When did you decide on a "birth singing"?
I did a lot of research on pregnancy and the options that I had to give birth. The statistics just scared me, so I decided to give birth outside of a hospital would be the best for us. I read books and listen to CDs on the use of voice at work and the time came, I tried to apply some of these methods. They do not work well for me. Instead, I just impulsively started singing one of the songs Bluebird and I wrote. I discovered that singing is my pain job easier!
Is a suitable hymn of birth for all women?
I would say yes. Also for fathers, midwives and doctors. We were both welcome our daughter into the world with song. Bluebird and I were so deeply connected to this moment. Furthermore, the use of voice and mouth facilitates the expansion of the cervix, so the advantage is twofold: - emotional and physical. Of course, a woman needs a suitable place to feel comfortable singing a comfortable place with loving, caring and trustworthy people who know how to help without impositions. It need not be a mantra or a specific vowel or Mozart. It can be any song that means something to the parents.
I opted for natural, unmedicated birth that could be in any position, any place and with which I felt comfortable with. I gave birth to Koko in a tub birth center birth Bumi Sehat. It felt so good to be in hot water while in the late stage of labor. But I have not decided everything in advance. I just made sure that we could do one of our choices when we had to. And guess what? Although I felt the pain I was suffering and the overall experience was truly joyful. There were even pleasant sensations. I was in love and my body felt sensual bringing new life to the land.
How did you find Yayasan Bumi Sehat?
I consider myself lucky to have met Ibu Robin Lim. A friend gave me her number, and from the beginning I knew that I had found the right person for us. She already practiced all the methods that I could wish for my birth plan, including the lotus birth. Whenever I would visit Yayasan Bumi Sehat for a check up, I saw the glowing healthy faces of all new mothers. Although it was a busy clinic birth, the atmosphere was not noisy or rushed, but peaceful, as if the birth was a normal part of everyday life, as it should.
What is a lotus birth?
My daughter had a lotus birth, which means that the umbilical cord was not cut. I thought it would be complicated to take care of the child with his placenta still intact, but it turned out to be the most natural thing to do. Enthusiasm was free in three days without any irritation or infection. I also used our placenta as postpartum remedy. The placenta contains "love hormone" oxytocin like that help breastfeeding and "baby blues" (postpartum depression). But the main advantages are for the baby who receives a third of his blood that was left in the placenta shortly after birth if the cord is not cut. In this life blood is its first offering of iron, nutrients, stem cells and abundance of oxytocin which help to feel glad to be a newcomer to the earth and to bond with his parents.
It was first published in 2010 and is now available on the World Wide Web, in both English and Italian. Interest in the unmedicated birth, birth singing and lotus birth grows outside of the niche. Recently, I was talking about orgasmic birth to the Huffington Post Live. My best costumers are doulas , new birth professionals who provide loving support services for the mother and family both during pregnancy. I receive great feedback from readers who tell me that my book has changed their perception of birth.
Any future plans?
I plan my own workshops where mothers and couples are able to prepare for birth chant "artistic", starting with the awareness of their own bodies to the possibility of using freely their voices in the acceptance of the beauty and the beast that are part of our own human nature and childbirth. More I share our story, the more I realize how much the world needs to hear positive birth stories to change the often traumatic experiences during birth that result from too medicalized way that childbirth is practiced in many countries.
How can readers get a hold of a copy of your book?
Memoirs of a song Birth can be purchased at Earth Cafe, Bali Yoga Shop, Yayasan Bumi Sehat and Ganesha in bookstores. People can also order the book on Lulu.com and Amazon or download a digital version Smashwords.com .