while the moms work on connecting to their own breath and body. In either prenatal or postnatal practice, the key aspect is connection, as it is in yoga. Balancing strength and flexibility on and off the mat are keys aspects of the childbearing years. The integration of our body, mind and spirit can enhance any stage of pregnancy or new motherhood. Prenatal and postnatal yoga have the ability to bring joy and peace of mind to a magical and mysterious time in our lives.
Prenatal Yoga
Prenatal Yoga is the beginning of your journey into motherhood. Practicing yoga while pregnant, with another life inside of you, teaches you the core practices of yoga: breath, mindfulness and awareness in the moment. As you approach your 3rd trimester you are forced to listen to your baby while you practice - what works for you, what works for them in each posture. If you listen closely you can connect on a deep level with your baby before he/she is born. I believe that what you do, think, read and listen to while pregnant helps to form and shape the being that lives within you. How magical it is to enjoy yoga and meditation with your child before they are born. Prenatal yoga is about being present on your mat with your body, breath, child and these are the foundations for mindful parenting.
The benefits of prenatal yoga are tremendous and vary from mother to mother. I found that I not only cultivated my own inner and outer strength and flexibility but I also enjoyed indulging in prenatal yoga classes and practices for my children and I. Many of my students comment that they felt more prepared mentally and physically for labor and childbirth as a result of their prenatal yoga practice which includes specific poses, breathing practices and mantras to guide you through whatever delivery and birth option you choose.
If you can’t get to a prenatal class, try to turn on some inspiring music, find a quiet spot in your home and spend time on your mat breathing and moving with your baby in postures that feel authentic to what you both need. In the morning it might be a more energizing practice with modified sun salutes and standing poses and wide legged forward folds to open the hamstrings for the day. An evening practice might be more focused on hips, seated poses, seated forward folds and restorative postures to help promote a restful sleep. Squats and pelvic tilts (on your back if comfy or on all fours) should be part of your daily routine. There are many controversies in prenatal yoga postures so it’s important to listen to your own body and your baby each time you practice. Even 10-20 minutes daily can greatly reduce swelling, insomnia, leg cramps and there are even some postures which help guide your baby into the birth canal for an optimal birth position.
Postnatal Yoga
Once you have given birth, postnatal yoga is a wonderful way to connect to your new baby. Many yoga studios have mom and baby classes or postnatal yoga classes that you can start 6-8 weeks postpartum. These classes are a great way to meet other new moms and move through postures to reconnect with your core. At my studio lil omm, we work on opening the shoulders which can be tight in moms from pulling forward when breastfeeding and carrying the baby and baby gear! We also work with reestablishing the stability in the hips in our standing poses and find unique and interesting ways to incorporate our babies into our practice. We may start with some infant massage, work on baby kissing push-ups, and gently move into a short vinyasa flow or moving lunges and squats. The babies LOVE the rhythm of moving around the room and while the moms work on connecting to their own breath and body.
In either prenatal or postnatal practice, the key aspect is connection, as it is in yoga. Balancing strength and flexibility on and off the mat are keys aspects of the childbearing years. The integration of our body, mind and spirit can enhance any stage of pregnancy or new motherhood. Prenatal and postnatal yoga have the ability to bring joy and peace of mind to a magical and mysterious time in our lives.
Parenting From the Heart
Parenting From Your Heart
May 29, June 12 & June 18, 2011 from 1pm-5pm
A 3-session series in Dupont Circle
To register: contact Mali at guitteny@hotmail.com or 202-257-3376.
Our children are so important to us, yet sometimes we struggle to parent in ways we feel truly good about.
If you ever ask yourself the following questions, you might be interested to join us:
· What does my child want when he is screaming, yelling, hitting?
· How can I invite more cooperation from my child without threatening or rewarding him/her?
· How do I find more of these sweet moments of connection and trust I am so longing for with my child?
· How might I parent my child closer to my values?
· How can I have more harmony in our family?
“Children demonstrate compassion and understanding when they are treated with compassion and understanding.”
—Inbal Kashtan, Paths of Learning (2003)
Nonviolent Communication (NVC) founded by Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D., has been used around the world to mediate conflicts, nurture relationships, and promote peace. For further information on NVC see www.cnvc.org.
Suggested contribution of $100-$220 ($80-$175 each if registering with a friend /loved one) will support the sustainability of this work, with the request to check if you can joyfully contribute to the highest range and ensure that those with lack of funds may be able to participate. This workshop is open to all regardless of ability to contribute financially.
To register: contact Mali at guitteny@hotmail.com or 202-257-3376.
Workshop facilitators:
Ryan McAllister, PhD, has always been interested in how we communicate, but for most of his life hasn’t felt very good at it. As a result, Ryan can relate from personal experience with a wide variety of conflicts and communication challenges. He co-founded NotJustSkin.org, an all-volunteer organization that supports the physical and emotional wellbeing of parents, children, and communities. He also co-founded Maitri House, a family-inclusive intentional community in the DC area. Ryan is the co-parent of a unique teenager (aren't they all!), has over 8 years of experience in Nonviolent Communication, mindfulness, and peer counseling, and is always learning more.
Mali Parke is a Life and Family Coach. She discovered compassionate communication (NVC) on her journey of motherhood. In her quest to relate to her children with trust, compassion and authenticity, she uncovered a whole world free of old and habitual ways of relating to one another. She has trained extensively since 2007 in NVC and other supporting fields and is excited at sharing back with peers and anyone in contact with children the possibilities of raising kids with full heart-connection and in peace and confidence with themselves and the world.
May's Teacher of the Month: Meet Sarah!
I always tell people I have the best job ever, I get to share my love of yoga with the most energetic, enthusiastic, and playful people on the planet, kids! And frankly, there are few things cuter then a room full of 5 year olds acting like animals. But kids yoga is more than just pretend and wild adventures, it is preventative medicine. I find passion in my work, knowing that I am part of the team full of educators, mentors, and parents that are raising a generation of children who are aware of themselves, their bodies, and our interconnectedness within our world.
Along with asana, I like to incorporate breath work, mindfulness practices, and conversations related to yoga philosophy. I love working at lil omm because of its community feel, warm environment, and willingness to create a safe place for everybody within its small walls. It is amazing that one space can challenge and offer room to grow so many different people, of so many different ages, each day, and I find joy being within that energy.
About Sarah's Experience:
Sarah began working with schoolchildren in the 8th grade and continued to do so throughout high school, college, and post-graduation. In an effort to bring together two passions, yoga and learning, Sarah now teaches kids yoga at local Washington DC schools. A native of the city, Sarah started practicing yoga when her athletic trainer at the University of Pennsylvania recommended it as a way to reverse growing back pain as was well as means to strengthen her mental game for a demanding division 1 lacrosse career. It was love at first forward fold (although she could not touch her toes) and Sarah has been practicing yoga ever since. She studied vinyasa yoga at Tranquil Space and children's yoga through Karma Kids all in the Washington DC area.
You can learn more about Sarah on her website.
Or bring your 3-6 year olds to her Littles class on Wednesdays at 4pm!
Leslie's Birth Story: Welcome Lulu!
Meet Louella Katherine
Born 4/6/11 at 9:10 AM at Sibley Hospital
8 lbs 10.5 oz, 20 inches
Lulu took her time in coming. I celebrated my due date by keeping our two year-old, Hazel, home from daycare and tiring us out at the park. I engaged in several weeks of wishful nesting, not so much responding to an urge to ready our apartment for the delivery but hoping that frantic, elbow greased scrubbing might bring on labor. No such luck. All the old wives failed us: we saw no results from spicy food, walking, jumping jacks and other unmentionables… I practiced prenatal yoga and even went to a couple of Adult Yoga classes at Lil Omm at 41-plus weeks.
My OB was supportive of my decision to wait for labor to start naturally, but at my 42nd week appointment, we had to set an induction date for that Thursday, exactly two weeks past my estimated date of delivery. I asked Dr. Footer what he thought about acupuncture; I had never tried much complementary medicine. He said his wife had back trouble and swore by her acupuncturist, so my husband and I headed out in rush hour traffic to Rockville to see Eun Hoffman, a doctor of Eastern Medicine, the nearest practitioner who took our insurance.
Dr. Hoffman gave us some tea and asked me several questions about my health and pregnancy. She understood my desire to rely on my own body and the baby to bring about labor. She mentioned that there were no acupuncture treatments that “induce” labor. In the eastern paradigm, she explained, the time and date of one’s birth play a major role in deciding a person’s destiny. Thus, if a baby was waiting to be born, it was because s/he had a special, fated role to fulfill in life. The treatment she gave me, setting several needles gently in my feet, ankles, hands and forearms, was meant to move energy down. I imagine a similar treatment is used for people whose digestive tract is stopped up.
Following the appointment, we returned home to DC, ate a simple dinner that my mother-in-law had prepared with Hazel. I headed to bed early. We had trained in Hypnobirthing when preparing for Hazel’s birth. This method includes self-hypnosis, breathing, and visualization. I tried picturing myself laboring that next day and thought positively about birthing the baby in the thirty-six hours before we were set to induce. My natural skepticism makes me wonder which, if any, of the alternative methods work, but I take an “it can’t hurt, and it might help” approach to alternative medicine.
Sure enough, I woke up contracting at 1:30 AM. I had downloaded a contraction timer on my iPhone and started timing. The waves were between seven and eight minutes apart. I laid on my side in bed and listened to the Hypnobirthing relaxation I had practiced with. After about an hour, contractions were about six minutes apart and getting more intense. I got up to grab the last few items we would need at the hospital—my bag had been packed and in the car for over a month already!—then I woke up Zach. He showered and called his mom to let her know she would need to watch Hazel. When she arrived, I wished her a happy birthday—apparently, the baby was waiting to share Gran’s birthdate.
We set off for the hospital just after three AM. By the time we were settled in the Labor and Delivery Suite at Sibley, it was four. The nurse checked my dilation and I was at 4 cm, already two more centimeters more than I had been around 2:30 PM the day before at the doctor’s. I was group B strep positive, so they started an IV and gave me the first dose of penicillin; I would need the second one at eight. My labor with Hazel had taken about nine hours, so I was visualizing a shorter labor but knew I needed two doses of antibiotics to avoid the slim risk of infection for the baby.
Around 5:30 AM, Zach and I both got really tired. He was resting with me on the bed and whereas the contractions had been growing in intensity from about 1:30-4:00, now they were lighter and shorter and didn’t seem to require much of my focus. I started to feel discouraged and rang for the nurse. When we had arrived, she had asked me what we needed from her and I had told her that, largely, we wanted to be left alone. Now, she came in and told me how different from each other her four deliveries of her own daughters had been. The most recent had been at home and had happened very fast. She reassured me that, if I was tired and labor was slowing, this was a sign that my body needed rest. She got Zach a pillow and blanket and he stretched out on the couch and slept for about half an hour while I relaxed on the bed and listened to the birthing playlist Zach had made for me.
Around 6:30, the contractions started picking up a bit, moving closer together and getting longer and stronger. At 7:00, Dr. Footer stopped by on his way to the office. He checked my dilation and found that I was at 6 cm. I remembered laboring with Hazel and, when I had finally let the nurse check my cervix, I was at 7 cm. Those last three centimeters sounded like miles; this time, though, I knew that 6 to 10 could be a matter of mere moments and welcomed the intensity of the contractions knowing that each was a distinct, one-time experience and that each was bringing me closer to meeting the new baby.
I labored in the shower from about 7:00 until 8:00. This felt GREAT! I found a productive and strong stance that allowed me to breathe through contractions effectively. At this point, I was using my favorite pain management breath that I had learned during labor with Hazel and relearned in Janice Clarfield’s prenatal yoga teacher training that Lil Omm hosted: vocal toning. This involves lowing with open vowel tones and a mindfully open throat. It’s almost like “ohmming” through contractions. From a yogic perspective, the open throat invites expansion at the top of the shushumna nadee, the central channel, encouraging a similar opening through this major energy channel, especially at the bottom where the baby will emerge. In Hynobirthing terms, vocal toning helps break the Fear-Tension-Pain chain. Rather than mentally backing out of contractions because of a worry that they will be painful, tensing muscles and increasing pain and resistance, instead a woman in labor opens to the experience, welcoming strong sensations and meeting them with calm breath. “Ows!” are usually high-pitched and closed, coming through clenched jaws and hunched shoulders. The lower, ommmm-like sounds are relaxed and relaxing.
I had also “set an anchor” for myself, asking Zach to make sure my shoulders were relaxed through labor. Just assigning him this job helped remind me at the beginning of each contraction to relax my upper body, especially shoulders, throat and jaw, as fully as I could.
I made my way out of the shower with Zach’s help. While he was helping me dry off, I got short and snappish with him over some minor nothing that I can’t even remember; I turned on Zach for a contraction or two during the birth of our first daughter, too, and took it as a good sign. My favorite natural childbirth books are Ina May Gaskin’s Guide to Childbirth and Spiritual Midwifery. (If you pick up these classics, be ready for a shift in thinking; they describe home births at a commune called “the Farm” in Tennessee. In my experience, they are great preparation for natural births in more conventional, western medical settings, too, if you can accept the majorly hippy vibe.) In many of the birth stories written by Ina May’s moms and dads, the birthing women get impatient with themselves or their birth partners right around transition. To me, my momentary snarkiness symbolized that I was likely nearing the finale.
I moved back toward the bed around 8:00 to get the second dose of penicillin and told the nurse that I was noticing a lot more downward pressure. I raised the head of the bed up so I could lean my forearms on it while kneeling on the mattress and taking advantage of gravity to help the baby make its way down. In another few contractions, I felt an urge to push, so the nurse called my doctor who had made it to his office a few miles away. I didn’t feel like waiting and told the nurse to grab another doctor, but I think I was unofficially holding off for Dr. Footer to fight his way through rush hour traffic; he joined us just after 9:00. Not finding my knee-down position as productive as it had been during my first birth, I flipped onto my back and Dr. Footer broke my bag of waters, still intact after 7 ½ hours of labor. Two contractions later, Lulu came shooting out! We were glad to see her and thrilled to learn that she was a girl, and a healthy one at that.
We were lucky that labor was relatively short, that the baby was in good position, and that there were no needs for medical interventions. Before both births, I had spent time considering our birth plan and also making peace with the idea that a healthy baby arriving by any method or delivery style was the ultimate goal. That way, I could avoid feeling disappointed if we weren’t able to realize our ideal birth experience. All in all, the second go-round at childbirth was somewhat quicker and less tense. I knew what to expect and how to face the strong sensations of labor. I also knew that labor wouldn’t last forever, that it would be an empowering experience, and that we would meet the new love of our life at the end of the journey.
Sarah's Birth Story
River King Walter’s Birth Story
Born March 31, 2011 8lbs 8 ounces, 20 ½ inches
I have been surrounded by many powerful women who have pursued all-natural
childbirths – from my sisters in-law to the many wonderful mamas I met through
the Lil Omm community - so when I became pregnant – even before – I knew this
was the path I wanted to take in welcoming our baby into this world. In order to
prepare ourselves for this, when we moved to San Francisco we found a midwifery
practice we really liked based out of hospital nearby our house in Bernal Heights. We
also decided after hearing many other birth stories that a doula would be absolutely
essential for us hire and we worked on finding her next – a wonderful woman
named Alexis Cohen. Additionally, in preparation for my birth my Gareth and I took
a Hypnobirthing childbirth education class. Hypnobirthing really resonated with me
because many of the tools we learned for working through surges and the whole
process of birthing utilized various breathing and visualization/relaxation techniques I was quite familiar with from my yoga practices and teaching.
Only 1 day past my due date, things happened very quickly! After a day of feeling a
bit unwell I went and had a prenatal massage and some cranial sacral work done and
2 hours later just after a nice walk and as Gareth finished making dinner my surges
began. We called our birth doula Alexis to let her know and she instructed us to call
back if we needed anything or when the surges became rhythmic and closer. We
called her back 45 minutes later as they immediately came on hard and fast, every 4
minutes lasting 1 minute (Gareth timed them without me really being aware). My
waters released at home shortly after and they were dark brown, indicating the
presence of meconium, and I started to feel a lot of pushing-like pressure so I chose
to head over to St. Luke’s at this point. Because of the quickness of my labor I had a hard time at first getting onto 'the zone' with our Hypnobirthing techniques but once Alexis arrived and we all settled in a bit more I was totally able to focus on my breathing and resting between surges.
After 2 hours of laboring at St Luke’s with
surges coming even more frequently, I really felt like pushing so asked the midwife
to check me (my birth plan indicated I only wanted exams on my request) and I was
about 9cm so they moved me into a delivery room where I shortly thereafter began
pushing and did for about the next 4 or 5 hours. The lip of the cervix kept popping
back so it got inflamed, they tried moving it but it kept going back. About this time I became aware that River's heart rate was dropping and the midwife Brooke and OB on call Dr. Norrell were concerned. Dr. Norrell stepped in at this point and helped me push for awhile while she moved the cervix. I had a hard time getting into the push breathing we learned in Hypnobirthing because of the intensity of how quickly things were happening. River’s heart rate was still a concern and Dr. Norrell was worried about having to do a caesarian. Dr. Norrell is known for her low cesearian rate (4%) so we consulted and shared her concern and then headed into the OR and we pushed for another 25 minutes. Rivers heart rate dropped to 70 and it was clear he needed to come out so Dr. Norrell used a vacuum - first go at it the vacuum
popped off and struck her in the sternum knocking the wind out of her the second
time was a success an he came out as I pushed and the vacuum pulled. River was
placed on my chest and then whisked him away immediately because he swallowed
a lot of meconium and wasn't breathing. Gareth went with him while the pediatric
team spent the next 4 minutes reviving him. I was still in the OR as I needed an
episiotomy to deliver him so quickly. We were separated for about 2 hours, luckily
Dad was continuously by his side advocating the whole time. By the time I got to the
NICU River was snuggled on Dad’s chest finally peaceful after a dramatic entry.
We are so thankful everything turned out okay, and I think the Hypnobirthing
techniques and my ongoing yoga practice really kept me calm in what could have
been a very stressful situation. Gareth was not only an awesome birthing partner
(supporting the breathing and visualization, taking vitals when I wouldn't let nurses
touch me) but also an amazing advocate for River in the NICU avoiding many
unnecessary interventions (prolonged Tylenol administration, sugar water, formula)
by using the questions, ‘Is he okay right now?’, and, ‘Can we wait an hour and see
how things are then?’ Which are techniques we learned in our Hypnobirthing class
for avoiding unnecessary medical interventions.
We ended up hiring a post-partum doula, Melitta Hoder and she has been so great
in helping us find our bearings after a difficult birthing experience. Our birth doula Alexis was an absolute miracle to have with us, she was so fabulous! We also had a cranial sacral therapist come over and do some cranial sacral work with River which totally helped out his latch - we were having a few difficulties with breastfeeding to start off with.
River, Mom and Dad have been at home for almost 2 weeks now and just enjoying
our wonderful, healthy and strong bundle of joy!
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