Pelvic Rocking in Pregnancy & Birth
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 07:47PM Sacral Rocking for Pregnancy and Labor
The sacrum is the central bone of the pelvis located at the base of the spinal cord. The sacral bone is triangular in form and made of five fused vertebrae. The sacral plexus is a mass of nerves situated anterior to the sacrum; it is the origin of the nerves for the pelvic organs and legs. Rocking the sacrum from front to back, tilting it gently anterior and posterior creates a wave-like motion in the spine and skeleton.
Sacral rocking stimulates the sacral plexus and loosens energy blocks and fascial restrictions within the pelvis. It also releases restrictions in the fascia surrounding the craniosacral system, which is the closed hydraulic system containing cerebrospinal fluid, the spinal cord, and brain. “Sacrum” comes from the same root word as “sacred”. The sacrum is associated with the second chakra, the belly chakra, which governs sexuality, creativity, and emotions.
During pregnancy, regularly practicing sacral rocking, either sitting, standing, lying on your back, or on your hands-and-knees, with support flexibility and tone of your low back, abdomen, and pelvis. It is useful to alleviate low back pain as well as facilitating the flow of energy through the spinal cord. This is a helpful technique to practice on your hands-and-knees during labor if there is back labor.
The second chakra, associated with the sacrum, belly, or uterus governs our sexual and creative energy. Restrictions in the pelvis are bioenergetically associated with self-limitations in sexual fulfillment or expression, ability to form bonding relationships, or shame and guilt. Moving our sacrum, rocking our pelvis, can allow new thoughts, dreams, and impulses to move freely through your whole being. Open yourself to the new sensations. Release old patterns that no longer serve you.
I have seen that as people learn to move their hips freely through rocking and spiraling the pelvis, emotions may bubble up. Some people laugh at first, some people feel insecure, angry, or frustrated. Notice as you move your body what emotions, feelings, and sensations arise for you. Keep grooving and you will feel renewed flexibility, creativity, and strength in your inner core. The heart of the practice is to experience openness and flexibility in your center.
Moving the pelvis in labor is essential to facilitating the baby’s journey from womb to world. It is essential to keep the sacrum mobile in labor, and avoid positions in which the laboring mother is flat on her back with her sacrum fixed against the bed. In birth, rocking and spiraling the pelvis assist the mother in dancing her baby out.
Childbirth Class Specials!
Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 09:47PM New Lower Prices on the Co-Creative Birthing Circle and Deluxe Circle!!!
In order to make quality holistic childbirth education available and affordable to more expecting parents we have new lower prices on all our Co-Creative Birth Circles!
Whoohoo!
Mama's and Papa's to-be this is over 50% off the valued price on both the Birthing Circle and the Deluxe Circle.
The Deluxe Circle includes the comprehensive Birthing Circle and extras, PLUS personalized Phone Consultations with Kara Spencer and an extraordinary package of Birth Books and Gifts sent directly to you by mail.
Check it out and enroll today to co-create your optimal birth experience!!!
Co-Creative Birthing E-Book
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at 06:58PM Yay! The Co-Creative Birthing E-Book is here! For all of you members of the Co-Creative Birthing Circle - you have first access to the book. The book is free with your membership, and all you have to do is login to access the Co-Creative Birthing Book for download. The book will soon be available for purchase to everyone, and will always be free with the online class.
Read it now for all kinds of amazing information on how to co-create a conscious pregnancy, birth, and postpartum for your family with the wisdom and guidance of nature, spirit, intuition, and science.
When to start childbirth classes?
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 01:37AM You can start online childbirth education classes at anytime! I recommend starting the Co-Creative Birthing Circle online class early in your second trimester. I think around the fourth month is an ideal time to start online birthing classes during pregnancy. However, one of the wonderful things about online classes is that you can take them at anytime, so you can decide.
In fact, you don't even have to be pregnant to take the class, some women may want to start the class preconception as part of their preparation for pregnancy and birthing. Also, some women start the class in the last month of their pregnancy as their focus on birthing increases, and are able to cruise through the information quickly as each person progresses through the program at their own pace.
While some expecting parents wait to take childbirth classes in person in their 7th or 8th month, I recommend starting the online classes earlier, because there is a lot of information in this class, and you will appreciate the information as you make choices about your prenatal care. Also, there is lots more information in the online class than in a traditional classroom class, and you may appreciate the extra time to read all the articles, check out the videos, read the birth stories, and join in the discussion forum.
There is lots in the class to come back to and use as resources and inspiration during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. You could also work through the class at one module a week, which would take 7 weeks. Whenever you decide to start the online birthing class, in month 3 or month 8 of your pregnancy, you will find valuable information for pregnancy, prenatal care, preparing for birth, labor, and postpartum.
Morning Glory Muffins
Sunday, August 24, 2008 at 07:20PM 
This is a recipe from the Mamatoto Cookbook - which is included in the Co-Creative Birthing Circle online class.
Morning Glory muffins are fantastic for breakfast, or a power snack during the day. Filled with carrots, apples, raisins, molasses, and banana this muffin is sweet and nutritious.
I first discovered Morning Glory muffins when I was a few months pregnant and camping at a juggling festival in the San Juan Islands of Washington. I awoke starving on the morning of the Autumn Equinox to discover a wonderful breakfast buffet with a huge basket overflowing with large beautiful Morning Glory muffins. I was hooked and have improvised over the years to come up with this version, which is a vegan.
They are a great way to add some vegetables and fruit to your diet, and the molasses and raisins are high in iron, which is good for pregnant mamas.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and prepare a muffin pan with liners or butter.
- 2 c. flour
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4 c. molasses
- 1/2 c. maple syrup (or honey or brown rice syrup)
- 1 1/2 c. carrots, shredded
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 c. coconut oil (or other non-hydrogenated, cold pressed vegetable oil)
- 1 banana, mashed
- 1 1/2 c. apples, chopped finely (2 apples)
- 1/2 c. raisins
- Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Add apples, carrots, raisins, and stir well.
- Combine molasses, maple syrup, coconut oil, banana, and vanilla.
- Make a well in the center of the dry mixture. Add the wet mixture and stir into the dry ingredients until just moistened.
- Spoon batter into greased muffins pans, or muffin liners, filling all the way full.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes, until a toothpick poked until the muffins come out clean.
- Makes 12 muffins. Serve warm with butter or honey.