Rebozo Techniques for Labor & Birth
A few months ago, visiting midwife from Mexico, Naoli
Vinaver, came to Los Angeles to demonstrate use of the Rebozo. In case you have
not heard what a Rebozo is, essentially a Mexican shawl about about 4-5 feet, which serves many functions.
Mexican women can wrap and carry their babies around their back or in a sling
or pouch in front of the body. In labor, the Rebozo can help a woman with
relaxation techniques and help progress labor and relieve pain. Angela from
Rebozo Me Tenderly sells beautiful authentic Rebozos at a very reasonable
price. Find Angela on Facebook.
I keep a Rebozo in my doula bag and bring with me to every birth. The Rebozo
keeps me warm in those very cold hospital rooms and can be used in a variety of
ways during labor and delivery. Midwives and doulas can help correct a
mal-positioned baby in order to help the baby rotate into proper anterior fetal
position (tummy to mummy) and progress labor.
What I learned at Naoli’s workshop,
though, was about the “movement of sexual energy.” Of course! Birth is the
manifestation of sexual energy. I just have never heard it described that way,
as Energy. It makes sense then that when a woman is inhibited and her sexual
energy blocked, labor would be longer and often more painful.
Author, Jennifer Vanderlaan of Birthing Naturally website has a great one-page
description of the Rebozo and simple how-to techniques.
Here is a short video clip I made where Naoli and several doulas practice one Rebozo technique I like to call Sifting because it reminds me of sifting flour through cheesecloth. I reckon this particular movement might also help women with fertility blockages? If nothing else, it feels great!
So pull out that Pashmina or Rebozo and move it, move it!
Can dancing in labor help you deliver faster? It is a great question!
I was inspired to write this topic because last month I had the honor and pleasure of supporting 5 births where each and every mother danced and moved in Active Labor. Every birth was a Natural Birth. It confirmed to me that dancing in labor is one of the best kept secrets!
The use of movement and dance has been used for Ages and by many cultures to help relieve pain in labor and progress labor and delivery. From my experience as a doula I have noticed that the mamas who move and shake their hips in Active Labor do dilate quicker and say they experienced less pain. This does not mean to start dancing with your first contraction. Mamas spend early labor sleeping and resting to conserve the energy needed for the time when Active Labor is established, thereby making every contraction count and be more efficient.
The other thing I noticed is that, contrary from popular belief; “bigger babies” are able to be delivered vaginally! When a woman is upright she is using gravity to move the baby down and when she moves her hips and dances her pelvis is open and loose. In this video a mother danced throughout late labor then pushed an over 10 pound baby! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYtRmaABHUk
Here is another one of my clients who recently delivered her over a 9 lbd baby. Her video is so inspiring that it makes me want to get up and dance! So load up your iPod with your favorite jams
and get up and shake that thang!
I am pleased to announce that effective March 1, 2011, the VBAC ban at Torrance Memorial Hospital has been lifted! The news was reported in the Sunday, Mother’s Day edition of the Daily Breeze dated May 8, 2011.
This is significant news for women in the South Bay who have had to leave the neighborhood and find a doctor and hospital out of the local area in order to birth vaginally after a Cesarean (VBAC). As a doula, I can’t tell you how wonderful this change is because it means that we don’t have to get on the 405 freeway in the throws of labor just to get to a hospital who would support
VBACs!
I am so very happy about this new Hospitalist model at Torrance Hospital and I am waiting with abated breath for
Little Company of Mary to follow suit too!
What a Happy Mother’s Day it was indeed! Thank you, Daily Breeze, for posting this story.