When I was pregnant, I heard about the benefits of consuming one's placenta after the birth to replenish energy, facilitate a speedy recovery, and to prevent postpartum depression. I knew that placenta was an ancient remedy used for a variety of conditions for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

However, the few articles I read about it mentioned unappetizing recipes such as stir-fried placenta with onions and garlic, blending raw placenta into smoothies and drinking it, or even just eating it raw and plain. None of these methods appealed to me. I happily planted my son's beloved placenta in the garden behind the home he was born in.

I wish that I had the information then about placenta encapsulation. I am delighted that now I have been guided to Placenta Benefits - www.placentabenefits.info - an informative website about the powerful benefits of placenta medicine for postpartum health and more. The founder Jodi Selander offers placenta education and encapsulation services. You can also order a kit with instructions and tools to dry, powder, and encapsulate your own placenta.

The reported benefits of placenta consumption include increased breastmilk, increase energy, prevention of postpartum depression, and less postpartum bleeding. Your own placenta capsules are also excellent to save in the freezer for menopause. Small amounts of one's own dried placenta can be given to the baby or child for separation anxiety, such as the first day of school.  

I believe the placenta is a powerful healing remedy for the mother and baby and I am glad to see more modern methods of bringing this free and safe home remedy back to women and families. Placentas have been honored by cultures around the world since ancient times. In fact, the word placenta comes from old English placent and it means a round, flat cake. Thus, every year on our birthdays, we gather round and celebrate around a cake - known in olden days as a placenta - and eat it.

I am thrilled to be traveling to Hawaii next week to teach a Birth Arts International Doula Training in Kahului, Maui!

There are still a couple more spaces left in Birth Arts Doula Training on Maui for February 8th, 9th, and 10th. This is an intensive three-day workshop including optional doula certification distance-learning work.

This is a wonderful opportunity to study to be a holistic trained labor support companion, providing nurturing care and encouragement to mothers, babies, and families as a birth doula. On your off time, enjoy tropical Maui!

More info about Birth Arts Doula Training in Maui here: http://www.maiahealingarts.com/birth-arts-doula-maui/ 

More info about Birth Arts International here: http://www.birtharts.com/

For inquiries or to register contact Kara at kara@birtharts.com or 541-520-0681 

The WaterBaby Project needs your support for funding - vote today at www.IdeaBlob.com. Watch the video, vote, and please share!
 

Dr. Carol Phillips is the author of the book Hands of Love: Seven Steps to the Miracle of Birth and the companion DVD Hands of Love: Witnessing the Miracle of Birth. She is a Chiropractor who specializes in Perinatal and Pediatric Chiropractic, CranioSacral Therapy, and Birth Doula Care. She and her daughter, also a CranioSacral Therapist and Doula, are featured in the DVD demonstrating and educating about the benefits of prenatal chiropractic and craniosacral therapy for balancing the health of the mother and baby.

The Hands of Love book and DVD are wonderful educational tools for chiropractors, craniosacral therapists, bodyworkers, doulas, midwives, childbirth educators, and perinatal health care providers. This DVD would be great for showing to expecting parents in childbirth classes or pregnancy wellness classes by bodyworkers and chiropractors. The video educates parents about the benefits of holistic prenatal bodywork, natural conscious labor and birth, and birth doula care.

As a craniosacral therapist, doula, and childbirth educator myself, I learned a lot from this video. I loved the 3-dimensional animations of the uterus, ligaments, and pelvis, as well as the animations of the baby's cranial molding. Dr. Carol Phillips teaches techniques for relaxing the pelvis and uterus for labor through effective vocal toning and conscious visualization.

Hands of Love demonstrates how restrictions and distortions in the pregnant women's body can cause muscoloskeletal dicomfort and pain, as well as emotional imbalance. When the baby is confined in the womb due to restrictions of the uterine ligaments, sacrum, or pelvis, then the mother will feel discomfort too - either physically, emotionally, or both. Dr. Phillips demonstrates how chiropractic care and craniosacral therapy can naturally ease physically discomfort, as well as make more room for baby to grow and move and play in the healthy balanced womb, and create a sense of healthy balance. Craniosacral therapy is wonderful for pregnant and laboring women to facilitate the dynamic balance of the uterus and it is wonderful that this book and dvd are educating pregnant families about the powerful benefits of this work.

The book is filled with color photographs and personal stories of mother's experiences of birth as well as Carol's many interesting experiences as a birth attendant. I love how Dr. Phillips uses her extensive health and childbirth background to emphasize and educate parents and providers on how the women's body is physically designed for biodynamic birth and how to work with movement, relaxation, and patience to promote healthy birth for mom and baby.

There is so much information in this book and DVD. I recommend it for all seeking information on holistic prenatal care and natural childbirth, as well as easing the pains and discomforts of pregnancy, preventing breech and posterior babies, and encouraging natural labor and birth. For more information on Dr. Carol Phillips see the New Dawn Publishing homepage.

by Rosetta Thuresson, Dip. H, www.mamarosesnaturals.com 

The moment that new life is awakened within a women’s being, an internal dance begins between mother, baby, and the earth. This natural bond between mother and child continues to grow throughout pregnancy, birth, and as each continue their journey together. It is intended that the formation of this miraculous and unique relationship remain instinctive, close to nature, without unnecessary interruption from technology and other exterior forces. Through the use of herbs, nature provides many sources of nutrients, which are essential in facilitating a harmonious experience for mother and baby as they approach the moment that they will meet eye to eye in our world.

When learning of having conceived a baby, it is very common for women to want to pay special attention to their well being. While trying to maintain good health, many women also experience physical challenges during pregnancy, such as symptoms of morning sickness, including nausea, vomiting, or indigestion, as well as feelings of fatigue and fluctuation in hormonal balance. Many medications to treat such issues are not safe to use during pregnancy for healthy fetal development. Herbs have been used for generations during pregnancy to assist the process of a natural birth and a healthy mother and child.

Nature offers an abundance of plants, often referred to as herbs, for all stages of the birthing process. Research confirms that herbs are rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other trace elements required for health and vitality. Each plays an essential role in keeping both Mama and baby happy and healthy throughout pregnancy. Low levels of vital nutrients such as iron, calcium, folic acid, zinc, and vitamins C and E may possibly lead to muscle cramps, backache, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, toxemia, postpartum hemorrhaging, or even miscarriage.

In the quest for obtaining ultimate nutritional health and internal balance during pregnancy and birth, many women have turned to the timeless and traditional use of herbs and natural remedies. Herbs are the most ancient form of medicine known, integrating all levels of personal well being at the internal source, acting synergistically to improve overall health and harmony of the whole person – in mind, body, and spirit. For millions of years, herbal remedies have been passed down from mothers to their daughters and granddaughters to help support the miraculous childbearing process, throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum care, and beyond.