Bengkung Belly Binding

Bengkung is a traditional Malaysian belly bind which is practiced in variations all throughout South East Asia. If you are a Filipina, you would be familiar of midwives or manghihilots massaging and pressing your hips back together after birthing. Bengkung has the same goal of tightening your hips and stacking your core muscles to give you 360 degrees support using a very long personalized cloth. It is highly recommended to help heal diastasis recti with constant support of the abdomen area.

Here are a few photos of when Irina binded my up at our first Sacred Pregnancy & Conscious Birth retreat in Antipolo.

You can do it yourself but its better when someone else binds for you!

Here is Irina binding Ria, another participant in the recent Blissful Mama's Retreat in Bahay Kalipay Palawan. 

See how cute little Sitara is holding Mama's hand?

Here I am struggling with it at first, using my teeth to hold one end of the cloth to keep it tight.

Viola! I am mighty proud of how I was able to come through with this bind by myself and getting a selfie done, too!

The Bengkung Belly Bind Kit will be available for all our participants at our Sacred Postpartum workshop tomorrow in Casa Natura. To sign up, SMS 0917-8386261

New Moon Seeds = Full Moon Harvest

A few weeks ago, during the week of the new moon. I met with my doula, Irina and Palawan goddess Daniw in a "soulful gatherings place" a.k.a. the home of Irina. 

In one corner of her home is a photo memory of her homebirth to Delphina more than a year ago. After birthing, she realized the importance of pre-natal and post-natal care aimed for a more wholistic pregnancy. This is one of the reasons why she studied to become a doula herself. Because the birth was so powerful, it served as a catalyst of change. Today, she left her other job and is solely a doula serving the needs of many expectant mothers in Manila.

Just like myself, she enjoys making natural herbal balms and other "witch-like" concoctions. Irina's apothecary is oh-so-dreamy! Many of her ingredients which (aren't available here), she hand carried herself from Europe. These handmade creations of hers are used during pregnancy, rituals and after birthing to promote healing and general well-being.

They say that Russians are very much like the Filipinos because of their hospitality. We were served healthy merienda for the nursing mamas: vegan muffins and cupcakes from Pipino, homemade dark chocolate and freshly squeezed carrot juice. Oohlala!

The common denominator? All three of us had homebirths! Irina initially planned a waterbirth for herself but ended up birthing outside the pool. Daniw birthed two of her children unassisted in her home in Palawan. I was able to have a vbac (vaginal birth after c-section) at home in the water, also unassisted! All of us feel strongly about protecting the rights of women and babies so often neglected during the hours of birthing.

We had an agenda that new moon day. To create a series of events for mothers who are searching for a tribe of women who will fully support the decision for a different, wholistic and gentle birthing experience. There is so much knowledge, so much wisdom we want to share with others!

In this week's full moon, we came out with The Sacred Pregnancy and Conscious Birth Retreats which we announced on the Gentle Birth group in Facebook. 

A one-day retreat in Antipolo on December 20 and January 10 --

Three days retreat in Palawan for the Blissfull Mama on Feb 27 to March 1 --

If you are interested to sign up, please email consciousbirthmanila@gmail.com Limited slots so please register early!