Update on Issa's Lotus Birth

Sharing with you all an update from Issa's family the day after her lotus birth :)

Inner Birthing of Issa: Full Lotus and Water Birth, Skin to Skin, Breastfeeding and High on Raw Plant Base Food, Innerdance.

Thank you everyone for the good thoughts and warm messages and for resonating with what we chose to do in this pregnancy, birthing and parenting process. It is indeed heartwarming to know that we are supported by you. We are still in our nesting period, hoping to extend until the 40th day after birth so we can all fully recover, with not so much physical and mental work involve but merely enjoying the time with our growing family. 

Here is Issa at 33hrs after birth.

In Full Lotus Birth we don't cut the cord and we wait until it totally falls off without clamping or burning. You wait until it naturally detach itself from the baby.

Placenta is believed to be the twin sister, angel of the baby. It has life. (please get a copy of the book, Placenta The Forgotten Chakra by Robin Lim)

It is destined to give up its life to support baby Issa all through out her living years. An Angel whom she will recognize and will be with her always.

I decided to remove Issa's clothes so we can have more skin to skin time with each other and the umbilical cord needs natural air to dry. Covering her with fully with clothes doesn't help so much. Skin to skin time gives more opportunity for the mom and the child to really bond and feel the warmth of each other's body. There were many experiences shared already that it prevented and healed many birth illnesses or defects of the child including those which are caused by premature birthing.

We are preserving the placenta with salt and food grade lavender essential oil, this gives us an option to either burry and have ceremony or dry and encapsulate it as future medicine supplement of the child and the mom. (A lot of pharmaceutical companies previously and without permission from the parents, they buy and collect all the placenta from the hospitals. Where does the placenta soap comes from anyway?)

For her navel I put Frankincense and Mhyrr. All oils give healing qualities and are spiritual oils too.

It takes a lot of energy and presence to be 24/7 be there for the child so the cord won't be accidentally removed. We haven't gotten enough sleep but this whole process only happens once in her life so it worth all the effort.

The oils were given by friend from Malaysia after continuously dreaming of the birthing of Jesus with the three wise men with their gifts. She got an email mentioning Issa, which is actually an Armaic name of Jesus and a name in Malay that connotes the same and so it gave her an idea to send the three gifts of the three wise men. Thank you Shahira.

Symbolic, beautiful and in essence as we always want it to be.

(Wow, posting this at exactly 11:11, that is an add on.)

Also, please feel free to share the videos and our posts if you feel your friends will resonate with it too, no need to ask permission please. I think when its already in fb and you tube even us doesn't have full ownership of it. As you share, please send prayers to all mommies and babies that they all have safe birthing process too. Blessings!

Daniw Pi Sinag and Issa

Issa Means One: A Water Lotus Birth

This morning at 1:11 am, my good friend and soul sister Daniw, Inner Mommy of Bahay Kalipay, birthed her daughter named Issa (which means One in Tagalog and some sources say it is Arabic for Jesus). Daniw and I have been communicating on how to do a lotus birth (Keeping the placenta attached to the newborn until it severs naturally). She was not able to do so with her last child, Sinag although they did an unassisted water birth as well a few years back. We have both been blessed to meet Ibu Robin Lim who has shared with us her knowledge of birthing the placenta, too, the forgotten chakra.

She shares her natural water and lotus birth here filmed by her life partner, Pi. Watch how gentle birth can be surrounded by those you love at home.



Wouldn't the world be a better place if we were all welcomed in this loving manner?

African Birth Song

"There is a tribe in Africa where the birth date of a child is counted not from when they've been born, nor from when they are conceived but from the day that the child was a thought in its mother's mind.

And when a woman decides that she will have a child, she goes off and sits under a tree, by herself, and she listens until she can hear the song of the child that wants to come. And after she's heard the song of this child, she comes back to the man who will be the child's father, and teaches it to him. And then, when they make love to physically conceive the child, some of that time they sing the song of the child, as a way to invite it.

And then, when the mother is pregnant, the mother teaches that child's song to the midwives and the old women of the village, so that when the child is born, the old women and the people around her sing the child's song to welcome it. And then, as the child grows up, the other villagers are taught the child's song. If the child falls, or hurts its knee, someone picks it up and sings its song to it. Or perhaps the child does something wonderful, or goes through the rites of puberty, then as a way of honoring this person, the people of the village sing his or her song.

And it goes this way through their life. In marriage, the songs are sung, together. And finally, when this child is lying in bed, ready to die, all the villagers know his or her song, and they sing--for the last time--the song to that person."

Source

Watch this video --

Scrutinizing Stretchmark Products

Stretchmarks. Ugh. Here's a major vanity concern women have when it comes to skincare in pregnancy. They say that it all depends on your genetic make up. Some lucky few have none after birth because DNA from their parents prevented them from having any, but most (unlucky ones) like me are succumbed to the unforgiving battle scars of motherhood from s-t-r-e-t-c-h-ing of skin in the tummy and thigh areas especially during the last trimester. A sight only true love can accept :P

Many years ago, I only knew of Palmer's Cocoa Butter which I would occasionally put on (Thank god, I wasn't more religious on lathering this stuff!). Sadly, this widely used product by many preggies contain parabens---dangerous preservatives which skincare manufacturers use to prevent growth of bacteria in products but refrain from siting its effects to the public. Parabens mimic estrogen in the body and when accumulated can have serious health hazards. A British oncologist linked parabens with breast cancer in a study here. Before gifting a new mom this product, please think twice!

A few months ago, a well-meaning friend gave me her Bio-oil to try because it is known to prevent and cure (?) stretchmarks. It is heavily marketed as a new scar treatment and is quite famous because of its advertisements. If you check the official website, it boasts numerous awards won for being the #1 scar and stretchmark product in 17 countries. Curious, I gave it a try but the slippery and thin consistency reminded me of a local baby oil which is made from mineral oil and true enough, when I researched and read the full ingredients list - I was RIGHTLY disappointed to find out the base IS in fact, mineral oil. 

Mineral oil is a petroleum by-product. It has the ability to block the pores on your skin, therefore block your skin's natural respiration process as well. Once inside the body, mineral oil can steal away natural fat solubles and minerals too. Again, another no-no :( Just like parabens, mineral oil is also accumulative and worst, has been linked to skin cancer! Read Dr. Mercola's comments here.

Funny that the website lists its botanical ingredients and deceivingly hides 'mineral oil' which makes the product seem safe and natural. Read more scrutiny here- Chemistry Blog: Beauty & The Risk. So, this is definitely OFF your list, right?

Now, I've been hearing the benefits of Rose Hip Oil on skin. Top model Miranda Kerr swears by it. She claims to have used it throughout her pregnancy and doesn't have a single stretch mark despite birthing to a 10-pound baby! Then again, she might have been one of those blessed with anti-stretchmark DNA :P

photo by Australian Beauty on a Budget

I purchased a bottle of cold-pressed (a.k.a. naturally processed) Rose Hip Vital for a steal at $10 during a recent trip to the US. I sometimes use it as a facial serum but have been lathering mainly on my belly. I still have battlescars/stretchmarks from my previous pregnancy so I'm not quite sure if this experiment will prevent further stretching but, it feels great to be nourishing myself nightly with a 100% natural product that is rich in essential fatty acids, high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Huffington Post says that Rose Hip Oil, a miracle skin care product is the next coconut oil. Let's see about that!

Book Launch: Project Mom

I am very excited to attend the book launch of Project Mom written by Amanda Griffin-Jacob with good friend, Bianca Araneta-Elizalde. It is a book for expecting new moms and moms in general about natural motherhood, the lifestyle that they breathe and promote relentlessly.

Amanda says that it is the first book of its kind here in the Philippines and even abroad as they have a comprehensive local directory that lets you know where to get everything you need for your life as a mom. The book covers pregnancy, bringing your baby home, breastfeeding, health, traveling with your baby (domestic and international), memories and celebrations, and a chapter dedicated solely to MOMS (how to lose the baby weight, the importance of me-time, their favorite products, and bonding with your friends and husbands.

50% of book sales on this night will go to Typhoon Yolanda victims. There will also be an amazing raffle with P150,000 worth of phenomenal prizes and 100% of the raffle proceeds are going to help Typhoon Yolanda moms and babies. There will also be a few vendors selling some wonderful organic products. (yipee!)

I will be there with my co-yummy mummies from FLOW. See you all there!

Acupuncture for Pregnancy

Even before finding out I was pregnant, I already had an inkling because of all the clues: my period was already late, I had swelling of breasts, an increase in my sense of smell and NAUSEA. Oh boy, this is something that I definitely do not miss! I was surely positive in my pregnancy test a few days after and had another bout of morning sickness just like I did with my previous pregnancy over 6 years ago.

A co-parent in the Waldorf school mentioned to me that she went to a convent in Panay Ave., Quezon City for acupuncture sessions under Sister Regina Liu to combat morning sickness during her pregnancy. I've heard of this person from other friends because she is known as the fertility acupuncturist, making it possible for couples to have children despite reproductive issues. Read an article here on how acupuncture and moxibustion supports natural fertility.

I am a Yin Yoga teacher, so I also studied the benefits of applying TCM (traditional Chinese Medicine) techniques and the health benefits; removing any blockages in chi and re-balancing the energies in the body. I've tried acupuncture before with Dr. Kit Navarro from St. Luke's (who also happens to be a Yin Yoga teacher now at Beyond Yoga and Yoga for Life) but I was curious and wanted to meet the famous Sister Regina who seems to be a pro in reproductive health.  I booked myself a session and have been going regularly for the health of me and my baby in utero.

Yep, that's me with 8 needles on my head! Painless!

My experience so far has been good that I even convince my friends to come and join me. Sister Regina or one of the trained acupuncturists assesses me each time I come, asks me questions about diet, sleep, looks at my tongue and then starts to insert the needles and adds moxibustion (which the nurse assistant lights up) before leaving the room. The session lasts about 30 minutes at a time. I ALWAYS feel the effects right when the nurse comes back in to remove the needles. It's almost as if I am ready to doze off to sleep and then it ends, hehehe!

Benefits of Acupuncture in the different trimesters of Pregnancy

First trimester - less frequent and shorter periods of nausea, relieves fatigue, migraines and bleeding

Second trimester - alleviate heartburn, hemorrhoids, stress, treat edema, elevated blood sugar, etc.

Third trimester - relief from sciatica, backache, pubic and joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome
"By 32 to 34 weeks, the acupuncturist should begin to encourage a head-down position,".... "In the last four to six weeks, the mother will receive treatments to normalize and optimize labor."

http://doctorberlin.com/pregnancy/prenatal-services/prenatal-acupuncture.html. 

To book an acupuncture session, you may call 02-3735503. If you do, let me know how it goes for you!

Wisdom from Ina May Gaskin