Limited Preview : Empowerment 2012

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PREMIERE ISSUE

SACRED pregnancy the magazine

finding your birth power

power-smoothies 1st raw milk : colostrum

unnecessary C’s the wonders of rebozo

empowerment : fall 2012

d e t i lim EW I V PRE


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Welcome to the premier issue of SACRED

pregnancy : the magazine

I can not tell you how delighted I am that you are diving into these pages with as much excitement as I had putting this all together with the help of the most amazing writers, creators, photographers and of course our designer. I am going to call her “AMAZING Amanda” from this point on and I am honored she is a part of the Sacred Pregnancy team. This venture came out of the outpouring of love for Sacred Pregnancy : the book, and will grow what we started with those first pages. We have a big mission, we want to change the world! Well not the whole world, just the world of pregnancy, birth and beyond…We want pregnancy to be seen and experienced as the transformational beautiful journey it is and women to be enveloped with sisterhood love and honored each step of the way, we want birth to move out of hospitals and into the hands of the midwives and you unless absolutely necessary, we want to take the words “they let me” out of the birth conversation and we want to play a part in shifting the beyond birth journey to be full of support, cutting edge information, celebration and beauty. Basically…we are starting a movement and we want you to be a part of it! I am a doer…I have a vision and I execute it…This is my vision come to life as seen through the eyes of all of these special folks who have penned their way into this issue. Please sit down with a huge cup of cinnamon spiced tea or basil lemonade or whatever your flavor is and take the deep drink with us. Open the door, step on the path, grab the hand of the woman in front of you, and help this movement grow. In deep and loving gratitude,

Anni Daulter

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self portrait photography by: Jade Beall

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the empowerment issue number one

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Sacred Pregnancy Magazine is: Anni Daulter - Editor + Creative Director Jacquellyne Hengst - Managing Editor

Dedicated Interns Sare Merrigan - my new right hand mama Ellen Bailey

Amazing Amanda Hearn - Designer www.theecofriendlyfamily.com

Media + Advertising Contact advertising@sacredpregnancy.com

Shawna Wentz - Cover Photography www.sacredwombartistry.com

Editorial Contact info@sacredpregnancy.com

A Special Thank You Tim Daulter for your inspiration Loren Krizmanich for trusting and believing Hayley Lane for jumping into the deep end Brandy Lewis for giving your gifts so freely Myrriah for your sweet dedication Kathi + Alan Glist for your friendship Christy Funk for being a good friend

Sacred Pregnancy Magazine was created and founded in 2012 by Anni Daulter.

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All material herein is copyright 2012 by Sacred Pregnancy Magazine and respective contributors / writers. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.


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SACRED pregnancy the magazine

finding your birth power by Guidiuditta Tornetta

nourishing herbs for pregnancy by Aja Blanc

passing down birthing traditions to our daughters by Aleksandra Evanguelidi

power smoothies by Heng Ou

in support of HER

a special thank you to our amazing photographers: shawna wentz

sacredwombartistry.com

jade beall

jadebeall.com

brandy lewis

serenitymamaearth.com

melissa j. wilbraham

madeline label for bella faccia foto bellafacciafoto.com

jacqueline scoggin goodthingsgrow.com

danica donnelly

danicadonnelly.com

melissajean.com.au

helen mcguire

aja blanc

corinne laan

moonwomanrising.com

hajna nemeth

birthbliss.nl

lynsey stone

500px.com/nikaaphotography

dfwbirthphotographer.com

heng ou

erin ellenberger-march

motherbees.com

bonnie lehr

applesforpoppyanne. typepad.com

victoria karlum

by Tim Daulter

bmjevents.blogspot.com

power poses for pregnancy

cadenciaphotography.com

valeriejoy.com

mary sterk

veronica george

by Maggie Bijl

candence clare feeley

justmarydesigns.com

victoriakaralun.com

valerie joy

10cmphotography.com

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44 empowerment reflections 4 the power of the new moon

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by Amy jones

by Mijanou Montealegre

beauty + balance + bliss by Christy Funk

pretty + poetic

original artwork by Mary Sterk

a mother’s blessings

by Tnah Louise + Paige Wilder

himalayan sea salt slab cookin’ by Jacquelin Scoggin

1st raw milk : colostrum by Amy Paolinelli

welome baby teal by Gena Kirby

the tie that binds by Gena Kirby

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homemade coconut milk shampoo by Corinne Laan

grand-parenting

by Roni Cohen Leiderman, Ph.D.

mother roasting by Cole Deelah, CBE

unnecessary C’s

by Elizabeth Sniegocki

old fashioned post

by Erin Ellenberger-March

trusting our mothering instincts by Sylvia Poareo, MSW

the gift of doulas

by Ruth Blanding


fall 2012 empowerment issue 9


i double dare you to... BE BRAVE :

I double DARE you to... say to yourself 5 times a day:

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I am power-FULL I am beauty-FULL I am trust-FULL

photography : Brandy Lewis

I am knowledge-FULL I am in control of my pregnancy + the birth of my baby 11


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FEATURE :

inspired highlight


Finding Your Birth Power

by Giuditta Tornetta

photography : Melissa J. Wilbraham

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Finding Your Birth Power

by Giuditta Tornetta

When I was pregnant with my son, in 1983, I felt my soul slowly recognizing its higher potential as this child was forming inside my womb. It was exciting to feel the power of creation within me. I learned to relate to him as I would relate to an angel, or—dare I say—to G-d itself? I decided that I could use these forty weeks to embark on a journey that would not only birth a better human being, but would allow me to birth a new self, become a better person, and perhaps nurture a more actualized mother. In my morning practice, I’d ask myself, What are my actions, beliefs, thoughts, and attitudes teaching my child right now? I learned that practicing mindfulness of my whereabouts, my thoughts and actions, of 14

my physical body and his, and of the people around me, was the key to preparation for a powerful birthing experience.

go of any expectations I had for my future, and any painful memory I had of my past. It also meant following my instincts more than ever before.

I was attentive to the language I used on myself as well, being gentler and less judgmental of the things I did and did not do. Of course, I had to remind myself, over and over, that my goal was “practice not perfection.” I did not need the additional stress of being a ‘perfect’ mother.

I learned to tune into my womb, and tune out my logical mind. I paid attention to my body’s reactions to providers and all suggestions and/or comments about my pregnancy and my birthing experience. I tried not to think about where I was going to give birth and with whom. Instead, I tuned in to how my body felt in the presence of a provider or when I was making a decision about any aspects of my birthing experience. I knew my own birth story, with its dramatic twists and turns, and I made a conscious decision to speak to my infantself (through hypnosis) to appease the little girl and assure her that this would be a very different experience.

It would seem an oxymoron, but for me to find my birth power, I had to allow myself to be vulnerable. I have always been a risk taker and an urban warrior. So, taking charge of my life was an easy task. Letting my protecting walls down, and releasing my instinctual need to control everything was the challenge. It meant letting


We would not accept the inheritance of my mother’s fate. My son was the dress rehearsal that prepared me for the earth-shattering experience of my daughter’s birth two years later, which was painless, effortless and— well—ecstatic. Eighteen years later, I became a birth doula. I saw that each and every mom is a unique expression of Mother Nature. Through the study of perinatal and prenatal psychology, I confirmed my intuitive belief that the embryo begins learning and accumulating memory from the very beginning of its life in-utero. Now studies have further demonstrated that our personal choices and actions, when pregnant, have a significant impact upon the forming of the baby, his future, his coping mechanisms, his ability to grow and learn, and his

relationship with all that surrounds him. I, then, realized that, when we consider our body as an electromagnetic field containing energy centers (what Eastern practitioners call chakras), we can see how, during pregnancy, all chakras are activated in the creation of another human being. Furthermore, the addition of our baby’s chakras doesn’t just change our biochemistry. The process of creation becomes a dance of information given and received from one body, mind, soul, and chakras to the other. As I carefully watched hundreds of mommies-to-be, I saw that their chakras were emanating incredible energy, amplified by the baby’s own chakras inside the belly. On further investigation, I saw that there were not just seven chakras, but nine! Two

chakras hovered over the woman’s shoulders, like guardian angels accompanying her on her journey from pregnancy to birth into motherhood. When I meditated on the nature of these other two chakras, I recognized that the additional two above the seventh chakra have divine or Mother Nature qualities. In essence, the universe provides celestial assistants to each woman when she embodies creation itself, assuring the reproduction of the species. These two chakras create a funnel, an inverted triangle through which Mother Nature herself enters directly and becomes incarnate. So I created some practical tools to empower women through their journey and wrote a step-by-step guide through the nine chakras of creation in my book Painless Childbirth. In order to find her birthing power, every woman needs to understand herself deeply, trust completely in her body and the natural process of birthing.

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practical steps for moms... 16


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Find good books to read. Yes, books! When it comes to pregnancy books, look for those that help you understand the emotional and spiritual aspects of pregnancy, not just the physical or practical ones. But, read other books as well. I am particularly fond of Tich Nat Han books to really understand mindfulness and living in the moment. Read what will bring you happiness, laughter, and serenity.

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Learn about the nine chakras of creation that are aligned on your body. It is said that, when we become conscious of the blockages within each chakra, and we are willing to do the emotional and spiritual work to clear those blockages, we can obtain deep healing of body and mind. Practice opening each and every one of them, allowing the divine energy to flow through you from the crown of your head all the way down to your perineum: the doorway your child will be using to come into this world

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Practice staying in the moment by expressing gratefulness every day. Whether you are: religious, or spiritual, an agnostic, or an atheist, being grateful for what you have every day does two things: It keeps you happy and, most importantly, it keeps you in the moment.

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Find a good prenatal yoga class and try to attend as often as you can. Gentle exercise which also engages your heart and spirit as it engages your body.

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Commit to spending a minimum of ten minutes each and every day to talking to your baby. If you don’t know what to talk about, make up a song for your child and sing it to him/her every day. When I was pregnant, I modified an old Italian song into a welcoming message for my son, and one for my daughter I sang their songs every day they were forming in my belly, as many times as I remembered to do so. Today, I sometimes sing their songs to my twentynine-year-old son and my twenty-seven-year-old daughter. We all get teary-eyed and feel our love and connection to each other.

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Take a childbirth education class that incorporates visualization, or hypnosis, dance, and practical examples of how to move your body during labor. Engage all of yourself in learning. Not only you will make informed decisions with your mind, but your body will be prepared, and your heart will sing. Interview many providers until you find the one your body tells you: I like this one! If you would like to have a home birth, but think you cannot afford it, NEGOTIATE. Most midwives have huge hearts. Another alternative is to find a doula that can come with you to your hospital birth and bring a little of your home with you. (Go to dona.org to find a doula in your area.)

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Remember that a wave lasts one minute and then you get a reprieve. Learning how to stay in the present will help you greatly during labor, as you will either be in the moment of managing a labor wave, or in the ecstatic reprieve. Take a baby care class so you don’t have to fret every time something happens and you don’t know what it is.

If there is just one thing I want you to remember from this article, it is this: When your baby comes into the world, you will hear his/her voice for the first time. Often, we interpret this as crying. Thus, the first words we often say to our child are: “SHHH. Don’t cry. It’s okay. It’s okay.” In essence by doing so, we are saying, “No!” to his/her first expression, attempting to fix it as if there was something wrong. I encourage you to shift your consciousness and hear your child’s first cry as talking to you. Consider your first words to him or her something, like this: “Wow! Is this your voice? How beautiful it sounds! We are so happy you are here. Tell me more…”

Giuditta Tornetta is a birth and postpartum doula, a hypnotherapist, and author of the bestseller: Painless Childbirth: An Empowering Journey Through Pregnancy and Birth She has a private practice in Marina del Rey. She can be reached through her website at: JoyInBirthing.com

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plant love HERB DRAWER : 18

“A woman is the full circle, within her is the power - to create, nurture and transform.� -Diane Mariechild


Nourishing Herbs

For Pregnancy article + photography : Aja Blanc

For as long as women have been giving birth and mothering children, they have been healers. In our ancient past, women healed themselves, their families, and their communities using the plants and nourishment so abundantly given by the earth. For millions of years women have grown, gathered, prepared, and eaten herbs – with wisdom passed down to them through generations and from them onto their daughters and their daughters’ daughters. This wisdom is still alive today and women are not only rediscovering the healing power of herbal medicine, but also their own inner healing wisdom. Many women are discovering that what they seek in a medicine – for it

to be healing, nourishing and safe – is best found in the plants and food direct from the earth. The sacred rite of pregnancy is a magical, powerful time that must be fed with optimal nourishment. As an herbalist working in what is often called the “Wise Woman Tradition”, I believe in a woman’s innate healing wisdom and that optimal nourishment comes in the form of healing food, plants and herbal medicine.

How to Use Herbs During Pregnancy Herbal medicine is best delivered as food to the body. The herbs I have recommended here are safe, yet effective, and are all prepared

as nourishment for the body. During pregnancy, I recommend herbs and preparation methods, such as tea, that allow the body to absorb the vitamins, minerals, and healing constituents the same way it does food. This allows for safe healing and wholeness. A good place to start is with nourishing herbs – these are herbs that support overall health during pregnancy, help prevent problems, and supply the body with the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to function at its best. Ideally taken over a long period of time, nourishing herbs can be taken safely throughout pregnancy and are wonderful for the whole family to enjoy together. 19


NETTLES

(URTICA DIOICA)

This prickly stinging plant, often considered a pesky weed by many is perhaps one of the most nutritious, with an impressive list of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, D, K, iron, potassium, phosphorus and folic acid, to name a few. Iron is an essential mineral needed during pregnancy, however iron supplements are difficult for the body to assimilate, often leading to constipation. Nettles deliver absorbable iron to the body, nourish the kidneys, improve circulation and ease mood swings. Nettles also support the muscles, easing leg cramps and muscle discomfort during pregnancy and birth, through its absorbable calcium content. 20


RED RASPBERRY LEAF (RUBUS IDEAUS)

One of my favorite herbs anytime, Red Raspberry leaf has been used by women as a healing herb during pregnancy for thousands of years and with good reason: it contains vitamins C, E, A, B complex and absorbable calcium and iron. It also contains fragarine, an alkaloid which tones uterine muscles. It does not strengthen or promote contractions, but rather allows the uterus to function at its best. It also eases morning sickness, can assist in milk production, and prevents miscarriage and hemorrhage.

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OATSTRAW (AVENA SATVIA)

A soothing nervine, Oatstraw is an excellent herb to soothe frayed nerves, support muscle function, prevent insomnia and promote a peaceful relaxed state in the body. Effective, yet gentle, the herb is rich in calcium and magnesium and comes from the same plant as oats, which we eat as grain. Often used as a fertility promoter in men and women, Oatstraw is a wonderful ally should its effects as a love-potion result in the gift of pregnancy. Noted herbalist Susun Weed calls it “a good friend in hot water.�

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These products have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult your physician before taking any health supplement. Result may vary by individual.


PREPARATION

Unless you stumble upon a Nettle patch (careful of those stings) and can sauté up the greens fresh with a little olive oil, I recommend the above herbs prepared as a medicinal tea or nourishing infusion. They can be taken alone or together (recipe suggestions are below) and are wonderful to take throughout pregnancy, drinking one or two cups a day. MEDICINAL TEA: 1 teaspoon of dried herb steeped in a mug of hot water for at least 20 minutes. MY FAVORITE MORNING PREGNANCY TEA: 1 teaspoon dried nettles and 1 teaspoon dried red raspberry leaf steeped in a large mug of

hot water. Strain, and add a little raw honey and almond milk. Delicious! NOURISHING INFUSION: Generous 1/4 cup of dried herb steeped in a quart of hot water for 30 minutes to 2 hours. I use a quart sized French press which makes straining easy. NOURISHING PREGNANCY TEA: • 2 parts nettles • 2 parts red raspberry leaf • 1 part oatstraw • ¼ part rose hips • ¼ part hibiscus petals • a generous pinch of spearmint leaf This blend is great hot or cold. Mix together the dried herbs and store in

a container, which makes it easy to prepare as either a medicinal tea or nourishing infusion. I hope you enjoy the healing, nourishing power of these tasty herbal teas. Herbal medicine is a gift from the earth – helping women to provide themselves and their growing babes with the nutrition and healing nourishment they need to move through the sacred journey of pregnancy with grace and ease.

Aja is a herbal medicine educator, yoga teacher and keeper of the sacred feminine moon mysteries in the wise woman tradition, Aja blogs about sacred living at www.moonwomanrising.com

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We thank you in advance for your support of the premiere issue and for joining the Sacred Pregnancy movement!

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www.sacredpregnancy.com

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