Pregnant Pause by Mommy Mundo

A few days ago, I was invited to speak at Pregnant Pause by Mommy Mundo. I talked to expecting parents (many of them first timers!) about the benefits of yoga for pregnancy, labor and birth.

Here I am starting with alignment and basic pranayama

I also shared my VBAC (vaginal birth after a ceasarian) home water birth and lotus birthing story to the group and many seemed interested in wanting a gentler path for their babies, too.

Thank you, Janice for asking me to share my knowledge and experience on birthing! I hope that I had planted seeds of consciousness for these parents to know that there are far more gentle options than what is considered "normal" these days.

To know more on this sacred pregnancy and conscious birthing journey, we have an upcoming workshop this April for expecting parents and even those who will consider parenting in the near (or far) future! Participants may email consciousbirthmanila@gmail.com 

A Blissful Mama's Retreat in Palawan

We have just wrapped up a wonderful gathering of birthkeepers (Mothers, Fathers, Women, Midwife and Doulas) in Bahay Kalipay, Puerto Princesa, Palawan. It was a beautiful weekend of sharing knowledge, age-old wisdom, latest evidence-based techniques and lots of tender love + care embracing womanhood! 

I admit that I'm a little bummed that we missed Ibu Robin Lim by a few days in this place! She came to Puerto Princesa to have a little vacation time and connect with kindred souls for a project in the works which I am hugely excited about!

She is definitely one of our main inspirations for the Gentle Birth Movement in the Philippines. I will never forget how much she helped manifest the dreamy birth of my daughter, Maya. Last year, I brought 3-month old Maya to Bumi Sehat, Bali as homage to a true light in the field of sacred birth!

My parents, Maya and I visit Ibu Robin Lim in her hOMe

Irina, my doula, thank you for your great motherly energy leading this batch of participants. Here she is explaining the Gentle Birth essentials in the breezy green space of BK.

teaching optimal fetal positioning

Teaching the Rebozo technique

Clarity, thank you for holding space and sharing your inuitive painting module with our participants. Another useful release-work tool for pregnancy and any stage in our lives!

 I shared pre-natal yoga asanas which women can use at any trimester during pregnancy. Here I am wearing my very favorite Birthing themed shirt which I bought from Bumi Sehat, Bali. "How do you stay human?" Ask yourself this question at the time of the birth of your child. Is it humane the conditions that we give for love and growth to happen? Ask yourself these questions as we raise our spiritual children.

Photo taken by Irina

Timing was absurdly perfect because a volunteer who came to Bahay Kalipay the same time we started the retreat was a midwife from Germany named Isabel. She shared her expertise with everyone with much lightness and humor that really gave the mothers much more confidence in their decision to birth differently.

Here is Isabel using a pinard horn after palpation for the exact location to check the baby's heartbeat. 

Daniw spoke about eating a wholistic diet is one of the ways that mirror our lifestyle which will greatgly impact the baby in utero. Here she is below demonstrating how to introduce superfoods and local green leafy vegetables into everyday food. El Kalinado, another healer and teacher brings to life amazing nutrient dense food for everyone. I am sad to have missed out on the Avocado Chocolate Cream because I was teaching a pre-natal yoga class! 

photo credits to Isa for the collage

For the Mother Blessing Ritual, we also had men and non-preggies join us and it was just a solid community of celebrating the goddesses within us.

Coming together as a tribe of positivity helped elevate our consciousness of what pregnancy and birth is. This time of 10 moon cycles is so sacred and we as a society should protect it from otherwise.

For those interested in future workshops, we will have a repeat for the Sacred Pregnancy & Conscious Birth on April 18 at Casa Natura, San Juan. 

We are also conducting SACRED POST-PARTUM: A Mother's Honoring Workshop this Saturday, March 7 in Casa Natura.

Please email me at monica.eleazar@gmail.com or Irina at consciousbirthmanila@gmail.com if you would like to register. Limited slots only.

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!