A Courageous Heart

One of the things that originally awoken me to the importance of birth workers was loosing my daughter at 18 weeks. Although this was incredibly sad, and I had to confront my own feelings of unworthiness, the grief wasn’t the “hard” part.  The difficulty came with the compartmentalization of her birth and that experience. It was treated like a routine procedure, not a right of passage. After much thought and reflection, with a sisterly friend ( whom I would say unofficially – she was my post partum Doula)  I saw my journey as a mother was valuable and a very important landmark, it was never intended to be singularly focused. By it being medically “handled” as a arbitrary routine the processing of Birth becomes mechanical.  As Human beings we are physiological forms, we have consciences of mind, and we have a Spirit, to separate the three is impossible. To restore dignity to birth, we must first honor the mother for her voice and her experience,  are the roots of the family tree of our society.

I see women face birth, in the sharing of their stories, in the tears they shed,  in the not wanting to be like their parents and when they do they face their fears. The courageous part comes not in pushing through the “pain”, it comes in being open to our fears. Time and time again, I have been at births, where the family had a birth plan that has not gone as they wanted.  The perfect home birth, now turned into a medical c-section, the medication free birth, now leaning over a table as she gets her epidural. It never surprises when a birth doesn’t go as the parents have planed, I think that is part of the lesson of becoming a parent, the dealing with the unexpected.  What does surprise me and always brings me back to why I love this work is when the couple (and especially the mom) can surrender. When she can let go of the planning, the perfect ideal, when she finds her courage to have an open heart. When she can freely and bravely let go to something greater.

As I think most birth workers can attest to, the lessons we learn well we serve also greatly impact our personal life’s. The course of my life has recently dramatically changed from the plan I had, is that a surprise? No, Life will never go as we expect it,  because although we have a map of what road we would like to take somehow other things always arise. What I have learned from the many moms I have had the privilege of serving is to have an open heart, to find myself truly content in all circumstances in life. My Mom recently told me that ”your joy starts with your thanksgiving”, and that is what I am doing.

So as we are enjoying a beautiful week of 30 degree weather, I find myself with a cup overflowing. Thinking back to over 2 years in Saskatchewan, discovering myself, my community and my heritage. I think of more then 40 births, dozen of families I have come to know and will always treasure their stories.  I think of the gift to learn and grow, to see and believe. I am thankful for yet another season of my life passed, and to be entering the next with a smiling heart.  With arms open wide I surrender to the, unknown road ahead. 

Getting By With A Little Help From Some Friends!!!

I imagine these pics have made it around the Internet a few million times, but in the event that you missed it, here's a nice story about PPD and the animal kingdom...

"In a zoo in California, a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triple tiger cubs. Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, died shortly after birth. The mother tiger started to decline in health, although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a depression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve. After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species. The only "orphans" that could be found quickly were a litter of weaner pigs. The zoo keepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed the babies around the mother tiger. We can learn much from our fury friends!!

Postpartum Depression

For many families the first few hours, days and months can seem so magical like resting in a valley. Discoveries are endless,  your new baby is a joy and the bond you physiologically create in this time just seals how wonderful parent hood is.

For other families the journey starts by climbing up hill right away, for those who have to deal with Postpartum Depression (PPD) 3-20% of all births, Postpartum Blues (PPB) 40-80% of all births , and Postpartum Psychosis 1-2 out of every 1000 births . The bond can take longer to form and living through the daily symptoms can feel unbearable.

I post this as a reminder that when we share our stories, we also bring our light into the darkness. For families who face these conditions, there are support groups but a courageous first step is to TALK, Talk, talk. Isolation is a prison, by finding your community and opening up you will find the keys to walk out and shine.

On a personal note, I commend every single mother, father, child and extend family that are or have dealt with these conditions my heart and prayers go out to you.

This is a link to The Smiling Mask a  excellent resource and powerful story written by Three Prairie Women Please take the time to look further into it. 

                                                       http://www.thesmilingmask.com/

Raw Placenta Encapsulation

Unlike the Traditional Chinese Medicine preparation of the placenta, we do not steam the placenta with herbs during this raw encapsulation process. You should  forgo the steaming to save the vital nutrients and hormones that may be depleted once the placenta has heated to above 118 degrees. This method follows the general “Raw Foods” rule that nothing should be headed beyond 118 degrees or vital enzymes are lost.  This is not to say one method is better than the other, just that you have several options for encapsulation and should choose the method that best suits your needs and preferences.

Women have called these capsules “happy pills” and report phenomenal energy levels while taking them. Raw placenta is extremely high in hormones such as progesterone and oxytocin. Midwives have traditionally used fresh placenta to stop bleeding immediately postpartum by slicing off a piece of the maternal side and having the mother put this between her cheek and gums. The high hormone levels cause the uterus to close down and bleeding is diminished.

Here are answers to questions I receive frequently regarding placenta encapsulation:

Why should I consume my placenta?
During birth women lose 1/8-1/10 of their blood supply. The mammal placenta was made to be consumed and make up for this loss by giving the new mother essential fats, amino acids, vast amounts of iron
and essential hormones to aid the body in self recovery after birth.

Will placenta capsules help with my breast milk supply?
Dried placenta has been proven to increase a breast-feeding mother’s milk supply. The first and still one of the few ever studies on using placenta as a lactagogon gave incredible results. 181 out of 210 women who were given dried placenta to increase milk supply had positive results and saw an increase in their milk supply.
Placenta as a Lactagogon; Gynaecologia 138: 617-627, 1954

I’m delivering in a hospital. Can I still have my placenta encapsulated?
Absolutely! When you give birth in the hospital,  your hospital caregivers will honor your wishes, and help you  to bring the placenta home easy and stress free for you.

How long does the placenta encapsulation take?
Once you start with your placenta  you are usually able to complete the encapsulation process is about 24 hours.

How many capsules can I expect from my placenta?
It all depends on the size of your placenta. We have seen anywhere from 100 – 200 capsules from various placentas.

What about sanitation? I’ve been told the placenta is a bio-hazard.
Uninformed people call the placenta a biohazard. If you thoroughly disinfect the area where we work before , during, and after the process. If your equipment is  disinfected.

I delivered some time ago; my placenta is in the freezer. Is it too late to encapsulate?
Absolutely not. Although it is best to process the placenta within six months, all hormones and some nutrients are still viable and beneficial.


Helps With
•Decrease in baby blues and postpartum depression.
•Increase and enrich breastmilk.
•Increase in energy.
•Decrease in lochia, postpartum bleeding.
•Decrease iron deficiency.
•Decrease insomnia or sleep disorders. 


 Keep in mind that, according to the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the person who is preparing the placenta really needs to be in a good head-space while they're working with it, as this can affect its potency.

Here is what you will need :

• some slices of ginger root
• half a lemon
• a hot pepper
• large cutting board
• a cookie sheet + parchment paper (or aluminum foil, in a pinch)
• a vegetable basket steamer (to go over a casserole of boiling water, one or two inches deep, no more, in case it boils up and over)
• a mortar and pestle
• food dehydrator or standard cooking oven (on the lowest setting possible, ideally 110°F - if you can't get it this low, keep the oven door cracked slightly for the duration of the drying out process - you can stick a wooden spoon in the door to hold it ajar as we did)
• empty vegan capsules, size "00" 150-pack (you can get these at your local health food store)
• glass jar for storage

How TO

Store capsules in the fridge (into the freezer over long-term) and take 2 capsules, 3 times a day for the first 2-3 weeks (to be taken with white wine, if you like). Then as needed after that, whenever you feel tired or moody. Do NOT take if you have a cold, flu, mastitis or other sickness or fever (or night sweats).

Start prepping your placenta ASAP after the birth (or at least get it into the fridge/ Freezer after the birth - you can leave babe attached to it up to 4 hours, but no more, before beginning prep or refrigerating it). If you wish to have a lotus birth(allowing the placenta and umbilical cord to detach from baby naturally) placenta encapsulation is not possible. With lotus birth, the placenta must be treated during the lotus birth process and is no longer able to be consumed.

Gently wash the excess blood off the placenta. Cut off the cord, and tuck the placenta inside the membranes. Place it inside the vegetable steamer basket, over a casserole pan of 1-2" deep of lightly boiling water (not full-on, rolling boil).

Throw in some ginger root slices, lemon slices and the pepper (either in with the placenta -or- into the water).

Put the lid on top and steam for 15 minutes, then flip over and steam for 15 on the other side (or until no liquid comes out when pricked with a fork). The placenta will shrink down substantially in this process.

Place placenta onto a sterilized cutting board (vinegar and Grapefruit Seed Extract will do the trick for sterilization). Using a sterilized very sharp knife, cut the placenta into 1/8" strips (think: beef jerky). Very thin.

Place strips into the dehydrator, or if using a standard oven, place strips on foil on cookie sheet and put sheet into oven. The idea is to simply dry the placenta out slowly - not to cook it.

Continue until placenta strips are completely dried-out (brittle). This may take 8 or more hours.

Grinding (allow at least 2 hours for grinding by hand with a M&P). Break up slices of placenta into small pieces, and crush them into a fine powder with the mortar and pestle. You can use a coffee grinder for this part, but according to TCM, there is too much "energy" created when you grind the placenta in this way - plus your coffee may taste like liver for some time if you do!

Put the ground/crushed powder into the capsules (this is a bit awkward at first, but you quickly get the hang of scooping with and marrying up such tiny pill halves).

Place capsules into a glass jar, and then into the fridge.

Yield: 80-150 placenta capsules (each capsule containing about 800-1000 mg of dried placenta powder)

Ideally, you want to begin consuming your "happy pills" on or before Day 3 postpartum, when hormones flood (as well as leave rapidly) your system, when your milk comes in, and when the "baby blues" can rear their ugly head...

Infant Massage Class- Saturday December 4th

Cost $ 35 Per/ Couple

To register call 262-1016

e: grace@touchofgrace.info 

Please bring a yoga mat 

www.touchofgrace.info

f you or any one you know is expecting or has a new born, this is a great way to start off the holiday seasons on a calm and gentle note. 

This class is beneficial for expecting moms, new parents, grandparents, and anyone who wants to heal and bond with a new baby in their life. 

If you don't have a child, please bring a doll to the class to learn techniques. We will go over many easy to do massages for you to do at home, to help aid digestion, boost the Immune system, improve circulation, and sensory development. 

• Helps Relieve Discomfort from Gas, Colic, and Constipation

• Improves Blood Circulation

• Aids in Digestion

• Enhanced Development of the Nervous System 

• Stimulates Neurological Development

• Increases Alertness/Heightened Awareness

• Reduces Stress Hormones

• Improves Immune Function

• The Release of Oxytocin, the Nurturing Hormone

Fall Benefits

As this Indian Summer has come to ease us into to winter, I hope you are enjoying the fullness these days of sunshine, and cool walks have to offer.

This time of year always brings an increase in busy schedules. Finding time for ourselves in the midst of Fall Routines, school commitments and programs can be challenge to carve out. Like with every change of season I tend to see an increase of injuries, strains,and muscular conditions, that could be prevented with simple stretches, strengthening and massage. Message is not a luxury, it is a therapeutic approach, and when used as a preventative measure it can help bring a fuller expression to life.

Also a reminder to those of you who have massage benefits, and are planning on using them before the end of the year. I would suggest you come in to see me so we can make a treatment plan for you that best suits your needs and your schedule over the holiday rush.

With Thanks

Grace E Paterson 

What Babies Want

The Prairie Birth Collective is proud to present the feature film "What Babies Want" this Labour Day weekend. Come join us for lunch, trade show and movies to celebrate birth. This is a family-friendly event open to all.
Contact A Soft Landing or Maureen Schofield for more information about this event and to purchase tickets.
Visit www.prairiebirth.com
www.whatbabieswant.com