Quantum Midwifery Retreat
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Quantum Midwifery and Undisturbed Birth
with Whapio Diane Bartlett of The Matrona
Sept. 19th-24th, 2011 in Santa Cruz, California
A 6-day Birth Retreat dedicated to exploring a new paradigm of Birthing Wisdom
About the Program
This is a program for anyone interested in childbirth: midwives and mothers, doulas and doctors, students and practitioners. We spend a week together exploring Quantum Midwifery and Undisturbed Birth.
The Quantum paradigm is the melding of conscious birth with undisturbed birth. It includes the respect and co-creation of the holistic paradigm yet opens the doorway to soul-level connections and greater levels of empowerment for families and their caregivers. We have begun to understand the significance and the necessity of not disturbing the mother in the process of childbirth. We recognize the value of conscious birthing. Now let’s look at how this model unfolds…for the family but especially for the caregiver.
We invite all midwives, doulas, mothers and caregivers to join us in this deeper understanding of birth.
- How does a midwife practice in the realms of a paradigm that does not disturb the mother?
- How does a midwife dispel fear?
- How does she deal with the fear inherent in the current politics surrounding birth?
- How does the caregiver recognize and address complications yet maintain a safe and fulfilling environment throughout the entire childbirth continuum?
- How can we bring the deeper knowledge of birth that we intrinsically possess into our practice as midwives and birth attendants?
During this Retreat we will learn how to BE in the realms of the undisturbed. We’ll explore ways to practice without monitoring and managing yet feel confident and competent. We’ll investigate the source of complications and discover the tools to let go of them entirely. We’ll acknowledge the inherent truth of not disturbing the mother during birth AND we’ll describe and learn ways to make that a reality of practice.
We have more to offer in the realm of childbirth than we are providing now. Our knowledge goes much deeper and our souls assure us of that inherent truth. Let’s bring that wisdom into practice.
Curriculum Schedule for our week…
Monday, September 19, 2011 to Saturday, September 24, 2011
We have six days of classes… for a total of 45 class hours in the study of Holistic Midwifery
Certificates will be awarded at the completion of this program.
Monday
Today we explore Quantum Midwifery, Undisturbed Birth and the role of the Endocrine System. We look at the qualities of a midwife and doula and at the caregiver’s greatest skill.
Morning – 10 am to 1:30 pm
- Introductions
- Quantum Midwifery and the Quantum Vision
- Evolving Models of Care
- Trusting Women and Creating Soul-level Connections
- Ideas not Ideologies
- The Caregiver's Spiral – Midwife as Gardener, Midwife as Witness
Lunch – 1:30 to 3 pm
Afternoon – 3 to 6 pm
- The Midwife’s Greatest Skill
- The Circle of Nurturing
- The Endocrine System: Hormones as Messengers
- The Pineal Gland and the Spirit Hormone
- Tapping Our Glands
Tuesday
Today we explore the childbirth continuum as an expanded state of reality and a place where transformation can occur. Also, some mind-blowing information about conception, fertilization and the power of the feminine
Morning:
- Brain Wave Patterns and the Neurological Perspective on Birth
- Oxytocin and Beyond: Birth as an Altered State of Consciousness
- Cycles of Fertility: Meet Granny and Aunt Joan
- The Birth Atlas: Understanding Dilation and Effacement
Afternoon:
- The Journey Begins: Conception and Fertilization…as you’ve never heard it before
- What organically happens in our Reproductive Systems: Biological Fact, not Fiction
- 23 in the Back Pocket: Why Women are the Ancestral Sex
Wednesday
Today we explore out beliefs about life and birth and we notice how our beliefs shape our practice. We learn a new language for birth and we explore undisturbed pregnancy.
Morning:
- Woundology: The Study of our Wounds
- How wounds direct our midwifery practice
- Articulating the Birth Wound…and the Earth Wound
Afternoon:
- The Holistic Stages of Labor
- New Language for Birth
- The Work of Constance Benyon: The Two Stages of Second Stage
- Non-invasive Techniques for Assessing and Following Labor
Thursday
Today we discuss how to receive our power with gratitude and use it wisely. We also discuss normal and variations of normal in the Quantum paradigm.
Morning:
- Sitting in the Fire: Using Rank, Power and Privilege Wisely
- Peacekeeping and Creating Win/Win Situations
- The ABCs of Conflict Resolution
- Eldership for the New Millennium
Afternoon:
- Assessing Maternal and Fetal Well-Being in the Quantum Paradigm
- Diathesis in Pregnancy…Hypertension and Diabetes
- The Role of Skills in Undisturbed Birth
- Using Tools Wisely: Understanding BP and Fetal Heart Tones
- Variations of Normal
Friday
Today is devoted to the Placenta. We learn to identify where the placenta is in the immediate postpartum and we explore Placenta Medicine and Placenta Readings.
Morning:
- The Return: The Immediate Postpartum In the Undisturbed Paradigm…
- Where is the placenta and how is the Baby? How do we know???
- Placenta Medicine and Placenta Readings
- Babies Born in the Veil
Afternoon:
- Fear in Birth, Fear in Practice…What Really Causes Complications
- Meditations to Dispel Fear according to Quantum Theory
Saturday
Today is a day for exploring intimacy. We will talk about sexuality and how our sexual beliefs inform our practice. We will also spend the last part of our Council in the Changing Woman Ceremony. This is a deep and profound occasion for all of us to share and receive, to be witnessed and to transform.
Morning:
- Sexual Wisdom and Sex as a Path to the Divine
- The Yin and Yang of Sex
- Extended Orgasm, Expanded Orgasm and Cosmic Orgasm
Afternoon:
- The rest of the day will be devoted to the Changing Woman Ceremony.
To study birth is to study LIFE itself. To that end, we include topics such as sexuality, using power wisely, eldership, conflict resolution and healing our wounds as well as typical traditional topics such as pregnancy, birth and postpartum… all with the understanding that as caregivers, we have more to offer childbearing families than we are currently providing. We can offer a full range of skills and understandings that embrace, not just birth but all of life.
An introduction to some of the topics we cover…
On Wednesday… Woundology
Do we recreate our patterns in the birthing arena? Let’s explore this potent topic and articulate personal, cultural and global wounds. Let’s articulate the Birth Wound with integrity and a frank look at what we construct in the world of midwifery today.. Then, we’ll explore how to heal and let go of these patterns.
On Thursday… Position, Power and Privilege
As caregivers, one way to serve others is by examining our use of power and privilege. Honest discussion of this topic brings forth wise use of our influence with birthing women and families. It’s surprising how we often prefer not to acknowledge our position for fear of losing it or misusing it. Let’s open the door to authentic exploration of this topic and allow greater understanding to prevail.
On Saturday… Sexual Wisdom
Our relationship to sexuality and intimacy is relevant to our birthing practices. What is our legacy of sexual wisdom? Are we using the creative force as a path to the Divine, as was intended. We will discuss orgasm, multiple orgasm, Cosmic Orgasm and our birthright in achieving these realms of sexuality and how this informs our caregiving. ‘It is an act of great spiritual power to assert that our creative needs be met.’
Throughout the week… Eldership and Creating Win/Win Situations
As midwives and caregivers we have begun training for Eldership, no matter what our age or experience. What are the qualities of the Elder, the Matriarch, the Peacekeeper. Let’s delve into our future role and share the conflict resolution skills for holding balance in ourselves, our communities and for the planet.
To learn more about the presenter, Whapio, and the Matrona, go to: www.TheMatrona.com
Whapio is featured in Midwifery Today's 4th Edition of "Paths to Becoming A Midwife"
Article by Whapio about the Holistic Stages of Labor
Logistics
- The Retreat will be held from September 19, 2011 to September 24, 2011 in Santa Cruz, California, and we will gather at a private residence.
- Nursing babies welcome & we can connect you with private childcare should this be required.
- If you would like childcare, please make note of this on your registration.
- If you would like to share housing (hotel) with another participant, please also note this on your registration as we will connect women & families who would like this option to share in costs. We will connect you with other participants who have chosen this option via e-mail.
- We recommend that you book your flights early.
- We recommend renting a car and/or carpooling. We also have a list of shuttle services if required.
Registration deadline is September 9th, 2011.
Please contact us if you have ANY questions. We are happy to help.
Personal Investment for the 6-day Retreat: $550 (due upon arrival)
The cost includes all classes and hand-outs. Does not include food or lodging. Please pre-register!