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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.

Giving Voice to Mothers

My heart breaks reading this new report about mistreatment in childbirth. I have heard too many of these sad stories, and have even been a witness as a doula to abuse during birth. It’s terrible, inhumane, and inexcusable, yet it happens every day. “The Giving Voice to Mothers study: inequity and mistreatment during pregnancy and childbirth in the United States” has striking findings:

“…17.3 percent of women reported experiencing one or more types of mistreatment and percentages were even higher for women of color compared with white women.”– read more

I am grateful to all the people who shared their stories to create a unified voice demanding maternity care to do better. As Maureen Corry said to me years ago:

"statistics are people with the tears washed off making it easier for us to read.”

For each person, their story often goes well beyond the moment of mistreatment and extends for their lifetime because as we know – birth is a day we never forget.

The “Giving Voice to Mothers Study” only further ignites my excitement to be named Co-Chair of the new International Childbirth Initiative (ICI). Learn more about the ICI 12 steps that are moving us in the direction to end mistreatment in childbirth – learn more

Together we can and are making a difference – please share your thoughts on this new study, and join us as we continue to work to improve people experience in childbirth.

bumps boobs birth

Do you know the story of your own birth?

Has it shaped your life choices or feelings about birth, your career or in another way?

Becca, the creatrix behind the newly launched and fantastic, evidence based podcast, Bumps and Boobs said “It’s hard to believe that an experience that you cannot even remember, such as your own birth, can leave a lasting impact on your life.” – read more

Becca’s life choices were greatly influenced by her own birth and the lack of support her mother received when giving birth. Becca went on to become an RN and to work in labor and delivery. “As I began working, I realized that my mom’s story of the doctor who did not believe in her body’s abilities was actually an everyday event.”

I hope you’ll read more of Becca’s birth story and why she “feel[s] called to leave a positive mark in the birthing community, no matter how small.” (we think it’s HUGE Becca!)

Read her story and enjoy Episode 13 of her podcast- of which Becca and I chat all about pleasurable birth!

If Only Everyone Had a Postpartum Doula

If Only Everyone Had a Postpartum Doula : When a baby comes, friends and families don’t always know how to help.

By Zoe Greenberg

Oct. 2, 2018

New parenthood — during which ordinary people find themselves abruptly responsible for a brand-new and sometimes famished, inconsolable being — is famously harrowing.

It’s good to have supportive family and friends during this time. But increasingly, parents are turning to postpartum doulas, as well.

Unlike birth doulas, who assist mothers during pregnancy and childbirth, postpartum doulas step in when the baby is already born, and throughout the first six weeks after birth. They teach the supposedly natural but actually quite difficult to master skills of soothing, bathing and breast-feeding infants, without any personal baggage.

Claiming Your Self-love

I’m excited to share this incredible guest blog from Melissa Ambrosini, the bestselling author of Mastering Your Mean Girl and Open Wide, host of the number one podcast The Melissa Ambrosini Show, a speaker and self-love teacher.

“There’s so much shame and taboo in society when it comes to sexuality… particularly women’s sexuality.

This kind of shame is deeply ingrained in us — and so embedded in our stories and culture — that even women who are otherwise incredibly conscious can still sometimes find themselves affected by it.

Unfortunately, sexual shame isn’t something that will just ‘go away’ if you ignore it for long enough… in fact, the opposite is true — this ‘spiritual baggage’ can turn toxic if not dealt with.” (Read More)

I couldn’t agree more!

Head on over to my blog to read her top 3 Tips to kickstart your journey to release your shame and embrace your sacred sexuality.

Then share with me how you will begin releasing your shame and claiming your own self-love and sacred sexuality – tweet me @OrgasmicBirth

Maternal Death Inspires Movement

This May marks the 10 Year Anniversary of the release of our Award Winning Documentary Orgasmic Birth: The Best-Kept Secret. It is such an honor to see our film growing and showing around the world as it continues to inspire conversations about the power and pleasure that is available with a natural childbirth. Orgasmic Birth gives viewers an intimate look at home birth and birth in hospital and how our choices of where and with whom we give birth impacts MotherBaby health and wellbeing. Our film pulls back the curtain on the intimacy, love and sexuality of birth – how birthing with love provides the perfect cocktail of hormones to flow for a safe and gentle birth.

Orgasmic Birth has been translated into Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, Polish, Czech, Hebrew, Slovenian, Hungarian, Bulgarian and now in March 2018 into Japanese!

I am always moved when someone wants to translate our film and bring Orgasmic Birth to their own country and community. Each language and country brings it’s unique Her-Story of birth and current culture of birth, denying or embracing pleasure and the sexuality of childbirth as well as a growing reliance of technology vs. respectful, high touch care only using technology as we use a lifeguard – when needed.

I was so moved when Ryoko contacted me about translating Orgasmic Birth into Japanese. I put her in touch with my amazing Japanese friend, doula, nurse and organizer of the first birth doula workshops in Japan – Kiyoe. Before long they were translating and wondering how Orgasmic Birth would find its path in Japan.

Japanese Birth Art

Along came, Eita Segawa, the organizer of the event. He shared his journey to activism as a response to his friends accident years ago, which resulted in partial paralysis, many moments of inspiration, her birth and sadly her maternal death which Eita believes was preventable as so many are. His sadness over her death led him to activism as an artist and birth advocate. His own partner having a medicalized birth with their first child, and then two unassisted home births. Eita went on to create birth cafés around Japan for families to visit and feel safe sharing their birth stories. I’ve been saying for years that parents need such a place to share the transformational, powerful, and transitional moments of birth and parenthood. Eita plans to continue screening Orgasmic Birth all over Japan, and I’m excited to hear more feedback!

Read more about the first Orgasmic Birth screening in Japan and the movement that still continues to spread wordwide.

Have you seen Orgasmic Birth? If not you can watch it now for digital rental or purchase in English, Spanish, French, German or Portuguese!

A True Life Red Tent

Returning to Angelika‘s and her amazing Red Tent Elysia is for me is truly coming to my other home. It has been 14 years and almost 300 doulas which we have offered the doula wisdom to in Austria. Each time I return to the singing, dancing and warm cozy womb like room that invites us each to calm, connection and to share our stories of the joys and challenges of life and birth I feel transformed.

Jaqueline our amazing translator and friend joins us and the three of us quickly share the events in our lives and our families since the last time we were together. In 14 years we have shared births, losses, family challenges, joys and many orgasmic moments as our deep friendship crosses culture and language to a connection of our hearts and minds. With our friendship ready for the next group and next phase our lives we welcome the doulas into the red tent and begin 3 transformative days – inviting each person to explore their her-story, their beliefs about childbirth, to share their experience with birth both as a mother and how they were born. With tears of joy and healing tears of release – all together we move and share our passion for birth and to unconditionally support women and their partners as we create safe, satisfying gentle births filled with pleasure and love!

I am already looking forward to next time when I return to Elysia in Austria with Angelika and Jaqueline in June 2017 for two doula workshops, I hope you will join us at one or enjoy the Austrian Doula choirs birth and circle songs and sing along with us.

Please see my schedule for upcoming workshops and dates around the world.

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.

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.

I 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.

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"statistics are people with the tears washed off making it easier for us to read.”

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.

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