Benefits of Natural Childbirth

No bodily harm, or unnecessary interventions during birth

*Shorter labor with less need for interventions (internal fetal monitor, continuous monitoring, IV, catheter, etc.,)

Feeling your body's reflexes during natural childbirth results in more effective and faster pushing. Studies show that getting an epidural prolongs pushing time.

The epidural slows down labor, which means you are more likely to be given a pitocin drip (uterine stimulant) to speed up contractions. These contractions are so strong and close together that you have little time to recover between them, allowing less oxygen to reach the fetus. This could damage your baby’s brain cells and possibly lead to neurological problems.

Epidurals increase the chance of fever, which increases the likelihood antibiotics will be prescribed.

*Lower Cesarean rate

* Baby can latch on better and more quickly for breastfeeding moms

Research shows babies are more alert and more quickly engage in pre-breastfeeding behaviors (sucking, rooting, massaging mother's breasts) and nurse longer within the first 90 minutes.

*When your baby arrives undrugged she is much more active, alert, coordinated and reactive to her environment. Drugged babies can hardly move.

*Quicker, easier recovery for mother and baby. Less tearing of the perineum. No risk of prolonged pain from botched epidural or Cesarean wound.

Usually, your appetite is normal and you eat right away.

* Mother is in control of her body and can use instinct to birth the baby. Labor pains instruct the mother to seek ideal positions for relieving pain and facilitate rotation and descent of the baby’s head.

Unmedicated women may move freely, use the bathroom and shower, walk, and change positions throughout labor.

According to the Cochrane Review, studies show that getting medication makes changing positions difficult even after birth.

*Better for your baby 

Endorphins secreted during natural childbirth have been found in the placenta and umbilical cord. This may help the baby’s transition from the womb and make the birth experience more comfortable for your baby.

*No risk of long-term negative developmental or behavioral effects on the baby.
No risk of long term effects of drugs on the baby’s development or behavior such as ADHD or autism, or other learning disabilities.

*No risk of permanently damaging your child’s brain with toxic drugs.

*Less chance of damage to baby’s brain due to drugs or misused forceps or vacuum

*Less chance of bodily harm to baby from vacuum extraction

*Baby is less fussy.

Natural birth facilitates bonding

*Shorter hospital stay

*You can bond more easily with your baby  

 *It is safe.

*You are practicing a sacred rite of passage, you will feel empowered and strong!

*You will be able to hold your baby immediately after birth.

*It’s more affordable!

 

Birth is a sacred ceremony, a trance that brings life into the tangible world. 

Compiled by Ticicalli Yahualli Ticicalli20@gmail.com  

Meet Martha

I am Martha Escudero a mother, Certified Mental Health Rehabilitation worker MHA, Certified Lactation Educator/Counselor UCSD, Certified Death Doula The Twilight Brigade, and a LDIRs in health graduate. DONA trained as a birth doula, and ICEA trained as Childbirth Educator.  With  BS in Gender, Ethnicity and Multicultural Studies from Cal Poly Pomona. I have volunteered in food justice, mental health, women’s reproductive health, and prisoner advocacy work. .

I am guided by my community to support families during our sacred transitions in our life here on earth.  Believing there is almost no support in our current society during these precious times I joined Ticicalli Yahualli in 2009 in order to help build our own community support system.  Since then I have honored women, children, and families creating ceremony in mother blessings, birth, postpartum care, welcoming baby celebrations, and first moon celebrations.  Now I am open to create sacred space to conscious dying and life celebrations.  

I am passionate about being able to honor life's transitions and believe we all deserve to birth, live, and  die with dignity and respect.

You may see me around town usually with my partner and daughters at marches, in ceremonies, or hiking in the mountains.

¿Quieres Chichi?

20 Unconventional Uses for Breast Milk

  
We all know breast is best, but besides being nature's superfood, breastmilk has antibodies, anti-adhesion factors, anti-inflamatory agents, immunomodulators and bioactive compounds that can be used by the whole family!  
 Here are a few ways to use breast milk to heal and relieve common discomforts.


1. Stuffy nose- Thin mucous with a few drops. Let breastmilk sit in the nasal passage for 10 minutes, then blow nose or suck out the thin mucous. Easier done lying down or while asleep (with babies).

2. Pink Eye (conjunctivitis)- Express a few drops at least three times a day, for a couple of days. Breastmilk should clear the infection and lessen pain. May also be used as a natural eyedrop for puffiness, redness, or for plugged tear ducts.

Breastmilk in the eye is painless and effective.

3. Acne- Helps cure pimples. Cleanse skin, pat dry, apply breastmilk and air dry.

4. Chapped Lips/Cold Sores- Allow a layer of breastmilk to air dry on lips. Apply as often as needed.

5. Dry Skin/Eczema- Apply to clean skin and air dry. Works instantly. Great for sensitive skin.

6. Personal Lubriccant- Use as you would use any personal lubricant.

7. Sore/Cracked Nipples- Great for Moms, especially when first establishing breastfeeding (use colostrum). Apply, allow to air dry.

8. Ear Infection- Express a few drops down the ear canal. Helps Alleviate pain and works the same as prescription antibiotic topical drops do to combat infection.

9. Immune Booster- Serve a glass when your older childs' immune system is compromised.

10. Soap- Make Breastmilk soap as you would make any milk-based soap.

11. Rinse for Wounds- For small cuts, burns, blisters, gouges and scrapes, express breast-milk to accelerate healing and clear infection. Perfect for camping or hiking, when you need to rinse off a scrape.

12. Insect Bites- Squirt and rub in to stop itching and heal skin.

13. Leg Ulcers- Apply a few drops of breast milk (always sterile when expressed directly).

14. Chicken Pox- Use the same way you would use calamine lotion or any other ointment to help ease the pain.

15. Sore Throat- In babies, breastfeed, Adults: gargle/drink breast milk. Also useful for canker sores (swish around in mouth).

16. Facial Cleanser/Eye Makeup Remover- Apply on face and wipe off. Use as you would use any eye makeup remover.

17. Warts- Dab on with a q-tip or tissue paper. Air dry.

18. Contact Lens Cleaner- Use as you would any solution. Great for emergencies.

19. Sunburn- Use to freshen and heal skin. Apply to clean skin and air dry.

20. Hair gel- Squirt a bit into your hand, rub and apply to keep down fly-aways to make hair shiny and smooth without harsh chemicals or stiffness.




Disclaimer: Although Breast milk is sterile and provides immunity from common infectious illnesses, some infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis) may be passed through the use of breast milk.  For informational use only.

Meet Andrea

Andrea Penagos is a bilingual, certified Hatha yoga, Khalsa Way® prenatal yoga & Yoga Tune Up® instructor based in Los Angeles, CA. By integrating anatomy & biomechanics into her playful, heart-opening classes, Andrea encourages students to safely and deeply experience their physical, emotional & energetic bodies. In her prenatal classes, Andrea fuses yoga, dance, meditation, journaling and art-making to deepen the connection between mother and baby while also offering tools to enhance the sacred experience of pregnancy & birth. When she’s not teaching, Andrea studies acupuncture and Chinese medicine at Yo San University, plays in her garden and organizes with fierce women all throughout LA.

Visit Andrea's Website and her Facebook Page.

Meet MariaTeresa

Maria Teresa is an Indigenous Student Midwife,Doula, Certified Lactation Educator & Counselor, Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, Wellness Coach and Reiki Practitioner (level 2) serving the Los Angeles and nearby communities.She is the visionary of Womyn’s Medicine and has served over 200 families.
Maria, a Women’s studies major, initiated her journey as a birth worker when she began to co-create with the indigenous birth worker collective ‘Ticicalli Yahualli’. Ticicalli Yahualli promotes indigenous birthing rites, provides community doula support & intergenerational healing. Since then she has received several trainings in evidence based & traditional healing modalities to support the childbearing year. Some of her teachers include renowned Doula trainer & Childbirth educator Ana Paula Markel, of Bini Birth and Traditional Midwife Naoli Vinaver. In 2012, she completed UC San Diego’s certificate program in Breastfeeding. Maria has been Apprenticing with Certified Professional Midwives providing support during preconception, well person care, prenatal, out of hospital births as well as postpartum. She is currently working on completing her midwifery program with the National College of Midwifery.
As an indigenous healing arts practitioner she is passionate about teaching culturally relevant self care practices, childbirth education, holistic healing, non-violent communication & reflective practice. She views healing as a process between the mind-body, environment and the transgenerational experience. Her vision is to support her community in making informed choices to contribute to their wellness and healthy growth of the incoming generations.

When Maria is not at birth, you can find her spending time with family, in ceremony, studying at a local coffee shop, or dancing.




For more information about my services please follow me on:

IG: Womyns_Medicine

Facebook: Womyns Medicine

Twitter: @Womyns_Medicine

Meet Aubrey

Aubrey Simons-Araya is a second generation birthworker, artist, self-identified queer womyn, and owner of Luna Sangre Moontime Products.  Since attending her first birth at the age of ten, Aubrey has provided support for pregnant wombyn and mothers ever since.  Aubrey's path has led her to working with single mothers and queer/genderqueer families.  She has facilitated natural Moontime workshops for wombyn of all ages, and was recently awarded a scholarship from Birth Arts International, where she is in the process of becoming a certified Childbirth Educator. Aubrey believes that birth is the most beautiful, natural, fluid, and difficult transformational process, that should always be honored.

Meet Panquetzani

Panquetzani in 2007, when her journey to conscious childbirth began.

  

Breastfeeding and baby-wearing are two of Panquetzani's passions.

Panquetzani is a doula, student midwife, musician, writer, mother, and owner of Laguneros Internet Cafe.  She is certified in neonatal resuscitation, and advocates for natural parenting and mothering from a Native perspective.  She is currently writing Channel to Tlalticpac: Indigenous Feminine Writings, a book scheduled for release in June 2012. She believes women have the human right to choose how they birth- despite socio-economic, or political status.  Panquetzani encourages families to advocate for themselves, and encourages them to make conscious decisions in the childbearing year.  To learn more about Panquetzani, visit Indigenous Mother.

Panquetzani assisting a birth in 2009.