Debra Pascali-Bonaro

Awaken Your Inner Wisdom

Doulas

Yin Birth Retreat

This October 2020, I will be joining my friend, Dr. Claudia Citkovitz an amazing acupuncturist, to teach an extraordinary skill-building and body-spirit nurturing retreat in beautiful Western Massachusetts. This ‘Yin Birth’ retreat is strictly limited to 24 people, and will cultivate the Yin qualities of relaxation and stillness, as well as joy and connection.

Teaching sessions with me and Claudia during the day include acupressure for labor preparation, finding relaxation during birth, a frank discussion on comfort, communication and power, and advanced acupressure and bodywork techniques for obstructed labor.

Equally important, the spacious day’s plan includes optional hiking in the woods, Qigong with Claudia and yoga with Corinne Andrews, creator of the Birthing Mama® training, as well as a fire circle and our own private wood-fired sauna. Hosted by the Sirius community, delicious gluten-free meals and snacks are locally grown and sourced vegetarian with options for paleo/keto. Self-care is also a priority with available acupuncture or bodywork and a nearby hot tub on Sunday night, and optional makeup lesson and headshot on Monday afternoon (who doesn’t need a new headshot, taken after a weekend of relaxation and great company?)

Meet Claudia
Claudia Citkovitz, PhD LAc is an acupuncturist who has taught acupuncture for birth in Brooklyn, NY since 2003, and first took Debra’s doula training class in 2007 where they became fast friends. Since then the two have cross-trained dozens of acupuncturists and doulas, but this is the first time they have taught together. Claudia’s 2009 study of acupuncture during labor and delivery was the first published in the US, as was her 2015 PhD study on acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation. Claudia’s book ‘Acupressure and Acupuncture during Birth’ is available from Amazon or can be ordered at your local bookstore through Singing Dragon Press.

We cannot wait for this luxurious and pleasurable retreat together. If you have any questions feel free to write back to me – and learn more about our retreat here.

Learn More

Pussy Power!

I always talk about the doulas role in creating Birth Ambiance,  so people feel safe, private and relaxed to open to the deepest parts of themselves.  

We must also create this at our workshops and retreats too. I love when we host doula retreats in places that have been built by birth keepers with the sacred energy and messages of birth all around.  Whether you are birthing a baby, or a dream or a new career as a doula – the energy around you – where you choose to learn can make a difference in how safe you feel to go deep into the space that birth calls us to enter. Elysia in Austria and Robin Lim’s Peace Kitchen for our Eat Pray Doula Retreats in Bali are two of my favorite places abroad, and of course my own special space in NJ. These spaces invite us all to connect to the generations of women before us, all those who are giving birth around the world, to face our challenges, to open to heal, to grow, to stretch and to bring more love and light into all the dark spaces and dance and sing our songs with pleasure and love.

Angelika invites us to connect with the Goddess within, surrounded and reminded of all the symbols of opening to the sacred feminine throughout her-story.  

Angelika’s red womb tent always is filled with beautiful images of the birth Goddesses and each year she has a new creative project to take us deeper into understanding the sacred feminine.  This year her project was even beyond, deeper, inside the power that is too often overlooked or hidden with shame – into the power of the PUSSY! I was so inspired by her crocheted Pussy I decided I had to read Mama Gena’s book by the same name. I had downloaded the book and the audio before I left and had not made time to begin, clearly Angelika and the universe was telling me the TIME IS NOW!

I love to walk each morning and so my morning ritual is to wake with the sun, do some morning yoga sun salutations and then set off to walk to a cafe and on the way listening to Mama Gena in her own voice share about Pussy!  I highly recommend her book and so much so as I am developing an in-person and online class for doulas and educators to prepare their students for a safe, satisfying and pleasurable birth experience. Pussy will be a prerequisite to read, journal and discuss as we must connect with, examine our beliefs, and heal our own connections to our sacred feminine power to teach and pass it on to others.

I gaze out the window and the hills are alive with the sound of music, it reminds me to be present.  The train provides such a rich opportunity to revel in the beauty all around me, above me, inside me and my gratitude blessings for this amazing opportunity to connect with doulas, the sacred feminine, honor the sacred masculine and revel in my new Pussy-Yes Yes Yes!  My parting gift from Angelika is my own crocheted Pussy – with a secret – you will have to wait to see our next blog and video to see what she gave me and why I am so thrilled and excited.

By now I will have arrived in Switzerland – to join Michele and the doulas and parents of Zurich, Switzerland. Michele has invited me to share 2 days with a mix of doulas, parents and midwives – together we will explore the magic of birth, the body, mind, spirit and sexuality of pregnancy, birth and beyond as well as the pleasure that is available to us in birth and life.   Trusting and opening to life as we we trust and open to birth takes us on many adventures and only when we trust that even in the tunnel we will come to the light can the magic unfold. The snow capped mountains glisten as the sun peaks thru the clouds and the next tunnel appears. What will lie ahead- for you and for me?

If you have read this far – please let me know-  comment below and let me know how and where you are?  What magic is happening in your life? Would like to join me in reading Pussy: A Reclamation by Regina Thomashauer “Mama Gena” and discussing?

A Life Changed

by Mary A. Whitlock , May 09, 2018

Have you ever lived through an experience that touched you so profoundly that it changed the course of your life?  

Well, last month I did when I had the privilege of interning at the impressive Healthy Mother Natural Birth Center in Hyderabad, India.

My Journey

My journey to the clinic began in the fall of last year when I was finalizing my plans for a long-anticipated trip to India. I had just completed my DONA Postpartum Doula training with the renowned teacher, Debra Pascali-Bonaro. I mentioned to her that I was going to India and she connected me with a network of birth workers there. I immediately contacted Dr. Vijaya Krishnan, a midwife and co-founder of Healthy Mother & Natural Birth Sanctum. Initially we met on Skype and I was instantly impressed by her wealth of knowledge and kind nature. In addition, because she is so passionate about her work, I was extremely excited to have the opportunity to learn from her and intern at her clinic in Hyderabad.

Healthy Mother Clinic is part of a network of clinics affiliated with the International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization whose global mission is “ to promote optimal MotherBaby maternity services.” Dr. Vijaya has done just that by creating a natural birthing sanctuary in the heart of one of India’s fastest growing tech capitals. I was blown away by the scope of her practice; the facilities alone provide a safe haven for expectant parents and their entire families to feel at ease and at home. The clinic houses four well equipped and comfortable birthing rooms as well as an around the clock emergency care facility which includes an operating room and NICU. The skillful and compassionate midwife led team consists of an arsenal of skilled nurses, obstetric, and pediatric doctors as well as physical therapists.  

Families at Healthy Mother are nurtured throughout the entire process, and this consistency and quality of care, community support and education is allowing them the opportunity to experience birth naturally. The birth journey at the clinic begins with preconception counseling and continues all the way through to 4th-trimester lactation support, physio, and infant checkups. Dr. Vijaya’s clinic is paving the way and setting standards of essential care for mothers and their families around the world.

Heartfelt, Life-Changing and Full of Questions

Although my experience at Healthy Mother was heartfelt and life-changing, it also left me with a lot of unanswered questions. Coming from a city like NY where we have access to so many modern luxuries targeted towards women, I began to ask myself why we don’t we have clinics like this. The loving support, attention, and respect that the Dr. Vijaya and her team provides families throughout the entire birth process is care that transcends different cultural traditions, and medical practices, it is human work at its core. Doesn’t everyone deserve the right to this kind of care?

Improving Maternal and Infant Health

There is still work to be done in the world to improve maternal and infant health. I hope that by sharing my story and the beautiful work that is being done in Hyderabad as well as through organizations and other affiliated clinics of the International Childbirth Initiative we can shed light on all the good that’s being done and create a ripple effect of positive change for a brighter future.

About Mary

Mary A Whitlock is an NYC based postpartum doula and a certified health & wellness coach. Born, raised, and living in New York City, Mary understands and embraces the overwhelming demands and stresses that city life puts on families. In 2017 she took massive action and left her position as Fashion Design Director to seize her purpose. She is inspired and passionate about providing families with the resources, empathetic support and nurturing to maintain a balanced life. Last fall,  Mary completed her DONA Postpartum Doula training with the renowned Debra Pascali-Bonaro, followed by an internship at Healthy Mother & Natural Birth Sanctum in Hyderabad, India. There she provided gentle birth and postpartum support to women under the guidance of Dr. Vijaya Krishnan and some of the leading midwives in the country. Mary is deeply grateful to all of her teachers and for the life experiences that have brought her to this very moment. www.maryawhitlock.com

We are so excited to welcome Mary to our Orgasmic Birth Team Family! Mary is a bright light and we can’t wait to see all the incredible difference she will continue to make in this world.

Interested in Becoming a Doula?

Join Debra for one of her upcoming workshops

 

Birthwork Called Me

Hi! I’m Rivka, and I took a recent training with Debra Pascali Bonaro as my first step to becoming a certified doula!

I made the decision to go into birthwork because it was impossible to ignore its call. Birth kept creeping up in everything I would do, people would discuss their childbirth and labor with me, asking advice, and in one instance I was actually present at my friends labor and birth. I now understand that we need to empower women to use their power as they birth the next generation, and we as doulas need to be empowered to be there for them.

This training has truly empowered me to empower women as they go through this life-changing journey from womanhood to motherhood. I learnt about the circle of women that was always present in childbirth and I am moved to be part of it, to bring this back into this world. I understand that in this dance between mother and child, we 

need to give women the space to birth their children in serenity, peace, and privacy.

While I am now a trained doula, I know the path to becoming a certified and eventually experienced will take the shape of a birth story: exhilarating, unexpected and a journey that will bring out strengths that I never knew I possessed. I look forward to serving the women in my community and beyond and to sharing those stories and experiences with you all.

Should I become a doula?

by Ariel de Roche

Ever have a song stuck in your head?

And that one line keeps repeating over, and over….and over again.

And no matter how hard you try fight it, it seems like your inner DJ has a glitch.

Well sometimes fear can feel like that, a repeating song of doubt, whispering, “Are you sure you this is the right thing to do?”

This is how I felt leading up to my doula training, questioning if I should give up, although I knew in my heart that this was the right step but that doubt song in my head just wouldn’t quit.

Then I arrived at the door of my first birth doula training, took a deep breath, and opened the door…and it was the one of best decision I have made so far!

Who knew that the 20+ women in that room would become my personal doulas? Providing support, easing my doubt, reassuring that I wasn’t alone in how I was feeling. We laughed and cried as we shared our stories and personal journeys – no two stories exactly the same, but each woven with an invisible thread that connected us all together.

Talk about oxytocin overload!

That day the recurring song of doubt transformed into a song of empowerment! I was reminded of the power of women, the power of community and that simply holding a hand makes a world of difference. 

So now anytime that song of doubt pops up, I will think back to these moments, turn up the volume of my favorite Beyonce song, and lean into that next step. Look out world, another group of amazing doulas are here to change the world, one step at a time!

Ariel de Roche is a DONA-trained birth doula based in New York City. Growing up in a large tight-knit family, she has always been surrounded with pregnant bellies and tiny humans which has greatly informed her profound passion for sexual and reproductive health research, and advocacy. Through birthwork, she seeks to continue to empower and encourage all women, in all ways.

 

 

Turn your doubt into empowerment and  join the circle of doulas at an Upcoming Doula Workshop

Reflections on Eat Pray Doula

Each year I am so grateful to be back in Bali for Eat Pray Doula.  From the moment I leave the airport in Denpasar, Bali and beginning to see and feel the Balinese people and their wonderful culture I become more mindful as I breathe, relax and connect in new and deeper way to nature, life and birth.  

The doulas arrive to Eat Pray Doula as strangers and leave as life long friends.  It is such a gift to facilitate this deep connection on an island that is known for its healing, connection and peace.  As doulas we read the Eat Pray Doula manifesto discussing the respect and acceptance we will offer one another, lifting each other higher, healing and listening.  It’s magical to watch as women form friendship and connections from around the world- sharing different cultures, customs and beliefs as well as life’s challenges and joys honoring both the light and dark aspects in each of us and supporting each other to learn and grow.

This year the energy of Bali expanded our hearts even wider and I smile as I see the best doula skills unfold- loving, accepting and supporting each other as our Eat Pray Doula Circle grows and grows.

The air in Bali is warm, inviting us to slow down- to swim – to drink lots of green and delicious fruit juices and coconut water – I can feel the layers peel off as we cleanse inside and out.  Layers shed and our hearts open wide. There is a deep feeling of peace, a magical calling of nature, wind, water, air and fire, and a strong connection to the past and the future supporting us  to vision and dream, to heal and to honor the ancient wisdom within. Bali is truly the best place to explore birth and the sacred gateway of life.

I enjoy of special circle of teachers- wonderfully wise women who share not only about birth – but how to live a joy filled life. Each of us are living proof of how to navigate life’s hurdles with grace, love and laughter.  We sing, dance, laugh, cry, listen and are grateful for every day together.

I am often asked why Eat Pray Doula – there are so many reasons that I hope you will consider if you are beginning your path as a doula, or in need of some extra nourishment and depth to your experience.

Read my 6 reasons why Eat Pray Doula is a special retreat like no other.  

A doula is born

There is something magical about watching participants arrive into a doula workshop and slowly blossom and open like a lotus flower as they become part of the special circle of doulas supporting one another in birth and life.  

As the her-story of female companionship in birth is told, the circle begins to form and I can see the oxytocin and calmness begin to rise as each person realizes not only is the doula role ancient, it is supported by research. The doulas learn the incredible benefits for MotherBabies and Partners when they have the support of a doula, as well as the fascinating hormonal research of the female stress response, “tend and befriend”. When women are together and connected, the hormones of calm grow and stress is reduced which is a gift we give each other in birth and in life. As this information is shared, I can truly feel the doula spirit emerging from each participant, as they realize their deep intuition that this circle is crucial to a healthy life and is supported by research.

Every culture around the world has rich traditions of female companionship in childbirth. In Japan, where I recently had the honor of teaching, I learned more about the history of women in their culture, gathering to offer comfort and support, singing and dancing thus bringing joy and pleasure to birth.

Japanese Image of Pleasurable Birth -giving birth naturally Childbirth stories
I received this beautiful gift from Matsuriko Natsamr of the True Sexuality School,  a copy of a 12th Century Artwork depicting the circle of women, singing, dancing, birthing upright with a midwife and filled with ecstasy.

It doesn’t not take long to remember and reclaim the traditional wisdom of our ancestors, as its deep in our knowing – within our circle of doulas the oxytocin levels begin to rise and we move, dance and share our stories. From each woman in our circle a doula is born, not only to support birth, but to support each other in life too.

[Tweet ” I believe the world needs the rise of Feminine Wisdom again. “]

Read more about my visit to Japan as a doula trainer and the HerStory of birth there.

Magic Happens when Given the Chance

A Serendipitous Meeting with an IMBCI Gentle Birth Hospital

I’ve just finished an amazing doula workshop in Austria with my dear friend Angelika. The workshop was wonderful, and inspiring – and now I have a break before our next group of doulas arrive and I am able to spend some time working on other things. As Chair of the International Childbirth Organization (IMBCO), I get the opportunity to work with Doctors, Midwives and Facilities worldwide that are demonstration sites for the IMBCI 10 Steps of gentle hospital birth. Angelika has woken early to doula for a baby that is transverse and will have a planned cesarean birth. Since the site of the birth, Feldbach Hospital is one of the IMBCI Models, I’ve decided to come along. The Doctors and Midwives here have been a part of the IMBCI for many years, but being so busy caring for childbearing families they have not had as much time for meetings in the past- and were unable to book time with me this trip.

I decided to join Angelika feeling hoping that maybe this baby would create some magic and give me an opportunity to say hello to Dr. Hoffman and Dr. Huber – bringing us all together.

We arrive and Angelika goes into the birthing area as the woman is being prepared for a cesarean birth. I get my morning pleasure – a nice cup of coffee and sit in the waiting area in the hall. It’s not long at all and Dr. Hoffman comes by and sees me. He is surprised to see me and is quite busy, but is looking forward to meeting later when he has a moment break from caring for women and their babies. I am comfortable and waiting for a birth, as he is too, so we are all relaxed knowing it will come together. Soon after, Dr. Huber appears, also busy going to the morning meeting, we share big smiles of excitement and surprise seeing each other, and we plan to meet later after his meeting.

Before long Dr. Huber returns with another Doctor who is helping with the International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative. They have some free time as today they will do one less cesarean. I smile… it’s not long and I hear that this is Angelika’s client! Before the cesarean began, a scan was done to confirm the baby’s position and the baby’s head is now down – no cesarean for her! The mother will now wait for labor and have a VBAC. I smile with tears of joy, this baby has really done magic to create it’s birth and also to bring us all together as without the opportunity to come to the hospital today we might not have all met – the baby truly created time and space for us to meet. A little later Dr. Hoffman is also available, and all of us – the Doctors and two doulas have important conversations about their work implementing the IMBCI and gentle cesareans. This hospital has lowered their cesarean birth rate by 6% and are as excited as we are to keep improving and being an amazing model.

Angelika and I leave the hospital sparkling with oxytocin! What a special morning, much more than we could have imagined on our drive over – not knowing if we’d even have a moment to say hi to the doctors since they were so busy, and instead having a productive and incredible meeting.

Afterward, we had to stop at my favorite chocolate factory to get a big endorphin high in celebration! Finding pleasure each day is a choice – even on the most terrible of days I still enjoy and appreciate a moment of something pleasurable. Today it chocolate with rose and marzipan, and it’s truly Orgasmic!

We smile as we drive thru the beautiful Austrian countryside – seeing castles on the hills, the sun shining and getting ready tomorrow to welcome another group of doulas to our workshop beginning the next day.

Living in the moment allows the magic to happen.Click To Tweet

Living in the moment allows the magic to happen. Waking today early with the sun has given us many blessing and time to feel our connection to nature and each other. Thank you baby – you truly have shifted not only your birth position and birth, but touched so many of us today creating a ripple effect. Your birth provided us the opportunity to meet with the doctors helping them enhance their dedication to the International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative – providing respectful, quality to care with compassion and heart, shining their light far and wide -which is so needed today. Baby- you are touching so many lives even before you are born, you are being felt and held with love as I am thinking of you and wishing you a safe, satisfying and pleasurable birth.

Knowing you will have Angelika’s doula wisdom with you and your family at your birth really makes me smile. Doulas make a difference, because we hold the space for the magic to happen!

Doulas make a difference, because we hold the space for the magic to happen!Click To Tweet

Join me in Austria next year, or somewhere else around the globe for a doula workshop. See my schedule here for dates -(and check back often for more dates, as we are always booking more!)