What's Crystal Healing?

Crystal healing/Chakra balancing gives us tools to connect with our ancestral power and wisdom; embodying our full potential. The sessions will begin with an Agua de Florida cleansing of the head, ears, and neck. Then you will lay down on the massage table, set intention, and crystals will be laid onto the chakras, (hips/belly/heart/throat/forehead/top of head), then tapped according to your pulse and the primordial sound of the universe. If needed, breathing techniques will be introduced to take the healing further.

Testimonial:

"My experience with Pati's crystal healing session was exactly what I hoped it would be. During a period of transition in my life, I felt the need to re-center with the help of healing energy and Pati facilitated that process of rejuvenation with the help of her crystals and guided visualizations. Pati has a natural depth of intuition and sensitivity to energies that is rare and beautiful. I walked away feeling deeply at peace and excited for what lay ahead and would highly recommend her healing sessions to all."
~Sarah Marie

Folks usually donate anywhere between $40-$80 for this beautiful experience.  I also accept $33, $54, $81 $108..... Just get your DNA re-set already. The world is waiting for it. Contact me if you'd like to give this as a holiday gift to someone.  I book sessions in Los Angeles, San Diego and Oakland.

My First Mayan Vaginal Steam Bath

A healing practice to harness my power to manifest. It reminded my ancient self of all the ways our people healed themselves forward 7 generations and backward 7 generations. Visceral knowing of power, ReClaiming. 
 Guided by Sara Flores,
I picked my herbs with clear intention and thankfulness. Rosemary, Lavender and Sage.
I placed them in water with intentions named 9 times. I am water.
I remembered the New Moon energy, it was during her extra potent medicine. I made ten wishes.

She brought me a little bowl of dried herbs, Chamomile, Calendula, more I don't remember. She said to choose how much I need, 2 big pinches. She chose rose petals and the piston of a hibiscus for me.

The water brewed. It steamed and was brought to the toilet and the handles of the pot held it up. Toilet seat down over the pot handles, a towel around the bowl, a towel for my backside and lap, to cover and hold the steam in.
Sara said she prepared it for me the way she likes it, STRONG, because intuitively she knew its how I would want and need it.
Sara lit 3 candles with a red hue, and the blatant meditative message "self-love".  At first I hovered over the steam, felt tension in my thighs and ass, a little afraid of what steam might feel like on my vulva.  It was warm, welcoming, nothing difficult to endure. I lowered my self and relaxed into it.  The steam enveloped my vulva.  I found myself reflecting at the very act of spending time with my self, alone, with candles, and the scent and energy of the herbs.  It felt ancient, my cells absorbing the droplets of water into my mucus membranes, my cells carrying on the intentions throughout my system. I felt my vagina willingly letting go of what she no longer needed, felt the sweat drip right off of and out of me, my cellular intelligence perked up, taking in the intentions, and the same time on a conscious anatomical/physiological level noticing:

- circulation increasing in my back/heat flourishing up to my shoulders, tension melting in my back
- movement in my cheeks and entire face, like  release tightness and warmth filling my face/rosy cheeks
- i could feel stagnation in my arms, specifically in my right arm where i have an ulnar nerve injury and being able to stretch my hand better.
- I remember feeling the back of my head light up. In the occiput I could feel movement-like cerebro-spinal fluid flowing.
- The most SIGNIFICANT increase in circulation was in my vulva and clitoris, I could feel blood rushing down and around and flooding.  I felt my vulva shed numbness, fear, tension and shame.  I sensed that I was becoming engorged.
- The next night I had sex and was able to feel the slightest sensation, allowing me to savor every moment, exquisitely feeling pressure, caressing, and energy of love. My tissues were open to RECEIVE love and pleasure, and it was the least scary it's been, this vulnerability.

On a sexual level, it made me aware of all my interactions with this part of my body, sharing it my partner, lovers, myself, my last painful cycle, self-exam groups, not sharing it with predators yet having it be invaded, etc.  I took time to forgive myself for ways in which I hadn't honored myself, and in the same breath I thanked myself for pursuing my pleasure and delving into exploring every aspect of owning it all. I welcomed nothing but love and pleasure in my vagina from now on.  I thanked her for sending me messages along our wild journey together. I thanked Pachamama for allowing me to re-enter my birthright of self-healing, and healing with community. 

I thought about how I had first heard of Sara in January 2010 after a long medicine journey I took along the California Coast.  A sister of the African diaspora said, You MUST meet Sara.  I took it to heart, her emphasis on how I would connect with Sara and that it was a connection that had to be made, for the sake of humanity.  I know this sounds  over the top in some ways, like really, come on.  But for reals, that message kept coming at me for the next 22 months, every where I went; conferences, meetings, events, dear people would say, you HAVE to meet Sara.  Entonces, the time came when we connected on Facebook, interchanged via messages so succinctly and met pretty quickly in real life. I gave myself the gift of visiting her in Oakland during my thanksgiving trip with my honey Diem.  Little by little, I'm collecting my chosen family.

After my session, I took my bath to the earth and offered it back. Sara stood there with me. We laughed like the brujas we are, relentlessly reclaiming.
http://www.reclaimmidwife.com/

Pati Garcia aka Chula Doula with Erykah Badu aka e.badoula in the Huffington Post

So, back in the day 2008, I was invited to teach a 3 part series workshop called Panochas Poderosas at Tia Chucha's Cultural by the wonderfully motivated and eager youth, Karina Ceja.  One of the dates was called "Doulas and Midwives, Oh My! Birth Choices"  I basically shared about what doulas do, the midwifery model of care, and the potential to have an informed birth where you are actively involved in the decision making of your birth experience. I distinctly remember, loving to share the info with the women who showed up because I was told there hadn't been much outreach or awareness building brought to this particular community.  Luckily I had a full-time as a social worker of sorts, so I was able to do this on a donation basis. I just wanted to get the info out there and make solid connection with the community.

My point being- I remember seeing Kamren Curiel's handwriting on the sign-in sheet.  Little did I know that the workshop had affected her so profoundly that 3 years later she'd be inspired to write this article. I'm truly honored to be a catalyst for this young woman's personal birth reflection and be  recognized in the context of one of my long-time inspiration Ms. Erykah Badu, now known as  e. badoula.

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/voto-latino/amp-the-business-of-being_b_1092762.html?ref=fb&ir=Black+Voices&src=sp&comm_ref=false

Chula Doula Goes to Midwifery School

As the Universe would have it, I was invited to be a part of a unique study group and midwifery class.
After about 2 years as a doula, I began to have vivid dreams of catching babies.  They were incessant and profound. Twice Ina May Gaskin spoke to me in them.  This all was happening around the time I visited Peru, and more frequent while in Cusco.

I met with a Peruvian doula and told her about my baby catching dreams, shared my anxiety about not really being sure I could handle that level of education.  I had a difficult time completing my undergrad at Scripps, it took me 8 long years to graduate and be allowed to walk.  Of course there is residual trauma from seeking higher education from an institution such as Scripps College. I was not sure I wanted to go through that again. Also, I was questioning if I could actually metabolize and keep the information given to me.

She asked me if I'd ever looked into going to the Farm in Tennessee to at least take the Midwifery Assistant Training, and I responded that I thought it was too far.  She gave me perspective by saying, "Pati, you're in Peru right now, Tennessee is in your country." It was suggested that I take the week intensive and see how I digested the info.  This is the story of taking advice from people who saw something in me, when I couldn't see it.

I returned to the US determined to get to the Farm, I was hesitant yet thrilled.  Hesistant because I knew I'd be in a class most likely predominantly white/anglo, and thrilled because the material I'd be learning would be a real check-in with myself about these dreams and visions and sensations I'd been having, I'd get the chance to see if this is what I really want to do.

Tennessee was a fascinating experience, the chance to be in nature was so healing for an urban woman like me.  I could feel the lack of electro pollution, I would say it made it easier to learn and take in the education.  At the same time, it felt like knowledge being returned to me, something in my cells being awoken- completely different than college.  And of course, the class was lacking of people of color, we definitely were the minority.  You see what happens in these spaces is almost a complete disconnect from our roots, traditions, social issues, we get lumped into a general population mentality and we don't get to address disparities and our cultural differences/experiences as real information.  Don't get me wrong, I understand that birth as a whole in the US is completely taken over by the medical establishment and doulas and midwives are trying to meet the needs of folks seeking alternatives, but I'm gonna be real and tell you how hard it is as a woman of color, a queer woman of color at that, to see how much my communities are not included in these efforts, we are at the margins, and we are the ones that we've been waiting for.

SO, with all that, all the realness and all the true magic and power of manifestation that I contain within me, and within my communities-- we were handed a midwifery program that works for US.

I scoped out many schools, programs, etc. for midwifery.  None seemed to really meet me where I'm at, none seemed to value who I already was, and I wasn't about to jump through ridiculous hoops to get to where I need to be.

I was invited to present my workshop "Igniting the Revolution Within: A Sex-Positive Approach to Healing in the Postpartum" for the California Association for Midwifery Conference in May of 2011.  I was honored to be welcomed to this space of the conference and share on a subject that is beneficial to midwives doing the work.  At the same time, CAM made it a point to open the conference to folks that usually wouldn't be able to enter this specific space. Many women of color, aspiring midwives, low-income women, and doulas were invited to participate and soak in the information available to midwives.  We showed up, we were a large number, there was a MOC Caucus where we were able to share our concerns about going to midwifery school, Why hadn't we all already signed up and become legit?  What were our barriers?  What do we TRULY desire in a program?  We spoke, we shared, we were HEARD.

A few months later I, along with a select few aspiring midwives, were invited to participate in a study group that worked with our work schedules, our budgets, our interests.  We accepted.

Now we have a group of approximately 10 women- WOC and Low-income folks getting together once a month for a few days to learn collectively, share food, space, energy, healing, and love- SUPPORT- to complete a study that for many people out there, they must endure in isolation.  We refuse to continue that model of individualism, it is not sustainable.

We are able to keep our jobs, support our families and ourselves.  We are surrounded by conscious, politically and spiritually aware and aligned folks.  We've dived in head first with our hearts incredibly open, and so far so good.

We are aiming at being done in 2 years through National College of Midwifery.  If you'd like to donate to my Midwifery School Fund, please let me know, I'm willing to exchange for teaching workshops and holding informative talks on anything you see on my blog or on my FB page.

I need $5,000 to enroll officially.  Here is my paypal info: chuladoula at gmail.com


Thank you for taking the time to read. My midwifery program was made possible by the midwives at www.birthrootsbabies.com

CHULA DOULA NOMINATED for MOST AWESOME DOULA in LOS ANGELES!

This evening I find myself unwinding after my first day of midwifery school. I got a message through Facebook from my friend Sarah in Ashland, Oregon saying,"What? Nominated for most awesome doula? Why on earth haven't I seen this until now?"  I had no idea what she was talking about. But apparently I was nominated for Most Awesome Doula in Los Angeles through Red Tricycle/giggle.com   Here's the link, in case you'd like to VOTE and help a sister out  http://tinyurl.com/6zntopa  


This is a huge marker for me right now in my life. I've recently come to terms with all the effort and painful experiences I've willingly gone through in order to get where I am.  This is where the fruits of my labor begin to drop, all over the damn place, to the point that a friend all the way in Oregon has to give me a virtual nudge to make me notice. 

I feel honored that someone took the time to nominate me. I see colleagues on the list who have been in the field for many more years than I have, who have given birth, etc.  This is for real, I'm right up there with them. Hey we'll see what happens! I could win $500 at giggle.com, a flip camera or a A Large Organic Plush Winnie-the-Pooh!

my summer of Sex Ed with imMEDIAte Justice

http://immediatejusticeproductions.org/blog/

Shodhini Welcomes www.beautifulcervix.com

OMG!  beautifulcervix.com is becoming a Shodhini!!  She found me when looking for other righteous babes doing the radical work of self-exam and cervix love!!!  I am thrilled beyond belief that she would seek me out to learn about teaching workshops and sharing knowledge with folks in a horizontal manner. 

If Shodhini Institute can attract this caliber of folks on the regular, there is no telling what we could do- together!  So far we have doulas, medical assistant, a master's in public health, aryuvedic healers, kundalini yoga teachers, an MC, community organizers, a labor organizer,  folks working with foster care youth, a librarian, a grad school student in early Child Development, Urban Planner, filmmakers, reiki masters, gardners, dancers, etc. . . .

Stay tuned!

***Call out for Donations to send me to AMC-Detroit next Week!***

Dear friends,
I want to thank the folks who've donated so far:

Thanks to Jennifer Foxworth for contributing $15 after recently losing
her job!
To my new friend and doula mama Brenda for her loving $15 :)
Paul~ your $60 is super appreciated.
Claudia Serrato, newly pregnant
mama for your precious$100.
AMC~ Incite! contributed $40 :)
To my friend Carol Downer, a special thank you for her $125 donation!

Because it's taken quite a while to collect what I have so far, I haven't been able to buy the plane ticket yet and now it's close to $500---  so please please consider contributing to my paypal @ chuladoula@gmail.com


I'm writing to share with you that a workshop I proposed to the Allied Media Conference http://alliedmedia.org/ was accepted!  The conference is in Detroit, Michigan from June 23rd-26th, 2011.  I was inspired to propose this workshop after I had attended the CIMS (Coalition for Improving Maternity Services) Conference in March in North Carolina. Specifically the workshop was called Through the Looking Glass: Breastfeeding in the Media and the presenter that moved me to action was Katherine A. Foss, PhD, Professor of Journalism, Middle Tennessee State University.  As a Media Studies major myself, I realized I have the basic skills and technology to produce short quick mini-videos. My friend Karla Chueh-Mejia insisted that I find a way to participate in AMC this year, and soon I made the connection between the need for videos representing the underrepresented and the forum of AMC as a place where this need can be co-created.

It's called, "Representing Ourselves via DIY Videos" and here is the description: Entertainment-based education increasingly shapes our views about breastfeeding, birth, and more. On TV and YouTube,
representations focus on white people in a hospital setting, extreme cases, and dependency on medical experts, thus increasing the disconnect—especially for communities of color—from simple,
traditional approaches to breastfeeding. In this workshop, we'll discuss of issues of media representation and breastfeeding/birth topics, and then work together to CREATE videos about our own experiences with breastfeeding and birth-related topics to change the landscape of what is visible and accessible.For accurate representation babies and children will be needed for this workshop, so I'm asking participants to please bring theirs, along with their knowledge as mamas and parents!

 The workshop is cross referenced in these tracks at the conference:

 INCITE! / ¡INCITE!

 Eco-Media for Survival & Sustainability / Eco-Medios para la
sobrevivencia y la sustentabilidad.

 Health is Dignity, Dignity is Resistance / Salud es dignidad,
dignidad es Resistencia.

In short, I am really pleased that my ideas and even more about the
powerful ways they will evolve and be shaped and enriched by other
people, going forward.

I am writing to ask you, as my community and as those who know my work
and commitment to it so well, to help me pay for the costs of
traveling to and staying in Detroit during the conference.  As many of
you know, I recently injured my hand.  As someone who works with my
hands, this injury has prevented me from earning as much income the
last couple of months.  So, in addition to asking the AMC folks for
some money to offset costs, and at the urging of a friend, I am asking
you to help support me directly in this work and in building capacity
in our larger community.

I need to raise $1,000 to be able to attend the conference, which
includes my plane ticket, food and lodging for 5 days.  Could you give
$25 or more toward this amount?  If you  have a mileage ticket or miles you could donate, I
would be grateful for those, too.

If I am successful in my fundraising, I will be writing and posting
about my experience at the AMC throughout my trip and would also be
glad to present a talk about the experience or to re-create the
workshop for you, your organization or community in return for your
support.

You can give a contribution in two ways:

- Through a secure transaction at Paypal.com (my account name is
chuladoula@gmail.com)
- By mailing a check to me at 5001 Lincoln Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90042

I know everyone has felt the economic pinch in some ways the last few
years and understand if now's not a great time for you to give money.
I want you to know that your non-financial support - your enthusiasm,
encouragement and friendship - has been and will always be appreciated
beyond measure.

With great thanks,
Pati

SHODHINI Workshop Series~Woman Researcher! JUNE

In this three part Shodhini Workshop for Women, by Pati Garcia, CSB. We will learn how to be able to take control of our bodies with precise anatomic self-awareness, to let go of fears, reclaim our uterine power, and live confidently. Shodhini's from the first series will be assisting.

We will meet 3 times over a 5 week period in order to research through at least one moon cycle. We will participating in group self-exam and uterine size-checks.

Tentative Outline...
First Session Sunday June 5
- menstruation/womb story sharing
- redefinition of the clitoris
- Signs of Arousal and Engorgement
-Introduction and slideshow of Self-Exam
- Group Self Exam and Uterine Size Check, for those who are ready- not mandatory.
-beginning your own Orgasmic Yoga Practice.

Second Session Sunday June 19
- Orgasmic Yoga report back
- Group Self Exam and Uterine Size Check
- Fertility Awareness Natural Birth Control Methods

Third Session Sunday July 3
- Pap Smear Discussion
- Vaginal Infections and Natural Remedies
- Massage for Uterine Health
- Group Self Exam and Uterine Size Check

Participants to bring: yoga mat, cushions, blanket, snacks, journals, item for altar.

Dates & Times:
Sunday June 5th
Sunday June 19th
Sunday July 3rd

Location: TBA (Pasadena or Los Angeles)

Cost:
$375
- includes three days of workshop (total 12 hours)

Materials(a $50 Value):
- A New View of Woman's Body book ($20)
- Hot Pants 'zine ($5)
- personal self-examination kit (speculum, flashlight, mirror, instructions, and bag). ($25)
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$350 if you pay in Full by JUNE 2nd- THURSDAY.
$300 if you pay in Full by JUNE 2nd and have all Materials.


{Class size is limited to 12 participants only}
Limited partial-scholarships are available: please inquire via contact info below.

Payment Methods: Paypal to chuladoula@gmail.com, or by check, made out to 'Patricia Garcia'.

For More Information: Pati Garcia at chuladoula@gmail.com, or (510) 363-0160.

Allied Media Conference Acceptance!

I submitted my proposal for the Allied Media Conference http://alliedmedia.org/ was accepted!

The conference is in Detroit, Michigan from June 23rd-26th, 2011.  I was inspired to propose this
workshop after I had attended the CIMS (Coalition for Improving Maternity Services) Conference in March in North Carolina. Specifically the workshop was called Through the Looking Glass: Breastfeeding in the Media and the presenter that moved me to action was Katherine A. Foss, PhD, Professor of Journalism, Middle Tennessee State University.  As a Media Studies major myself, I realized I have the basic skills and technology to produce short quick mini-videos. My friend Karla Chueh-Mejia insisted that I find a way to participate in AMC this year, and soon I made the connection between the need for videos representing the underrepresented and the forum of AMC as a
place where this need can be co-created.

Here's the description of my workshop, which is part of the Shawty Got Skills Skillshare.  It's called, "Representing Ourselves via DIY Videos" and here is the description: Entertainment-based education increasingly shapes our views about breastfeeding, birth, and more. On TV and YouTube, representations focus on white people in a hospital setting, extreme cases, and dependency on medical experts, thus increasing the disconnect—especially for communities of color—from simple, traditional approaches to breastfeeding. In this workshop, we'll discuss of issues of media representation and breastfeeding/birth topics, and then work together to CREATE videos about our own experiences with breastfeeding and birth-related topics to change the landscape of what is visible and accessible.For accurate representation babies and children will be needed for this workshop, so I'm asking participants to please bring theirs, along with their knowledge as mamas and parents!

 The workshop is cross referenced in these tracks at the conference:

 INCITE! / ¡INCITE!

 Eco-Media for Survival & Sustainability / Eco-Medios para la
sobrevivencia y la sustentabilidad.

 Health is Dignity, Dignity is Resistance / Salud es dignidad,
dignidad es Resistencia.

The Womb I Come From

For my birthday today, my 31^st, I thought I’d share the story of my birth and the womb I came from.

Before I landed in my mother’s womb, two siblings came before me. Because of lack of support and shame in Peru, they weren’t able to come all the way through.  So I’m conscious of the life that existed before me in my mother’s womb, and I carry them within me.

When my mother discovered she was pregnant with me, she was thrilled to be in the USA far from her family and able to carry my life in, regardless of the circumstances.  The culture of Peru had been so difficult to withstand that my mother had considered suicide in the past. Here she knew no one would judge her, point out her faults; she’d be able to get ahead with her baby on the way.

At first, she thought she was going to have a boy because people kept commenting that with the size and position of her belly, it showed her baby would be all boy.  Then one day she was walking on the street going home, she was always walking and taking buses. She was coming back from adult school and she found a pink rattle on the sidewalk.  In that moment, she knew she was having a girl.

On Tuesday March 12^th, she went in for her regular check-up and the doctor said she was 2cm dilated, and that she would deliver any minute because that was the due date. But she told me in utero to not be born yet and to wait until Friday or Saturday to come out, she wanted to work the full week so she could have more time off post-partum. Apparently I was a good listener and stayed put.

Saturday March 15th she went grocery shopping to stock up before giving birth. She cooked dinner and ate with her roommates, took a shower around 9pm and went to sleep. At midnight her water broke, she felt the rip of the water bag. She described feeling exhilarated that I was coming; she jumped in the shower. Then she called a taxi cab to take her to the hospital, and she gave him directions all the way there. She was having contractions every 5min, got to the hospital at 2am.

They checked and we were 8cm. Oh my god the baby can be born any minute, my mom wanted her Dr. Tyson, so she waited. They gave her something to poop.  They offered her an epidural when she came back, she said no because she was only going to have one kid, and she wanted to feel what it is like to become a mother.   At 3:40am I was crowning. Her doctor came in sat down, asked her to push, and push again. Then I was born, 3:46am. The doctor said, “What a precious little girl!” We had immediate skin to skin contact and the doctor cut the cord. Mom had to push one more time to get the placenta  out. She says she doesn’t remember the pain.  3hrs and 46 minutes of labor, no childbirth preparation classes. She read books in English and Spanish about birth. She said that this was the beginning of her strength, her will to keep on living, continue to struggle, and the desire to become someone better.  Thanks for choosing to have me mama! Sunday March 16^th @ 3:46am  

Happy Valentine's! Three Tips to Keep Sex Hot After Childbirth

 

  Oh! What an opportunity! Check out this video from Jaiya Ma and Ellen Heed, my colleagues.  They break it down on how to get HOT after having kids.  If you're interested in learning how to help people get their sexy back after birth go to this site and you'll get access to more instructional videos and maybe you'll consider the online course https://rsvp.infusionsoft.com/go/RSVPJV/PGarcia/

COME ON EVERYBODY! Sex is what keeps us going! It's as important as meals!

Birth Doula Story Feb 2009

I had the pleasure of Doula-ing again. This was a first time single mama who's main goal in hiring a doula was to avoid an unnecessary cesarean. Mission accomplished.

The first call was around 1am. She called to let me know that her bag of waters had begun to break.  Water was clear, no foul scent, so she was in the clear to labor at home. No surges as of yet, so she decided to go back to sleep and wait for the surges to come on.

I was definitely on call at this point. I happened to be at the 24hr Korean Spa. Something in me had lead me there, to replenish, refresh, and rest.  Maybe it was the full moon on the 9th. I was definitely in the space to gear up for a day of doula-ing.

At 6am she called to let me know that she was beginning to feel labor. No set pattern of surges just yet, but at least they were not stopping.  Thy were lasting about 30 to 40 sec, and were 6/5/4 minutes apart. I assured her that she was in early labor and to let me know when they got longer and closer together and I'd come to join her.

I went home, packed my doula supplies, and took a nap.  At 9am I called to check in and she was feeling ready to go to the hospital and wanted me to meet her at her home.

I drove to her home and met her in her bedroom. She shared that she had gone on a long walk with her mother the day before and felt that this is what brought on her labor.  Wise move! So we began to talk about her surges, she showed me how she kept track on a website called http://www.contractionmaster.com/  It's such a handy tool!  I could see right off of the bat that she was still in early labor, so I shared with her the pro's and cons of heading to the hospital at that very moment.  She thought of her options and decided to stay home until her surges were at least 60 seconds and within 5 minutes of each other.

To cope with each surge we used different positions. One leg on the bed, like a lunge, then on her hands and knees to relieve the back, slow dancing with pressure on her low-back from her mother. We focused on using the surge to allow opening, I asked her to visualize herself opening with each in breath, taking the breath down to her crotch.  Lots of crotch opening visualization!

She handled each surge earnestly, with fear, with peace, with calmness, with disbelief.  It's amazing the range of emotions and varying degrees of faith in oneself- all a woman goes through in this intense process.  My role is to reassure her strength, never giving up on her power.

Towards the end of laboring at home I suggested that she squat during her next surge. She felt an extreme amount of pressure in her crotch, she expressed that she felt like her pelvic floor was being smashed. She went through about 2 or 3 surges this way. When she got up her surges were stronger than ever.  We went back to the computer to track the next 6 surges. BAM! Out of 8 surges six were well over a minute, and occurring between every 3-5 minutes.  She was beginning to give into the idea that she couldn't do it anymore, that she wanted medication.  So we would focus on just getting through the next one.

We grabbed our things and headed out to the hospital. On the way there her surges were so strong she would tense up and yell out. Limp and Loose became the mantra. Pretty soon she got the hang of her breathing and began to use the energy of yelling out, inward. She began to focus on making deeper sounds and allowing her jaw to open. 

We arrived at the hospital at 12:30p and she was at 7cm. The nurses offered medication (epidural) and she definitely considered it. I just reminded her that she was almost done, and when she's done, she's completely done. I guess it sounded okay for her to continue, and she passed on the drugs.  By 1:30p she was 9.5cm with an anterior lip. I suggested she wiggle her hips around and around to get the cervical lip moved out of the way. At 2pm she was 10cm and ready to push. She pushed until 2:21p and her lovely daughter was born. A healthy girl. 7lbs 8oz, 19 3/4 in. 2/10/09.

Mama was elated that she had accomplished such a challenging feat. She was amazed that she got through it. She was glowing with pride and astonishment.  I was so happy to have been able to assist and be a witness to a woman's natural power.

Full Spectrum Doula Network . org

Laurel Ripple Carpenter reached out and invited me to join the Full Spectrum Doula Network while I was in Australia.  It was so enticing to have a potential community of radically minded doulas come together in a virtual space.  It's something that I had been developing on my own, mostly of Facebook, and in my head.  I was so happy to see it come to life.  Here we are able to find doulas doing prison births, queer allies, transmen doing birthwork, abortion support- just a complete range of leftist, anarchist, women of color, gender non-conforming folks out to connect and build.

It's been a welcoming forum for me where I've been able to share my real life approaches to empowering folks through feminist anatomy education, d.i.y. abortion, self-exam, and networking.  People at FSDN are interested in hands on ways to cause revolution of the mind, body and spirit.  Collectively we are sharing our resources and networking on a national level.  Never before has there been a way to connect in such a concise and purposeful manner.  To me it's part of the shift in feminism where abortion and birth rights are finally one in the same.  Finally, we are manifesting real reproductive justice and putting feminism into motion.