“For many ancestral people’s the person entrusted with the birth altar is the midwife.” Monica Larrea de Arellano
CIHUAPAHTLI HOME BIRTH and GYN MIDWIFERY SERVICES
CIHUAPAHTLI MIDWIFERY HOLISTIC BIRTH AND MIDWIFERY CARE FOR PRENATAL VISITS
As your midwife, we will have prenatal visits to go over demographic information, health history including exercise, work place health risks, any medical/mental health conditions or trauma history, family history, maternity history, a physical, laboratory work, nutritional history, introduction of the rebozo, (shawl) and prenatal education. Prenatal visits are monthly until 28 weeks, bi-monthly until 36 weeks, and then weekly until the birth of your baby. As your midwife I am here for you and your baby. Say it with me, “my body, my birth,” I am there to help you have the birth you envision. I am here for you, your baby, your family, to help you with any fears you may have, to remind you to trust your body, and experience birth how you want, as ceremony. Regardless of where you live, wherever or how you want to give birth, I am here for you. I look forward to meeting you.
CIHUAPAHTLI MIDWIFERY HOLISTIC BIRTH AND MIDWIFERY CARE FOR POSTPARTUM VISITS
Once your baby has been born, I will be with you in the golden hours, awaiting grandmother placenta, assessing your well-being and your baby. Subsequent postpartum visits, which include maternal and newborn assessments will take place during the first 24-48 hours after birth, then again at one week, two weeks, and six weeks after the birth. Postpartum depression, anxiety, and baby blues is a reality that many mothers experience. Healing birth traumas is important. For those interested I offer the use of traditional Indigenous scientific technology utilizing the temazkalli, bajos, sitz baths, herbal baths, belly binding, sobadas (massages) and cierre de caderas con el rebozo, (closing of the hips with a shawl). I can also provide you with a sealing ceremony. Or, we can just simply chat about any sadness, anger, fears and/or enjoy your happy postpartum period. In my personal experience, many people help us throughout the pregnancy and want to be at our birth, but then comes postpartum, most people disappear. Not me, I will accompany you with postpartum care and I am here to help you as you open your heart to me. I look forward to being a small part of your holistic postpartum care.
CIHUAPAHTLI MIDWIFERY LABOR AND BIRTH HOLISTIC CARE
Starting at 37 weeks I will be on call for you. When you are in labor, I will join you and support members you may have, such as your partner, family members, doula(s), etc. I am there as your midwife, my services vary from person to person, remember, “my body, my birth.” I will be with you, at your birth, this beautiful ceremony of life, with all my love and respect. All power to you, warrior women, sacred life givers. Our great-grandmothers, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunties, all our ancestors, with us in spirit, if not physically.
CIHUAPAHTLI MISCARRIAGE HOLISTIC SUPPORT
Miscarriages are hard, very sad times and if you experience a miscarriage I am available for physical, emotional, and spiritual support, as well as medical guidance. If you have a miscarriage, I offer a home visit to talk about your experience, address your concerns, answer any questions, and refer you to a grief counselor or support groups if needed. Many of my friends/sisters who have experienced miscarriages have had their closing of the hips with a rebozo in a sweat lodge or at home, and were guided through other rituals to heal and prepare for the future. I am here to help you as you feel is appropriate for you.
CIHUAPAHTLI MIDWIFERY HOLISTIC GYNECOLOGY
I am offering holistic cihuatl (woman) gynecology care. I will provide care for women from teenage years through childbearing years, and menopause. At our GYN visit we will have 1-1.5 hours of holistic gynecology care. In our time together, we will review your gynecology/menstrual history, medical and surgical history, any medications and supplements you are taking, allergies, family history, psychosocial history, nutritional history, health and fitness, stressors and coping, and your lifestyle in general. We will do a basic physical, breast and pelvic exam, any necessary labs including blood tests, urine samples, vaginal/cervical swabs, and a pap smear as indicated. We will review your lifestyle, nutritional diet, and exercise assessment. In regard to fertility awareness or pregnancy prevention, if you are interested in natural family planning, birth control methods, menstrual cycle and ovulation charting, we will address any questions or worries that you may have. Also, if you desire, alternative remedies such as herbal support and/or medical prescriptions may be provided as needed.