Lunar Flow Birth

01/04/2023

My next group hypnobirthing class starts in 4 weeks! Wooo 🥳 (Honestly, I’m nervous excited 😆 I put so much into my clients. Y’all become like my extended family.)

And, I’ve made it better than ever.

✨You get the new and revised 📕Calm Birth Method book.

✨ 6 hypnobirthing tracks to help you release your fears, build your confidence, and imagine and craft your best birth.

✊🏿Plus, 2 additional hypnobirthing tracks specifically for BlPOC birthing women.

🏳️‍🌈 And, also an affirmations track with gender neutral language for non-binary parents.

But, that’s not all.

You get on-demand childbirth education modules and 5 hours of live group coaching sessions that include:

🧘🏾The mind/body connection and your birth experience

🧬The science of birth and how to work with your hormones

⚖️Your medical rights

🪺Crafting your birth environment and birth team

💪🏿Physical and emotional preparation

And much more…

💻Classes are offered virtually via Zoom and include an online platform where you’ll get additional course resources and be able to interact with your birthing tribe.

You can book right on my website via the link provided in the comments but please reach out. I love connecting with birthing people and parents, and I’m always up for a chat.



[ID: Screen shot of my website page with a picture of six Black woman posed in front of a vibrant flower mural and a brief description of the course.]

15/02/2023

Lunar Flow Birth was born out of my womanist dreams and ethic. Womanism is the intellectual child of Black women who wanted a liberationist framework that embodied their full selves. Thus, to borrow and yet expand on Alice Walker's definition of a womanist, a womanist is someone who:

"...loves... women [and non-binary peoples], sexually and/or nonsexually. Appreciates and prefers [their] culture, [their] emotional flexibility (values tears as natural counterbalance of laughter), and [their] strength. Sometimes loves individual men [including trans-men], sexually and/or nonsexually. Committed to the survival and wholeness of entire people, [male, female, non-binary, and trans]."

Lunar Flow Birth is my womanist love letter to the folk, especially to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ peoples who are on their pregnancy, birth, and parenthood journey. May we together give birth to a more liberated life for ourselves, our children, and the world.

***r ***rpregnancy

14/01/2023

Home birth is not right for everyone but it’s a beautiful option that allows you to truly be at home as you encounter the waves of birth.

And, it’s normal to get to the “I can’t” part of birth. I’ve been there, my clients have there. This often when a birthing person is going through transition. They are about to meet their baby. Trust yourself and your “I can’t” will become “I did it.”

We all need support however in getting there and hypnobirthing is a powerful way to build your inner strength and confidence.

Third baby. First homebirth. Longest ever being pregnant, due to not being induced. Our prenatal visit at 40.2 was a lot of talking about options & what is normal, what is physiologic, letting go of expectations & reminders that no pregnancy lasts forever. As I made our next appointment, I “promised” this wouldn’t be needed & would be a postpartum visit. She looked at me hopeful, “you promise?” she said softly. The next day I received a message, contractions were consistent no matter what she did. A text rolls in.. “I’m suppose to have dinner with friends, do you think I can?” My response always volleys the power back to the parents. “If you are feeling good & it’s not too far from home, do it…but if you are looking for an out, as your midwife, I will happily tell you to stay home.”

“No, I want to go.” was the response. So I supported that choice, reminding the family I am ready for when they need me. 90 minutes later, my phone rings. I am greeted by dad, always a sign that things have shifted. “I think it’s time for you to head this way”, he says. Without delay, I head the 50 minute, rural commute to their home. Entering their home, I find a mama, kneeling in warm waters. She looks up at me smiling, “you promised.” And that I did.

Here she was, deep in her labyrinth, their family Christmas tree lit behind her. Peace filled the air. Quietly I prepared, knowing that soon her baby would make their move. Observing her ride each wave, sinking deeply into the power of her body, I sensed we were near the end. One wave washed ashore & she exclaimed, “I can’t do this.” The final words often spoken before a baby greets us. We reminded her that she IS doing it. And before those affirmations could move passed our lips, a baby appeared in cloudy waters. 29 minutes in the door. “You can bring your baby up when you’re ready” were the only words I needed to speak, before mama snapped into the moment & scooped her newly born baby up to her chest.

This is the face of a mama who caught her own babe. In her living room, in front of their Christmas tree, moments after saying “I can’t”. This is the face of joy. Of surprise. Of love.

This is homebirth.

11/01/2023

Hey 👋🏿 welcome!

📚My next hypnobirthing childbirth class starts Saturday, January 28th. Over the course, you will get 10-hours of childbirth education that will cover:

🧘🏾The mind/body connection and your birth experience;

🧬The science of birth and how to work with hormones of birth

⚖️Your rights with any medical providers

🪺Crafting your birth environment and your birth team

💪🏿Physical and emotional preparation for birth

And much more…

💻Classes are offered virtually via Zoom and include an online platform where you’ll get your course materials.

📖 You will also get a physical copy of The Calm Birth Method book (Revised Edition.)

And, I always love to chat so please reach out with any questions. ***rpregnancy ***rbirth

https://www.lunarflowbirth.com/group-hypnobirthing-course

10/01/2023

🤱🏾Nursing is about so much more than nutrition; it’s a sacred time to bond and connect.

✨Remember your baby was in your belly for nine months, so it takes them time to adjust to the world. Nursing helps to adjust and feel secure as they begin to explore the world around them.

🙌🏿 Are you considering nursing your child? Are you already nursing but need some support? Basic lactation education can be life changing for both you and your precious little one.

08/01/2023

Obstetric racism and assault are all too common! 😡 Get informed! If you are in need of affirming and culturally sensitive childbirth education and more, please reach out. We deserve better! ✊🏿

07/01/2023

This powerful quote and tidbit of wisdom comes from . I was listen to his morning gratitude meditation on . Gratitude is one of the most powerful sources of healing and abundance we have. By the simple act of being thankful, we begin to manifest a life full of gratitude. And, our deepest gratitude should go to the simple and yet powerful gift of the present. We are here. Whatever our fears, our struggles, our joys, our aspirations, we are here right now in this moment. So what are you grateful for in the here and now? And especially for those who are conceiving, pregnant, or currently parenting, how can you incorporate gratitude into your daily rituals of self-care? We do so much, we give so much. Gratitude for the present allows us to give thanks for the simple beauty of our being right here and right now. I AM grateful! -care

06/01/2023

Birthing Justice means that BIPOC and Q***r birthing people and our children matter! ***rlivesmatter

02/01/2023

Happy New Year! I'm excited to announce that Lunar Flow Doula, LLC is now doing business as Lunar Flow Birth. The shift in brand identity represents my desire to give my attention full-heartedly to offering hypnobirthing childbirth education classes and coaching in addition to mindful lactation support. While full-spectrum doula work remains important to birthing people crafting their best birth, education and self-confidence are critical factors in a person's birth experience and their ability to navigate parenthood. Thus, as as I like to say:

Education + Affirmation = Self-Confidence.

And, the best gift we can give ourselves is self-confidence.

Thus, I am expanding my support of birthing people by offering virtual hypnobirthing/childbirth education and lactation courses that provide education but also that support birthing people and parents in building their confidence to navigate the waves not only of labor but life.

I am also super excited to introduce the new logo and website. The logo represents my continued dedication to supporting birthing people and parents find their flow and connect to their lunar selves. But also, this logo specifically highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion. Lunar Flow Birth intentionally seeks to craft a pregnancy and parenthood space that is welcoming and supportive of BIPOC and LGBTGIA+ peoples. So welcome to the new Lunar Flow Birth.

www.lunarflowbirth.com

29/12/2022

Exciting changes are coming in 2023! 🙃

21/12/2022

Rest is the best medicine during pregnancy and the postpartum period. But, it’s not always easy for us to allow ourselves to rest. What does allowing yourself to rest look like?

And, if you need support, please do reach out. It’s my honor to support you wherever you are in your birthing journey.

16/12/2022

I know personally how challenging the postpartum period can be. And, if you ever need community-based postpartum support, feel free to message me. We should never feel or be alone. Parenthood is meant to be communal and collective!

12/12/2022

It’s tea time! Whether you are a tea or coffee drinker, how do you start you day with a moment of calm and reflection? Wherever you are in your reproductive journey, we all need daily rituals of self-care to ground and center us so we can encounter our day with a sense of presence and calm. As a mom, these moments are critical for my overall wellbeing. I know personally that prenatal/postpartum depression and anxiety are not the result of not doing or being enough. Rather, we need to give ourselves the space to be perfectly imperfect. So what do you need to start your day off on the right footing and embrace the beauty of what is? What morning rituals can help you prepare for and even sit with whatever is challenging you in this moment?

18/11/2022

It takes awhile to process when something so profound and awe-inspiring as birth happens to you. It’s truly a wave you must allow yourself to release to and simply ride. Even though this was my third birth, I learned so much about what it really means to have an affirming birth experience. Even though I did birth at home, I found the most important thing was not where I birthed but rather: 1) tapping into my inner peace and strength, and 2) my support, especially my husband who operated as my birth partner and doula.

My precious Imani Ife made her fashionable debut on Friday, May 6, 2022 just in time for Mother’s Day. But, her birth story does not start…

30/03/2022

I haven’t posted in awhile because I’ve been in my own birth zone as I prepare for the birth of my third child. It’s important to take that time away and connect to your body and your baby. So, I break my hiatus to simply share my own mantra for this birthing journey: Accept, Release, Let go!

Even though this is my third time, I’m finding myself also having to go through a renewed process of acceptance and releasing to the uncertainty of the present. As we say in hypnobirthing, control what you can and let go of the rest. And so as I approach 37 weeks gestation, I am letting go of knowing the when and the how of birth, and accepting the beauty of this present moment with my partner and family. So what are you working on accepting as you prepare for birth? What are letting go of and releasing to?

20/01/2022

Check me out on the Interspace Podcast with Angelina Avedano where we discuss personal transformation and the connections between birth, death, and creativity.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ZlcTsWLk9gsvTKwF5cKsE?si=KgO9p5gZQpWbyQI7vcZJow

Youtube:
https://youtu.be/q8Up0U9HGQM

Hope you all enjoy!

Dr. Elana Jefferson-Tatum discusses her personal transformation and establishing LunarFlow Doula and Hypnobirthing

01/01/2022

In addition to being a hypnobirthing coach and doula, and I’m also 24 weeks pregnant with my third child. So, right now, I’m also on this pregnancy and birthing journey as well. As we enter this new year, let’s then collectively resolve to being:

1. Affirmed in our vision for a positive birth and parenting experience
2. Informed about our rights to respectful and informed medical care
3. Empowered to birth and parent with a sense of calm and confidence.

As I like to say in my hypnobirthing courses:

Affirmation + Education = Self-Confidence

We’ve got this! Happy New Year 2022!

And if you are interested in an upcoming online hypnobirthing course or other pregnancy/childbirth support, don’t hesitate to reach out.

19/12/2021

I’ve been so inspired by my clients lately and how much they’ve overcome their fears and tapped into their inner strength to birth not only their babies but their new selves, so I’m expanding my services to now include online group hypnobirthing courses.

This 4-session long live online course begins Saturday, January 22nd and will continue for three additional Saturdays from 12-2:30pm. This group course is also specifically geared towards BIPOC birthing persons and their support partner(s). I have five slots available, so reach out to me for a free 30-minute consultation and let’s get you sign up soon.

For your free consultation, you can book a time on my calendar at: https://calendly.com/lunarflowdoula/30-minute-free-consultation