Did you know mamas you can fully be in your power through caesarean
Between Jasmine and I,
We have both had to deeply wānanga & navigate the health system. Journeying to the stars and back to safely birth 6 of our uri via maternal surgery.
Each birth has been planned for home in sacred ceremony with our whānau,
Our wombs have deeply grieved facing complications through labour or health related antibodies/preeclampsia conditions that arrive in the final transitions.
Being of Māori descent naturally comes with the expectations and stigma “oh why couldn’t you birth? You need to try this, You need to see this healer, who’s your midwife, our tikanga is this and that”
Needless to say both of us hold teachings in our own rongoā, healing modules, tipuna kai and traditional birthing practices.
Whilst observing all these beautiful free births it can be hard with the pressure on ourselves of how and what birth should look like
Going into these medical spaces especially for our indigenous ~ it ain’t easy mama! We so so hear you
Preparation is KEY!!!!!!!
You know how we are told to pack a bag, we cannot express how vital having a list written to safeguard you with the possibility of maternal surgery.
How you & your whānau can be honoured through your tikanga & sacred rituals.
A reminder that YOU are in full control even in case of emergencies
~ Asking to be informed of all procedures every step of the way
~ IV placed in non dominant arm
~ Choose your own music to be played in the background ( we had our taonga puoro playing softly )
~ Ask for silence when need too, having karakia/takutaku incantations with everyone involved in theatre before starting
~ Baby slowly removed to mimic the squeezing of my birth canal
~ Delay cord clamping ( ask for extended cord so you can cut cord later with pounamu/shell etc and attach muka tie )
~ No tests to be carried out on my placenta that is TAPU
~ If bub is making noise bring straight to my chest still wet and bare, no towel rubbing etc.
Wāhine mā you bare the sacred scar of life!
Trust in your tipuna, & trust that our uri/offspring make the decision for us how they are safely brought home to you
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