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I recently started learning more about placenta encapsulation as a method of helping heal more quickly from the birthing process and the hormone changes after birth. I don’t know much and thought I would post my initial feelings and thoughts as I am now considering this for my current pregnancy. Personally, suffering from post-partum depression, anxiety, and PTSD even with a healthy and happy home birth I struggled for a long time. I seriously considered pharmaceutical intervention to cope with my emotions and could not find anything or anyone to help.
I meet more women every day who are certified in this technique and who have tried this method with great success. Women have told me that compared to their first birth they have significantly less or no depression or anxiety, their milk production is stable, and they are more able to emotionally handle stress, older children, and the physical healing much easier. Plus the ease of someone coming to your home and taking care of the process do you don’t have to worry about what will happen or how takes a lot of stress off a new mom.
Now that I am preparing for my second child this is definitely an option I am looking into. I am starting to talk to women in my community who perform this service and learn about their experiences. I listed some great websites below! Honestly, my first reaction was “sounds good”. I know I felt this way because I will do anything to prevent what I went through with my daughter’s birth. I am also a supporter and practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and when I learned that encapsulation specialists follow traditional Chinese methods my interest was further piqued.
While my husband and other people I talk to find the situation ‘gross, cannabalistic, or disgusting’, I know that that is their opinion. When you have not experienced such severe post-partum distress it can be easy to judge others and their methods for healing while this may be the very best option for many women! However, many husbands or family members report that women who used encapsulation were happier and in tune with their body and baby more than previous births. Maybe it is just strange because we don’t eat many organs in our American culture. Maybe our parents or grandparents ate liver but in other countries all organs are harvested (including pig skin) and made into dishes and soups for their healing and nutritional qualities. Not to mention how many rituals and medical procedures were considered mandatory, safe, and for the better of the baby when they were harmful, painful, and damaging (early cord clamping, enema’s, shaving, gassing women). before it was accepted that they were just not necessary. The other way around, how long did it take for midwifery to become accepted again in our culture, home birth, water birth, drug-free birth, before we realized how good drug-free can be for the baby (when safe for mom, baby, and medically okay). One day soon I think our culture will think that it was crazy to NOT eat your placenta!! Just a personal side thought.
If you have used placenta encaspulation what was your experience? Good or bad or did you notice any difference at all?
check out these sites for information and testimonials:
http://sites.happymamastl.com/home/why-encapsulation
visit our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/healingthewomanwithin for further discussion!
Where are these symptoms coming from?
Posted on: May 5, 2011
- In: birth trauma | Healing | Resources
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Where are these symptoms coming from?
I recently met with Linda at Mother To Mother, a company that supports women during the postpartum and pregnancy period. We talked about our own personal birth stories and the stories of women we meet with who experience post-partum adjustment 
disorders. The topic of how we both struggled to recognize that our symptoms were related to the birth of our child came up, and we agreed that many women don’t recognize their symptoms until years later. I knew I was having panic attacks almost daily but always blamed my overactive personality. It wasn’t until three years later I connected my symptoms to post-partum PTSD.
Many women have chest pain that they relate to a heart attack. When they go to their doctor, a battery of tests is run with the same result: you’re normal. These women are usually experiencing a panic or anxiety attack, or even a flashback and never relate the pain back to a negative birth experience. Some women even believe they have cancer because of their symptoms. The exact psychology of the symptoms can be hard to pinpoint and most of the time doctors do not think to ask of past psychological or emotional trauma.
If you are experiencing symptoms that seem to have no origin think back to your birth experience and what you went through. Because our minds are so ‘imprintable’ with hormones and the depth of the birth experience, and the fact that we may not even remember what happened to us, but our subconscious does, we will exhibit symptoms related to trauma, panic, anxiety, depression, PTSD. Write down all your symptoms that you can think of and talk to your provider. If they don’t think that ‘birth trauma’ exits for a mother, find a new doctor and talk to a psychologist trained in working with mothers.
Start attending support groups even if you don’t think you have post partum adjustment symptoms and share your stories. Learn more about what you are going through and allow others to help you heal and recognize your symptoms. Click the link to find a local group near you.
Natural Remedies for Depression
Posted on: April 16, 2011
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Let’s look at some healing modalities recommended by Diane Stein in her book “The Natural Remedy Book For Women”. Diane Stein is one of my favorite natural healers and reiki practitioners. She has written many books on healing and energy and she presents her information in a very easy to follow format.
I would like to share and expand on her protocol for depression. She starts by sharing the emotional reasons for depression and physical reasons such as endocrine imbalances, chronic fatigue syndrome, heredity, heavy metal toxicity, high sugar diets, diabetes, candida albicans, food sensitivities, stress and nutritional deficiencies. All of these and more can contribute to depression, which means that just addressing the emotional state may not provide any relief because of underlying conditions that need to be addressed first.
Of course, depression can be life threatening and requires expertise to diagnose, heal, and even prescribe medications.
Vitamins and minerals: B complex vitamins, lecithin, folic acid, vitamin D and niacin can all be helpful. The best way to determine a mineral and nutritional imbalance is a hair analysis. Contact me and I can have one ordered for you. It is best not to run out and buy a bunch of supplements from your local store. You will quickly become frustrated when you don’t know what is working, what isn’t and when you don’t see any changes. Learn how to muscle test yourself, or bring a friend to help you.
Herbs: Herbs should always be checked against medications due to their ability to impede and cause harm when contraindicated with a medication. There are a wide variety of herbs used for depression, stress, anxiety, etc., but which ones to use is a complicated decision. I always muscle test my patients to see which ones are best for them. Try a tea with passion flower, chamomile, lavender, kava kava, or catnip. You can buy these in tinctures (liquids), tablets, or teas.
Naturopathy: Eat a high protein and raw vegetable diet. Diane recommends eating more grains but since the majority of people purchase the wrong types of grains and are also sensitive to the highly processed and sugared breads, I do not recommend more grains. Cut out any additives including sugar, caffeine, high fructose corn syrup, and chemicals which can impede the function of the nervous system and brain. Include more omega-3’s, purchase a refrigerated fish oil, eat more good fats such as butter and whole (raw and organic) milk.
Homeopathy: Try Arsenicum for anxiety and depression, exhaustion and restlessness according to Diane. Pulsatilla is for depression with weeping and is also good for boosting the immune system.
Acupressure: Diane recommends paying attention to the sinus, pituitary, cerebrum, and cranial nerves, thyroid, adrenals, liver, and thymus for foot reflexology. “For releasing grief, try acupressure points below the collar bone on both sides near the shoulders and the back beside each shoulder blade.”
Flower Essences: White peony or blackberry, pandora vine and star of Bethlehem are recommended. See my post on bach flower remedies for more information on flower essences.
Gemstones: Look for pink, blue, or purple kunzite, lepidolite, chrysoprase, labradorite rose quartz or pink tourmaline. You can hold these gemstones or wear them on jewelry pieces.
Emotional release: Release grief by crying or create a ritual for letting go of the event, person, situation and closing the energy that is left open causing the draining of your energy.
There is a lot of information presented here, and more in Diane’s book. She gives more specific examples of types of depression and what works best for different types. The book offers different healing techniques for each category presented above for other physical ailments.
Second Chakra Healing
Posted on: April 12, 2011
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Healing the second chakra involves a multi-layered approach, as does all healing. Most work with the second chakra involves some type of psychotherapy and energy healing to remove the emotional blockage. Blockages from guilt, pain, trauma, sexual issues, and even addictions all need to be addressed. Recommendations also include inner child work, boundary work, and emotional release.
The second chakra is known to be an orange so orange crystals are often helpful in conjunction with energy treatment.
Bloodstone can stimulate energy.
Carnelian is associated with creativity and decision-making.
Red garnet encourages patience.
Red jasper helps to connect us to the flowing energies of the earth.
Ruby, the stone of passion, enhances sensory awareness.
Ruby in Zoisite is a way to benefit from ruby’s energy in a grounding form.
Similar to the first chakra meditation, try meditating with this position. Place your hands in your lap with your left hand on the bottom. Touch the tips of your thumbs together gently and chant the sounds VAM.
Foods that are orange or shaped like a uterus are very helpful for women. Try oranges or an avocado to help with physical healing.
Affirmations from Anondea Judith are:
- I deserve pleasure in my life.
- I absorb information from my feelings.
- I embrace and celebrate my sexuality.
- I move easily and effortlessly.
- Life is pleasurable.
Second Chakra-Foundations
Posted on: April 10, 2011
Second chakra
The second chakra is located in our lower abdomen and sacral plexus. It is often known as the sacral chakra and its characteristics are listed below:
| Element | Basic Rights | ||
| Water | To feel and have pleasure | ||
| Purpose | Balanced Characteristics | ||
| Movement and connection | Graceful movement | ||
| Emotional Intelligence | |||
| Issues | Ability to experience pleasure | ||
| Movement | Nurturance of self and others | ||
| Sensation | Ability to change | ||
| Emotions | Healthy Boundaries | ||
| Sexuality | |||
| Desire | Traumas and Abuses | ||
| Need | Sexual abuse | ||
| Pleasure | Emotional abuse | ||
| Volatile situations | |||
| Color | Neglect, coldness, rejection | ||
| Orange | Denial of child’s feeling states | ||
| Enmeshment | |||
| Identity | Emotional manipulation | ||
| Emotional | |||
| Demon | |||
| Guilt | |||
When a woman is pregnant the growing baby and uterus places an increased amount of pressure on the chakra, which can be easily thrown out of balance. The pressure on this chakra can also increase the amount of dreams a woman experiences as well.
Our society places value on control and repression of emotions, sexuality, and pleasure. Women are often taught to repress their sexuality and form a sense of shame and embarrassment surrounding their body. During birth all that shame is to be ignored as they are exposed to the room and a number of strangers. Their bodies are violated, disrespected, mutilated, and exposed in a way we were never prepared for. Since the second chakra is related to the right to feel, and our feelings or shame and embarrassment are repressed during birth, the second chakra can be harmed. When we suffer from the effects of a birth trauma and our feelings are ignored or we are told that our feelings are meaningless, our system suffers even further.
What about the damage that is done during a cesarean? While many cesareans are necessary, the chakra is directly cut, similar to an episiotomy with the first chakra and this requires a more intensive healing. Women often experience numbness and an emotional un-attachment to their child after they are born and assume there is something wrong with them. There is absolutely nothing wrong with not having an immediate connection to your child after birth, every woman experiences this differently. But knowing that your connection may be inhibited due to an imbalance can often provide emotional relief and the knowledge of how to heal both your emotions and physical body.
Trauma to a woman’s sexuality in the form of rape, abuse (physical or emotional), pregnancy (wanted or un-wanted), and a multiple of other sources can directly affect the second chakra. The use of violence associated with sexuality can violate boundaries and sense of self. This assault affects the mind, body, and soul. Degradation and shame are often associated with birth.
Healing must occur on all levels to heal the second chakra, with an investment in time, self love and care, and trust.
Healing the First Chakra
Posted on: April 9, 2011
- In: Healing | Techniques
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How do we heal our first chakra? (For more information on the first chakra, click here)
Physical balancing is essential through chiropractic, massage, and reiki. This means you will have to find a number of practitioners you trust with your body to work with this area. Anodea Judith recommends ‘lots of touching’ through massage and other modalities, which is why chiropractic and massage can be so helpful. Chiropractic will help align your spine and pelvis to help the chakra ‘sit’ correctly in a balanced position. Massage can help you become comfortable with your body and physical contact again, especially with an experienced and loving therapist.
Physical exercises such as walking and stretching are helpful. Try squatting, with your feet on the ground, lower your buttocks to your heels as much as possible. If you have had a cesarean or are still bleeding hold off on this exercise until you have healed so you don’t put too much pressure on your uterus and pelvis. Squatting helps to bring energy from the earth into your body and increase the energy in the root chakra.
Grounding is an especially important practice for the first chakra. There are many ways to do this, such as sitting or kneeling on the ground outside, walking barefoot outside, and using the squatting position. Do a grounding meditation by imagining roots coming from around your hips and down your legs into the ground. Feel the power of the earth as you connect into it and create a tie to the center of the earth. With this meditation or any other time you meditate, focus on your breathing. Breathe in deep through your diaphragm and focus on the breath entering into your root chakra. Think about the breath healing and opening your chakra.
Garnet
Crystals are a great tool for grounding and chakra healing as well. For the root chakra find a red or black crystal. Such crystals are hematite, black obsidian, black tourmaline, red zincite, garnet or smoky quartz. You can carry these crystals on you, wear a necklace or a piece of jewelry with them, or use them in a reiki healing session. Check out http://www.bestcrystals.com/chakra~1.html for more crystal information.
Affirmations or chants during meditation can help as well. http://www.eclecticenergies.com/chakras/open.php is a gre
at site that has help for all the chakras. Hold this hand position and say “lam”. The hand position is called a mudra and is known for increasing the energy of a meditation or healing. Anodea Judith gives these affirmations:
It is safe for me to be here.
The earth supports me and meets my needs.
I love my body and trust its wisdom.
Any affirmation or prayer that connects you to your body and a feeling of safety will be positive and healing. More posts to follow with more healing techniques and more information on the other chakras.
These posts will be a long continuation of a belief I have held for a long time about the birth experience as a mother and the effects it has on our chakra and energy system. Today I’ll share the background and my beliefs on how the first chakra is harmed and how it affects the body and mind.
Chakra’s are known spinning centers of energy of the human body. There are 7 main chakra’s that are aligned on the front of the body. Each chakra relates to the way the body functions and each has its own set of organs, colors, cycles, emotions, and many more functions and relations associated with it.
The first chakra is located at the base of the spine and perineum. Because of this location I believe it is obvious to associate birth trauma to this chakra. The body, mind, soul, and energy system of the woman needs to be healed completely and at each level before the woman can overcome her experiences. There is no definite research on this theory, and I am solely representing my own opinion on how birth trauma affects the chakra system. Below is an abridged chart from “Eastern Body, Western Mind” by Anodea Judith about characteristics of the first chakra.
| Element | Demon | |
| Earth | Fear | |
| Purpose | Basic Rights | |
| Foundation | To be here and have | |
| Issues | Balanced Characteristics | |
| Roots | Good health | |
| Grounding | Vitality | |
| Nourishment | Well Grounded | |
| Trust | Comfortable in body | |
| Health | Sense of trust in the world | |
| Home | Feeling of safety and security | |
| Family | Ability to relax and be still | |
| Stability | ||
| Color | ||
| Red | Orientation | |
| Self Preservation | ||
| Identity | ||
| Physical | ||
This chakra can be affected physically through an episiotomy, unwanted or forced vaginal exams, tears, instrumentation (including internal fetal monitoring), physical abuse (even abuse not associated with birth), or any other physical trauma endured.
The psychological abuse of this chakra comes from survival challenges that a woman can face during the birth of her child. The first chakra relates to our survival instincts, and when those instincts are challenged, neglected, or there is a certain amount of fear concerning your life the chakra can be affected. Many women report being threatened if they did not do what the nurse, midwife, or doctor ordered them to do. “You don’t want your baby to die do you?”, “If you don’t do ‘xyz’ you and your baby will both die” are common comments spoken to women concerning their birth. The extreme fear accompanied by a severe increase in stress and birthing hormones exacerbates this issue both psychologically and physically and the instincts to preserve life take over, even when the options are against what the woman originally wanted. This can lead the woman to feel abused because she was threatened.
Lastly social, familial, and medical support during and after the birth can greatly impact a woman’s health. When a woman is left alone, ignored, or told she is not worth helping her mind and body take the toll. This also includes abuse by lactation consultants and abuse of the breasts and comments on a woman’s ability to nurse and be a good mother.
As you can see in the chart when the chakra is balanced a woman will experience trust, safety and calming emotions. The ability to ‘relax and be still’ is very challenged with a newborn. Many women share that they struggle to sleep because they keep one eye open or can’t relax when the baby is asleep. They experience depression and insomnia because they feel that there is no point to sleep when the baby is just going to wake up soon anyways, or they don’t know how long they have to sleep or get something done which induces stress. Possibly balancing the first chakra can help a woman heal more quickly and easily.
The possibilities of what can damage the first chakra are endless because the original harm comes from our own birth and life and continues on as we do.
Herbal Help
Posted on: April 7, 2011
- In: Healing | Resources | Techniques
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While there are many herbal supplements, tea’s, and products, I never recommend taking one without talking first with your doctor, midwife, chiropractor, or whoever is taking care of you during your postpartum term.
Herbs are very powerful and may conflict directly with medications and can even be harmful for your recovering body and baby after birth.
That being said, there are also many safe herbs that can help for many different ailments.Usually purchasing herbs in the form of tea is easiest and most cost efficient, but you can purchase your herbs as a tincture or liquid as well.
Yogi Tea's Support: A Great Combination Of Herbs
Nervous System Relaxants: Chamomiles, lavender, lemon balm, motherwort, passion flower and skull cap
Reduce Anxiety: Chamomile, kava kava, motherworst, passion flower, St. John’s wort, valerian
Anti-depressants: Eleuthero, ginkgo, ginseng, kava kava, rosemary
Sleep: Chamomile, hops, lavender, skull cap
Hormonal Regulation: Dang gui, peony, vitex
To build energy and stamina: dang gui, ginseng, licorice, ligusticum, nettle, peony, rehmannia, schizandra
The book “Natural Health After Birth” by Aviva Jill Romm has many great suggestions.
My Favorite tea company is Yogi Tea: www.yogiproducts.com. They offer teas for hormone support, pregnancy, nursing, and many more. You can purchase them online or at a local grocery or health food store.
Healing The Woman Within 