Nantli AMADA Birth by Michelle Frias-Rodriguez

06/05/2023

I found my mom's birth certificate today thanks to the internet, and along with that, a connection to many more of my ancestors on my maternal side. I cried seeing my mami's fingerprint as a baby and the names of abuelos y bisabuelos. I found my abuelos marriage certificate and my bisabuelas birth certificate as well. In less than 30 minutes, I had seen signatures and names I had not seen before all from the comfort of my home from a book of records a country away. Technology never ceases to amaze me. I can't wait to dive in further and see how many more of my ancestors I can get to know, even if it's through black and white records. All of this because of a comment I just so happened to read on another IG post that mentioned the site where I found it. It is no surprise to me that of all days, this fell into my lap.

Mami, I can't think of a better way to honor you on your birthday. To honor your beginnings and mi Mamá Chuy for bringing you into this world. The connection the three of us have and will always have brings me so much comfort, on the 3rd year of not being able to hug you and tell you, Felicidades en tu día y lo mucho que te quiero. I find comfort in knowing you and Mamá Chuy are apapachandose the way you would with me 💗

05/15/2023

The best way to end Mother's Day is with Alfajores from Mr. Pollo. Gracias Amor, for knowing exactly what to get for my sweet tooth. An amazing and delicious end to the best day ever 💗

05/15/2023

Mother's Day 2023 was good to me, and for that, I am thankful because my grieving corazoncito needed a day full of joy in the midst of sadness and nostalgia. My little familia knew how to show up for me in the way that I needed and asked for. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the day, as well as our little hike to El Encanto Trail Hike. We saw several animal friends like the lizard and rattle snake, see if you can spot them. If you see Lali in the next couple of days, ask her for the rattle snake impersonation. You will not be disappointed 😂

04/22/2023

How have you nourished and pampered yourself lately? It's important to do that for yourself every so often. I know that I, as a mother, tend to do that for my family, but I also deserve that for myself in the way that I can only do it for me. Especially now, as a motherless mother, I find myself carving out time and really holding myself in a loving and tender way. It helps me ground myself and care for my grieving corazóncito.

I decided to make pancakes this morning, but since everyone is still sleeping, I made myself my very own batch of blueberry pancakes that no one else in my household seems to like, but I absolutely love. So here is my intentionally made breakfast of blueberry pancakes and a licuado de fresas, frambuesas, banana with a scoop of Bloom green superfoods berry flavor. I've been missing my mom a lot lately, so I specifically used the orange plate and a fork that came from a cutlery set that she always reminisced about and was very proud. The glass has markings from where her diamond ring would scratch it when she handwashed it. I love to feel her presence when I cook and nourish myself. I love and miss you Mamá, and I'm so grateful that I got blessed with your incredible sazón and love language of cooking. I hope la vida continues to teach me how to cook so that I can be an amazing cocinera like you, mi querida chef Martha 💗

03/23/2023

My first pregnancy and birth ultimately led me to birthwork.

Here I am breastfeeding my daughter Izel two hours after her birth with my amazing doulas (now both of them are midwives) by my side. There was so much generational healing that took place during my pregnancy and especially during my birth.

My maternal abuelita died while giving birth to my youngest tío, when my Mamá was 3 years old, and so there was a lot of trauma regarding pregnancy and childbirth that was passed down to me and my lineage. Educating myself about my birthing options helped me on so many levels, the amazing support that I had with my husband and doulas in the labor and delivery room allowed me to have an empowering birth and be confident in my abilities to advocate for myself while being confident in my decisions.

I came out of that experience with a newfound love and passion for everything, birth and postpartum, while wanting to learn everything I possibly could. At 6 months postpartum, I was taking my first postpartum doula training, followed by birth doula training 2 months later, and here we are 11 years later.

03/23/2023

Happy World Doula Week to all the amazing doulas/birthworkers out there! You are all such an incredible support system to families in their reproductive and parenting journeys as well as to our communities. Thank you for all the amazing advocacy and work you do! 💗

I've always wanted to do a challenge for World Doula Week. This year, I finally created it, and here is my little offering for all of us to get to know each other better while simultaneously uplifting our work and our profession. Feel free to share this post in your circles, tag your friends/peers, and use

03/22/2023

Happy Spring Equinox to you and yours! May this season be one filled with many blessings, warmth, and opportunities for connection with loved ones and community 💗☀️🌱🌷

Even though it's been raining here in Southern California the last few days, I've been looking forward to shifting into the new season and coming out of hibernation mode. I've been seeing little glimpses here and there over the last few weeks that have made me smile and count down the days to longer sunshine filled days. The seeds we have planted are sprouting, our grapevines are slowly waking up with beautiful buds after being dormant, and the bees have been busily collecting pollen from our aguacate tree which has been fun to watch. I find myself closing my eyes and standing under the tree, especially in the mornings, and listen to their soft buzzing. It's really relaxing and helps me be truly present as I do a few minutes of breathing exercises and a quick mental list of 5 things I'm grateful for. It's a great way of setting the tone for the rest of the day.

What practices are you looking forward to incorporating this season? I'm excited to see what Spring has in store for us and what teachings are around the corner 💗

02/27/2023

Buenos días corazones!!!! I hope you all have a wonderful start to the week. This cold weather has got me craving warm foods and honestly very griefy (yes, it's a word according to me), so when my pancita was talking to me a little while ago the first thing to cross my mind was avena. And so, there I was getting warm by standing over the stove making avena the way my Mami made it for me. Food is such a great way to tend to a grief-stricken corazón. So here's to nourishing foods that comfort and heal us with every spoonful or bite. As always, sending lots of love and tenderness from my corazón en duelo to yours 💗

02/02/2023

Buenos días Corazones! 💗

Have you nourished yourself today?

If not, this is a reminder to take some time to intentionally prepare yourself a delicious and nutritious meal or snack. I can't wait to devour this omelet with veggies and chilito that my suegra made paired with a pork chop and calabacitas that were leftovers I had in the fridge from the last two dinners we had. I'm all about ease when cooking, so I tend to have chopped up veggies already in the refrigerator and freezer. Saves time in the long run, and I can quickly make food like an omelet, guisado, or salad by combining what I have on hand.

What time savers do you do to make cooking easy when preparing food for you, family, and loved ones?

When you hire me for birth or postpartum support, these are the types of dishes and tips I prepare and share with you. Nourishment of our pancitas, mind, and body help us recover from birth. Y como dice el dicho, Pancita llena corazón contento 💗

01/31/2023

💫Change💫
We all go through it. As birthing people, we go through so many changes in our bodies, our emotional state changes on an hourly basis (or at least it feels like it), and our life as we know it is slowly changing and well it never really stops. Parenthood changes us on so many levels, not only on the physical and emotional aspect but on the cellular level too. Every pregnancy, birth, and postpartum time is different too. It is no wonder that we mourn our ever-evolving selves from time to time. We go through so many changes. Honor the season you are in. You are amazing and perfect just the way you are 💗

03/29/2022

My little offering to all those that do so much for the familias they support.

03/29/2022

01/26/2021

Always and Forever 💗💗💗

It does

12/15/2020

Sending out so much love to all the families out there navigating parenting in pandemic times 💗

This is not what you had planned.
This is not what you’d envisioned.
There are no visits from friends, no loving doula bringing you soup, no “mommy and me” yoga classes, no coffee dates, no stroller walks through the park. There is empty space where you had planned comfort and company. There are long days with no one but your little one to talk to and this big transition to navigate all alone.

I know it’s lonely, mama. I know the walls of your house feel tight and the days feel so long, and you crave a warm hand on your knee and the soft embrace of a friend. You wish for someone by your side to marvel at this beautiful baby of yours and to wrap an arm around you when the feelings get too big and scary.

We were never meant to do this alone. Motherhood has never been a solitary sport. And yet here we are, in this odd chapter of isolation and distance, with no choice but to do it by ourselves.

But mama, know this- We are alone. Together.

You are surrounded all the other mothers who are navigating this tender time in isolation. You are held by all of us who have walked the path before you and who know how much you must be hurting. You are wrapped in the warm embrace of mama earth, as she too settles into this time of slowness and healing.

This too shall pass.

And when it does, hugs and coffee dates and visits from friends will taste so much sweeter. Soft kisses on your cheek and arms around your waist and gentle laughter in your ear will be the joyful medicine after this trying time.

Until then, hunker down mama. Find the coziest, warmest spot on your couch, sink into the pile of unfolded laundry, and sleep the winter away, with that sweet babe warm on your chest.

Reposted from ❤

11/02/2020

Para todos nuestros angelitos 💗 For all of our little angels

"I held you every second of your life."
—Stephanie Paige Cole

Today is Dia de los Angelitos, the Day of the Little Angels, when we remember loved ones who were not able to be born, infants, and children who left us too soon. Yesterday, after midnight, the spirits of our little ones began making their way back to us for their annual visit guided by the light in our offerings: of the candles, the scent of the beautiful cempasúchil flowers, the fragrance of the smoke of the copal incense, and the love in the hearts of those who remember them. They will spend the day with us and after midnight tonight will be joined by the souls of our adult loved ones so that our remembrances, smiles, laughter, songs, and above all our love will bring them happiness.

May all the mothers and fathers and all the family members who today celebrate the life of their little ones feel the touch of butterfly wings, and may the blessings of the Ancestors bring peace and healing to their hearts.
Ometeotl.
Maestra Grace




Art by 1Artist via RedBubble

10/04/2020

It's true! Love this so much!

Something that I often say, aloud to my daughter is: "Mama is not a village sweetheart. I am ONE woman, one Mama."
I say it aloud so that I can hear myself: when I am feeling overwhelmed by the realities of nuclear family living; tracking how many things I have done that day / how many roles I have played.
I say it aloud so that our daughter can orient to this reality: that my or my husband's exasperation or frustration is NOT about her, it's about the lack of support we have as parents.
I say it aloud so that my husband can hear: so that he too remembers that HE is just one man, who is doing the work of several men.
Humanity is coming out of a time of fractures, and we are in a time of REPAIR. May we focus on all the ways that we can REVILLLAGE; knowing that for both practical/mundane reasons + deeply spiritual reasons - we all need each other.
https://www.innatetraditions.com/your-free-gift-reproductive-mental-health/

09/30/2020

Yes 🙌🏽💗

Congratulations on being extremely productive this week! Tag a mom that you want to congratulate on her amazing productivity!

09/27/2020

Breastmilk truly is amazing! 💦💗

Mommy milk is magnificent and aMazing