Birth and Pleasure!

Here are some highlights from the Birth Companions/DONA workshop with Debra Pascali-Bonaro last weekend. We started out sitting around in a circle, with notebooks at hand, listening intently to what Debra had to say...

Day One, Hour One

The room started to get a little messier and we all moved in closer to Debra, and to each other, as we started to get into her words and the concepts we were exploring together.

Moving Closer

Group Work

Debra explaining about positioning. As I was saying - Birth is Simple! An introduction to the concept of pleasure during the childbearing year.

As the days progressed, we got to know each other better through working in groups of two, three or more. Women came from Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario to participate in this gathering, and from such different backgrounds! But we found common ground and really connected.

And That's It! Debra brought her birth cards out - a wonderfully innovative tool that really helps the new parents to imagine and understand what their options may be, and how one choice will have consequences on how the birth will unfold. The students played with these cards to learn how a doula can help the new parents to make choices prenatally.

Working with the birth cards

I Love You  Taking the time to treasure each other and ourselves.

WomanPower!  We learned important techniques to use during labor and birth: the rebozo was a favorite! And of course the messiness of the room was no longer a consideration. We were getting down to the ground and having a good time! Shimmying with a rebozo Through active role play the students learned how they might act with a real woman in real labor. They used props such as birth balls, rebozos, and learned about positions in labor, prenatal positioning, and some massage work.

Shake and Lunge!

 This useful tool hangs on a door (make sure it's locked!!) and a laboring woman can pull on it as she squats.

Deep Squat

 Finally, on Day Four, our babies were ready to be born. Our doulas comforted each other through active labor and used all the techniques they had learned during the final role play. They used birth balls, rebozos, positions, physical comfort measures, and a lot of vocalization! The room was alive with woman sounds: moaning, yelling, sighing, and laughter!

Thank you to everyone who made this workshop happen!