Debra Pascali-Bonaro

Awaken Your Inner Wisdom

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Bali: Blessing the Way

As I arrive in Bali, the change in climate is the first things to touch me, walking out of the airport the warm humid air caresses my skin and the sea of smiles of people waiting to welcome each person to Bali, feels so different already. As we are driving art, statues, and scooters are everywhere. The 1 1/2 hour drive from the airport to the beautiful village of Nyuh Kuning, is like a mental massage, my whole being relaxes, the cultures and pace of Bali begin to allow me to release and reflect on all I am leaving behind and all I hope to welcome and transform as Bali for me is always about transformation.

Arriving the the small, clean, green village of Nyuh Kuning my home in Bali always feels special. Each person welcomes you with a big smile and it’s not forced or fake, the Balinese smile with their heart and it will touch yours. My bed is covered in flowers as this tropical island gives us beauty all around and it’s even captured in the towels folded into a beautiful swan.

Relaxing & savoring Eat Pray Doula memories by the pool at Pelangi estate.
Relaxing & savoring Eat Pray Doula memories by the pool at Pelangi estate.

Soon the sounds of Bali – the Gamelan begin as it’s approaching Nyepi – the Balinese New Year and preparations are under ways to prepare for Ogoh Ogoh night, where giant statues are paraded thru the streets, the Gamelan band will play and all the evil spirits will be ushered away, it a time to reflect on what you need to release and replace as Nyepi the day following is a day of silent meditation and prayer. I love these traditions and rituals and each year Eat Pray Doula allows you to arrive early or stay late depending on which workshop you will attend to enjoy this colorful, traditional festival and make it your own time for reflection and rest.

I have purchased a sarong, Kebiah and sash as anyone is welcomed into their Hindu temple ceremonies if you wear traditional dress and are not on you menstrual moon and/or grieving. Ceremonies are blessings that include blessing with flowers, rice, incense and water. The Balinese is a culture of acceptance, and any religion or beliefs are welcome. You are invited to pray with them to your Divine and in your way as long as you honor theirs. If you would like to enjoy temple ceremony be sure to bring a t-shirt that covers your shoulders, a light scarf you can tie around your waist and we will be giving you a sarong or you might enjoy shopping at the market in Ubud for your own sarong and if you pick material you can have a kebaih made to fit in just a few hours, something I wear to nice dinners and events at home as they are so beautiful!

I was invited this year to my friend Congtit’s family ceremony to bless their new home and temple. Each family compound has it’s own temple. Each ceremony is started in the family temple and this day we go to their current home to their family temple to gather the spirit of the ancestors who are here and invite them to join us at the new temple. The older women chant for almost an hour as the priest goes into trance with his own chants and ringing of the bell, and different members take turns doing their blessings with flower, incense, water and rice. Although I don’t understand the words, I feel the sacredness and connect with my own ancestors. The women welcome me to sit with them, huddling close and the language of our heart makes me feel completely welcomed.

When this ceremony at the old family temple is over the women gather their baskets of fruit and flowers as offering onto their head to process to the next temple, followed by the village Gamalon and the family. I join them in walking thru the village to the temple of the deceased – the ancetory’s ground for more blessings form the village/family priest. After a shorter time here we process again to the river temple. more blessings and offerings and then onto the families new home. The Gamalon settles in the shade, the local priest blesses the ground and a high priest from a far away village has joined us and ascends to his seat high in the temple to begin his chanting, bell ringing, and prayers that look like a trance. The family and friend gathered begin a celebration, great food for all and soon men dressed in Balinese costumes with traditional masks entertain us, making everyone smile and laugh. this ancient tradition is to bring song, music, dance and happiness to the new home. The village has come out for this day to bless this new home for Congtit’s aunt and uncle.

I was not able to join them the day before but that too had been a full day ceremony with Ganesha to remove any obstacles from the new Temple, and today the second day to bring in all they would like here. Two days of processions, praying at the village and home temples. I think about when we move home, when we have life events, what does our village and family do? How do we honor and celebrate life changes. I am humbled with the connection each person has to not only each other but how the past is honored to move to the present, and the value of joy, happiness, connection and love. My saying we birth the way we live, makes me think we need more rituals in our everyday life, or ways to come together and honor or past, remove our obstacles before we move forward.

oqRHgj0OI invite you to not only join me, Ibu Robin and Katherine for Eat Pray Doula, but maybe like me to learn about a new culture, to reflect within on what you would like to release and what you would like to bring forward to birth and life and give yourself the gift of nurturing your mind, body and spirit in Bali with us. I hope you will consider enjoying Ogoh Ogoh day and the silence of Nyepi to be a part of an ancient Balinese ceremony and at night on Nyepi when the island is dark, no lights, no car, no planes, make sure to look up at the night sky where you will see more stars than ever in your life, it’s as if you can reach up and touch them. I take time to lay outside and dream.

P.S. Another way to nurture you body and spirt is with Balinese massage. Massages in Bali are incredible and so reasonable – and if you enjoy a head massage and hair washing you must check out Cantika or for a more expensive massage in a magical location visit Taksu Spa. We will arrange massage therapist to visit our villa every day after our Eat Pray Doula workshop so you can book massages by the pool waterfall or in your room.

Join me, Ibu Robin and Ibu Katherine in Bali next year to experience for yourself and see the new Bumi Sehat Birth Center! Birth Doula Workshop and Advanced Birthworker Workshop are both are taking early registration now at www.eatpraydoula.com.

Woman who Coined the Term “Doula,” Saying Goodbye

On February 2nd, the birth community said goodbye to Dr. Dana Raphael- anthropologist, pacifist, philanthropist, ballet enthusiast, and the woman who coined the phrase “Doula.” My condolences go out to the family with deep respect for the amazing life and legacy Dr. Dana Raphael gave us.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr Dana Raphael in 1988 – 1989 when the doula movement was just beginning. A group of us, including Dr. Raphael, spoke about doulas and discussed how she coined the term “doula” to describe a female caregiver who “Mothered the Mother.” This was all prior to the establishment of DONA International in 1992. We held a gathering for what we called the National Association of Postpartum Care Services – NAPCS. We had some lengthy discussions as doulas were just beginning to organize and Dr. Raphael could see the ground swell of doulas, going from within the woman’s own circle, to that of a community of women who offered services as we now have them, all around the world. I remember her concerns, her vision and her passion. I have shared her book and work around the world as I train doulas with DONA International.

Below is the note Dr. Raphael’s family sent that I wish to share with you. Please share, do you like the term “doula” to describe women supporting birthing mothers? Please share in our comments your yes, nos, and whys.

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Pictured are Dr. Raphael & Margaret Mead. In 1975, they co-founded The Human Lactation Center, an institute devoted to researching patterns of lactation worldwide.

Dr. Dana Raphael, well-known medical anthropologist, writer and lecturer, who was best known for her work in supportive behavior and breastfeeding, died at home in Fairfield, Connecticut of complications from congestive heart failure on February 2nd. Raphael is credited with launching the Doula movement. The term doula was first used by Raphael in a 1969 anthropological study to describe a female caregiver during labor and childbirth whose function was often associated with successful breastfeeding (in Raphael’s words, ‘mothering the mother’). A longtime resident of Fairfield, she was also an avid supporter of Connecticut Ballet and the Connecticut Audubon Society. Raised in New Britain, Connecticut, her family started a chain of department stores (Raphael’s) that were well known in northwestern Connecticut into the early 1970’s.

She obtained her Ph.D. from Columbia University, studying with anthropologist and mentor, Margaret Mead. As a newly-wed in 1953, she did her initial field work in India. Her marriage to soul-mate and collaborator, Howard Boone Jacobson, lasted 60 years until his death in 2013. In 1975, she co-founded The Human Lactation Center with Margaret Mead, an institute devoted to researching patterns of lactation worldwide. The Center is now a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

il_570xN.764901422_aw2mRaphael’s seminal book, The Tender Gift: Breastfeeding, published in 1973, extols the virtues of lactation and offers a number of tools and techniques to assure a successful breastfeeding experience. Many in the midwife and Doula community refer to it as the ‘bible of breastfeeding’ for mothers looking to overcome social stigmas, medical concerns or personal challenges around lactation.

Dr. Raphael never shied away from controversy, having taken on milk formula companies such as Nestle in the 1980’s, pushing them to be more aware of the impact they were having on infant mortality in the developing world. She worked with them to amend their practices, creating educational programs to help mothers better understand how to use formula as a supplement to breastfeeding.  Taking her work a step further, she also served as Executive Director of the Eleventh Commandment Foundation, an NGO which researched the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse on women’s experiences of pregnancy, labor, childbirth and lactation. As a long-time member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), she was called to struggle against the Vietnam War, for justice for survivors of sexual abuse, for gender equality, and against sexist depictions of the female body in the media and popular culture.

In the last 20 years, Dr. Raphael served on the U.S. Board of the Club of Rome, working on climate change issues and creating programs to educate world leaders on the impact of climate change. Dr. Raphael served as an adjunct professor at Yale University, School of Medicine, and as an invited lecturer in the United States, China, India and Japan. She received two Fulbright awards, chaired or participated in more than fifty conferences and symposia, and wrote or edited five books and numerous articles.

She is survived by her three children, Brett Raphael, of Stamford, Connecticut, Seth Jacobson and wife, Cindy Short, of Malibu, California, and Jessa Murnin and husband, Jim Murnin, of Fairfield, Connecticut. She also leaves behind six beloved grandchildren: Wynn Jacobson-Galan, Layne and Skye Jacobson, and Kevin, Katie, and Sean Murnin.   In lieu of gifts, the family requests that contributions be directed to the Dana Raphael Fund for Connecticut Ballet. A celebration of her life and work will be held on March 6th. Please let the family know if you would like to attend.

Dr. Dana Raphael, you will be deeply missed – thank you for sharing your passion with the world. My condolences go out to the family with deep respect for the amazing life and legacy Dr. Dana Raphael gave us.

[Tweet “Do you like the term “doula” to describe women supporting birthing mothers? Yes, no, why?”]
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Mother Nature, Father Time, Birth and Life!

Imagine the sunshine, a hot breeze with a sweet smell brushing your skin, the sounds of the Balinese Gamelan in the distance and tropical trees and sounds of monkeys and frogs providing you a chorus of nature’s’ bounty. Within the vibrant feel of nature you have arrived to a sisterhood, circle of women who share your passion for gentle birth. Far from home, from many different lands and cultures you settle in with them and begin to share your stories. Being so far from home takes you deeper into your story, feeling safe to share your joys as well as your pain and your challenges as this gentle space holds them all, without judgement but with love and connection.

IMG_3057 Bumi flower logo IMG_2842It’s hard to find the words to explain what I feel as one of the teachers or as I like to say facilitators of the Eat Pray Doula – Bali workshops. This was our first advanced birth worker workshop and my wild trip there again reminded me of all the reasons why I love birth.  [Tweet “Life (like birth) – is unexpected, and we never know what will be asked of us or how long the journey will be.”] I had planned my normal trip flying from Newark to Japan with a short layover, and then on to Singapore, with a few hours to enjoy the airport in the middle of the night and an early morning flight to Bali – over 30 hours of travel, but predictable. Doing this 4 times before I even knew where I wanted to get sushi in Narida airport. But birth is never predictable and so as I waited on the airplane at Newark for an hour with news our plane had a flat tire, I thought ok a slightly longer labor but all was fine. Oh…we are going to get off as things are going to take longer than expected. Another hour and we boarded again, ok my connection will be tight, no sushi in Japan but it should be fine. Relax. Sitting yet again, NO- we must get off again and move to another plane at another gate. I could feel my heart pick up with worry that I would not make my connections and what would happen? At the new gate I patiently waited and then came the news I had never dreamed of.  Your flight is cancelled! We don’t know when you can fly, contact an agent and see what they can do for you. 200 people rushing the desk to book new flights. I sat and decided to call instead of standing and reached an airline agent quickly to learn there was no way to get on my planned flights for days. There must be a way I said. Can you travel another way? I could go to Shanghai and from there to Singapore to Bali. I spent a whole day and no progress at all, the good news I could go home and enjoy a wonderful sushi dinner with my husband Jimi and another night together and then I would do it all again tomorrow.  

Landing in Shanghai was new to me. A far away land I had never imagined I would find myself in. The process to switch to Singapore airlines was not easy and I felt nervous that I could not navigate it, would I find my luggage and have time to wait in line to check in and make my gate in time. I stopped to breathe deeply, I calmed myself and proceeded thru. My Singapore flight was delayed an hour, so all the rushing was not needed and I could sit at the gate and relax. I arrived to Singapore a familiar airport, knowing I was close. I would arrive one day later than planned but would still have 36 hours before our Eat Pray Doula workshop would begin to settle in and prepare with Ibu Robin and Ibu Katherine. I found a little airport cabin to rest in, rented by the hour. I had a bed and shower for 4 hours which felt like heaven after 20 hours of travel. Feeling refreshed I headed to my gate, cleared security and we were ready to board. Bali here I come, I was already dreaming of being met at the airport by Pagi or Pastika from Bumi Sehat, how wonderful it would be to see their smiling faces!

The PA system, are we boarding? NO NO NO, they are canceling my flight. Two flights cancelled in the same trip. What? A volcano on the nearby Island of Lombok is erupting and the ash is making it too dangerous to fly. The Depansar airport is closed. The next thing that happened calmed me so much. Instead of how United Airlines had created panic and a chaotic rush to the counter, Singapore said don’t worry. Please stay seated we are going to take care of you! We will call you up by rows and provide you with a taxi to a hotel that we will pay for, all your meals and as soon as the airport opens we will bring you back and get you to Bali.  They were calm, they were doulaing us thru the change. I waited patiently received my vouchers, printed hotel name and address and headed out to reclaim my luggage. I knew I could choose to see this as a problem or to find pleasure in this change. I choose pleasure and stopped at a store and asked for their best dark chocolate.  I purchased it, opened it and took a bite. I chose pleasure and smiled. This re-framing let me say mother nature has a plan that is greater than me, so let me make the best of it and enjoy it. I am grateful to be safe.  I sent messages to the two birth keepers I have come to know in Singapore, Ginny Phang another DONA doula trainer and Red Miller a Midwife and hypnobirthing instructor. Ginny quickly offered her home, to meet for dinner and anything I needed… she too was my doula there for support and Red chimed in too. I was safe!

I arrived to a nice hotel and in the taxi line met Lori and Miriam from Sacred Doula and Sacred Midwife on their way to Bali too for their workshop. We smiled and I found even more comfort finding I had two more companions on this new adventure. By putting us all at the same hotel Singapore airlines put an agent in the lobby to answer our questions and keep us updates on the volcano. They reassured us they would bring us to Bali as soon as they could. The people came together, rather than random passengers on a plane, people were talking, going out to explore Singapore and even look at traveling to other destinations for those who were on holiday and were not committed to Bali.  I was thrilled to have another bed and after a nap went downtown to meet Ginny for dinner. What a treat to meet her again!

Robin talking at BumiOn the next morning Miriam, Lori and I walked to a local mall and had massages, heavily and painful, yes Pain and Pleasure can happen at the same time! He dug in, working all the knots out of my shoulders from sitting and traveling – it was now Thursday and I had begun my travels on Sunday! We returned to the hotel for updates and they let us know they were providing us another night hotel and would hold a 2PM update meeting once they had news from Bali. We all gathered and the Singapore representatives said we have good news, the winds changed and we can go… be in the lobby with you luggage at 4PM.  Yeah! I went to pack and walked into the lobby where representatives organized us on to 3 buses, whisked us to the airport where they had opened many counters just for our flight so they checked us in quickly, thru security and boarding and off to Bali – yes in the air at 6PM.  The most efficient – gently, respectful, pleasurable process with smiles and care. When we touched down in Bali the whole plane cheered and clapped. Mother Nature had delayed us, but Singapore Airlines had doulaed us and gave us an opportunity that led to new friendships, time to explore Singapore and Ibu Katherine and Ibu Robin had reorganized the schedule to allow me time to settle before teaching. They created the “Eat Pray Doula ~ Volcano Eruption Schedule : Welcome EPDoulas… The best thing about being BirthKeepers is the fact that we can be and must be flexible. Babies come when they are ready, and apparently so do Volcanoes! Airplanes on the other hand, come when Mother Nature and Father Time make space.”

Poster Robin I had been gently reminded of my own saying “we birth the way we live”!  I had traveled 5 days to arrive here, significantly longer than I had “planned”. The process of delays gave me a special dinner with my husband, a chance to land in China a land when I was young I could never have dreamed of going, to enjoy a dinner with Ginny, to meet the Sacred Doulas- Lori and Miriam, to enjoy some awesome dark chocolate and have a painful, pleasurable massage and still arrive in time to begin Day 1 of our workshop. Each of the doulas had a story of arriving in Bali and dancing with the volcano’s energy in some way. These stories lead to many life and birth stories. Sharing a passion for birth each group forms a bond that no words can explain. Nurturing each other, taking much needed time to nurture ourselves, massages, the magic of Bali, the heat, the pool, the water temple, cleansing and blessing. I laughed, cried, learned, stretched and as Jordan so well said was transformed – we each grew or strengthened our wings, recharged, healed, were inspired, and connected. I am returning  home ready to go deeper in spreading a message of love, pleasure and possibilities with a larger and ever growing circle of sisters- with overflowing gratitude for the gift of mother nature and father time and for each day we walk together.

IMG_2993Join us in Bali for our next  Eat Pray Doula gathering for a life – changing, workshop/vacation of a life-time! Give yourself the gift that will keep on giving for years to come.

(What are you waiting for? It’ s a write off and holidays are coming, this is the perfect holiday gift)

[Tweet “Share your EPD Bali or other adventures and how – Life is like birth”]….Tweet @OrgasmicBirth

Doula’s Role: Promoting Respectful Care

by Debra Pascali-Bonaro LCCE, BDT/PDT (DONA)

[Tweet “A doula is in a unique position to protect, promote, support & advocate for respectful care for all MotherBabies”]

A doula is in a unique position to protect, promote, support and advocate for respectful care for all MotherBabies. Doulas offer one on one care that is often lacking in childbirth around the world.  Doulas have a unique viewpoint and have become guardians of respectful birth, both for their clients in the moments of labor and birth, and also as birth advocates, a second role that most doulas take on.  With their first-hand look at birth in many settings and with many providers, doulas may have the best vantage point to see the many variations of care that exist in a community and thus advocate for and share with their clients where and with which providers they are likely to receive the most respect, dignity, quality and compassionate care. Read More…

Did they experience a Gentle Birth?

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As I sat on a flight from Singapore to Tokyo, Japan on my way home from our Advanced Eat Pray Doula Workshop in Bali, I was filled with so many emotions. My eyes welled up with tears, tears of sadness and tears of gratitude. From the news that Paris had suffered attacks to reaching my son and his girlfriend who were in Paris was only minutes- yet felt like hours. In my inability to comprehend the extent of the tragedy, I moved to get dressed in slow motion. Hearing my phone ring, my son’s voice – my heart expanded with love and gratitude. Yet, soon learning of all who were lost, my heart ached. I imagined how so many parents were not receiving a text and call back. How our lives can change in an instant.

Walking out into the hot sun, the Balinese smile at me with their whole heart, wishing me good morning. Life in the small village goes on and yet we all feel the connection continents away and send our prayers and healing thoughts to Paris.

I am reminded why I have come to Bali, to support midwife Ibu Robin Lim’s work to bring gentle birth to all. To welcome our babies with respect, love and connection. It is so simple and yet eludes so many to come into the world with these 3 aspects and yet that is what we all long for all our lives- respect, love and connection.  Out of our desire to share the model, that Ibu Robin and the midwives of Bumi Sehat birth center created, we birthed our Eat Pray Doula workshop so that birth keepers around the world could come join us in Bali to  learn and  experience the beauty of gentle birth, to join our growing circle and be inspired to birth it forward in your community. This years circle of women did that and more as we laughed, cried, healed, shared, learned and transformed, celebrating a connection, sisterhood that will stay with us forever.

I can’t help but wonder if the young men who killed so many and then themselves in Paris had a gentle birth? Did they have the opportunity for love, connection and respect in their first minutes, hours, days and years? How would the world change if every baby was conceived in love, birthed in love and lived with love? I wish for all humans to be welcomed to the world into gentle and loving birth spaces.

What the worlds need now is Love. Love Heals, Love Nurtures and Love Connects us.

I have my ring tone for my phone set to the Beatles “All You Need is Love” as in my morning gratitude I am always thankful to my family, my friends and the circle of birth keepers, yes You for your love! I am sending you my love.

Screen Shot 2015-11-23 at 9.24.51 AMAt Eat Pray Doula, our circle spans the world of doulas, midwives, doctors, nurses, healers, mothers, fathers, partners  and all who share a passion to improve the world one MotherBaby at a time. We live in different communities, countries, cultures, speak different languages and practice different religions, but those difference slip away when we like the Balinese smile with our hearts, share our passion and our love. Together working to make the world a safer, gentler place thru gentle, loving, pleasurable birth.

Just thinking of each of you fills my heart with gratitude and love as we unite around the world with healing love.  I hope today you will  “Imagine – imagine all the people, sharing all the world, you may say I am dreamer, but I am not the only one, I hope someday you will join us, and the world will live as one”

On this Thanksgiving – I am thankful for you!  Thankful for our connection, for our collective prayers and vision of One World filled with Love, Love for every MotherBaby, Every person to be respected, welcomed, loved and to feel your connection to those you love, to each other and to our circle.

Please share your love, write a sentence of your love and gratitude below.

Let’s spread love and healing, as love has no limits, love expands and expands.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving.

Amy Neuhedel of The Cord podcast illustrates well the Eat Pray Doula Bali Workshop & reveals the secret ingredient.

 

Attention Birth Doulas, Kindness & Knowledge are Not Enough

Create something bigger and stronger for the future of Women in Birth

By: Katherine Bramhall, CPM

12244702_10153719374516737_2146311270992143088_oI sat in my villa on a beautiful Bali Saturday with the sun luring me to the many beauties outside such as the pool, a great iced coffee at Three Monkeys, an invitation to the beach, etc… yet I resisted the seduction of Busy. Instead I drank instant coffee and sat quietly working all day, compelled to harvest all that just unfolded in the last week with 14 incredible birth workers from all walks of life and all stages of life. I didn’t want to miss the harvest.

As I sat, women came to my door to say goodbye to me with their eyes and hearts soft and wide and hearts generous, open and overflowing with awe and gratitude for the experiences they had just shared together and privately during their time at Eat Pray Doula.

Words like ‘transforming’ and ‘I could never have imagined’ and ‘like no other workshop I have EVER attended’ along with ‘sisterhood’ and ‘tribe’ were quietly offered. These feelings affirming that the effort and investment to come to Bali to study was more than worth the investment in Themselves and could never be quantified by words alone.

I understood, as the Group was one more of the Gathering of Women that comes together to create something bigger and stronger for the future of Women in Birth at Eat Pray Doula. As one of their teachers, I am humbled.

But with all their dreams of becoming and developing as the keepers of Birth, what I saw MOST in them over the week was this:

Compassion is necessary to work with families in birth, but it isn’t enough.

Kindness is also necessary, but even it isn’t enough.

Intelligence and a hunger for knowledge and knowing is essential in order to teach and empower  families, but it isn’t enough.

Wit and humor for both our families and ourselves is so important, but also, not enough.

Certainly these things are all common denominators in women who work with families in birth.

But what I am basking in tonight as I look back at the close of yet another Eat Pray Doula workshop here in Bali is that the piece that feeds ALL of those things…the Essence that makes it all WORK is COMMUNITY.

Community with our Sisters ties all the other components together…holds us together so we can continue to evolve this Birth Movement backwards- back to the time when giving birth was seen as natural and normal and part of life. Community has always been a huge part of my work and I am forever grateful to you and all my sisters, all around the world, for the mutual support we have shared.

Join me for Eat Pray Doula: A Gentle Birth Evolution for All Birth Workers March 11 – 20, 2016 in Bali Indonesia

Midwifery student and aspiring doula trainer, Kate, shares about walking into the unknown with women and being respectful, kind, and honoring each other. She ask birth keepers if there is nurturing that can happen in your own life to enhance your work?

Midwifery Today Honors Author & Pioneer Midwife Elizabeth Davis

“She has been our ideological heroine, our legislative pioneer, our practicing-hands-on-let’s-get-birth-right-kind-of-midwife, and a teacher for many future generations of midwives who understand what it means to attend birth with their hands and with their heart because of Elizabeth Davis.” – Robbie Davis Floyd

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Cheers to Author, Midwife & dear friend, Elizabeth Davis!

Did you hear that at the 2015 Midwifery Today Conference in Bad Wildbad, co-author of Orgasmic Birth: Your Guide to a Safe, Satisfying and Pleasurable Birth Experience and author of the classic midwifery text, Heart & Hands: A Midwife’s Guide to Pregnancy & Birth, received Lifetime Achievement Award for her accomplishments as a midwife? I felt such joy when Jan Tritten of Midwifery Today approached me to say she wanted to honor Elizabeth Davis. My heart was singing as Elizabeth is a true hero; educating and advocating for midwifery care in California; leading the way for professional midwives in the US; and touching, educating and inspiring midwives around the world (and even a few physicians!).

Watch the video and listen to Robbie Davis Floyd as she presents the award to Elizabeth Davis and explains how Elizabeth was instrumental in creating the certification that we now have, which is the CPM, and by advocating for state participation to ensure that the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) certification process would be truly representative of grassroots midwives and their practices. A pioneer midwife honored for her lifetime of work.

Elizabeth Davis also served as a “representative to the Midwives Alliance of North America for five years and as President of the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council for the United States. She holds a degree in Holistic Maternity Care from Antioch University, and is certified by the North American Registry of Midwives.” www.elizabethdavis.com

I was overcome with emotion as Robbie shared Elizabeth’s many accomplishments. I am so honored to call Liz a dear friend, sister and colleague as she inspires, supports and offers me so much wisdom, insights and love as a true mentor in my path to bring more pleasure love and orgasmic joy to birth and life. Tears flowed as I witnessed Elizabeth receiving this award for her dedication and determination to create a profession of midwifery in California and beyond, and for her years of teaching and inspiring all to see the fullness birth holds in the lives of women, families and for caregivers.

Circle of Doulas: Love is the only thing that lasts

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Austrian doulas and I singing “Who are The Witches?”

Singing, Dancing, Listening, Learning, Connection, Women, Oxytocin, and Pleasure are all words that come to mind when I reminisce about our doula workshop this past week in Furstenfeld, Austria. Angelika and I have been friends since we met at the 2002 International Confederation of Midwives conference in Vienna. That year there were 3000 midwives and 3 doulas attending, we quickly found each other. Each year I return to Austria be a part of her red tent for women, birthworkers, doulas, and midwives. My weekend is one-part in her doula training and yet it reminds me that all women can benefit from a woman’s retreat, or red tent in their community.

I think of the days long ago when our daily lives would bring us together at the river to do laundry together, sharing our stories, our challenges, secrets of our heart and our joys. The circle of women was in tact. I think that is why I love the book the Red Tent so much. It takes you back to these days and every woman who reads this can feel this calling in her soul for this connection with our sisters. In all our advances, technology connections have replaced the intimate circle of women in our lives. We are learning that this is essential for us. Think of how when you live with women our cycles come in sync. We are only beginning to understand the way we effect each other’s physiology and thus beginning to understand why women’s continuous presence in childbirth effects the physiology of birth creating a safer, shorter, easier birth.

The new female stress response “Tend and Befriend” identified by Taylor and Klein in the groundbreaking research in 2000 shows how women’s response to stress is different than the male “ flight or flight” response. We need to be with women to lower our stress and raise the hormone of calm, connection and love, oxytocin. Yet, with all this emerging knowledge, are you making time in your life each week for a woman’s tea, circle, singing, dancing, sharing? If not, why not? Next time you gather with a group of women to sing, dance, share and listen, pay attention to how you feel after. What words would you use to describe the effect of a few hours with our girlfriends on your body and mind? Preparing to welcome new life into the world is the ideal time to find your circle, your female friends that can offer you safe place to share your fears, release them and identify your strengths. To nurture you in good birth stories,  in celebration of women’s bodies and to encourage you to share your hearts desires and dreams.

I hope you will add your thoughts and your stories here so we can encourage women of the world to reconnect the circle of support of women in our lives. It is amazing how singing around a fire under the full moon as we did, rekindles a connection both to nature and women that burns on in our souls and awakens an inner wisdom and knowing that is waiting to be re-discovered.

And in honor of All Hallow’s Eve, here is Who are The Witches?

Who Are The Witches?
Midwives reclaiming their heritage: A social movement song
Who are the witches?
Where do they come from?
Maybe your great-great grandmother was one
Witches were wise, wise women they say
And there’s a little witch in every woman today
Women had babies and witches were there
To help and to hold them, and give them sweet care
 
And witches knew stories of how life began
Don’t you wish you could be one?
Well, maybe you can…….
Who are the witches?
Where do they come from?
Maybe your great-great grandmother was one
 
Some people thought that the witches were bad
Some people were scared of the power they had
The power to heal and to give and to care
It’s not something to fear, it’s a treasure to share!
Witches are wise, wise women, they say
And there’s a little witch in every woman today.
Who are the witches?
Where do they come from?
Maybe your great-great grandmother was one
Witches were wise, wise women they say
And there’s a little witch in every woman today