This is a fun event for you to hear and share birth stories and learn about how to view birth holistically.
This event will give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the work that I do as a holistic healer and insight into my book series on childbirth around the world through a holistic perspective.
You will understand more about the root cause of chronic conditions in the pregnancy journey and why birth complications happen.
This will empower you.
Read MoreI mailed some packages. It felt so great!
It feels so great to give and to know my package will bring some joy to the recipients and help women on their holistic health and wellness journey!
Yay!
If you have been following me for a while, you know that I celebrated 15 years in business this year and last year, I started season one of Holistic Me TV and that the swag giveaway was my way to celebrate.
The winners were:
Terina,
Irmina,
Colleen,
Alycia,
Trudy,
and
Amanda.
Congratulations!!
If you didn't win a prize, there will be more opportunities to win prizes with me.
In fact on 8/8, I will announce another prize winner.
Last December, I wrote a letter to the President of the United States and I mailed it.
Last week, I received a letter in the mail from President Biden.
My dad was so excited for me.
“You have a letter from the White House!”
It was in a fancy envelope.
I opened it.
Almost a year later from when I mailed it.
What would he say?
I opened up the envelope.
The letter was typed on thick stationary paper.
Not on common computer paper.
On cream paper, not on blanched white.
The letter read “Dear Khristee,”
He spelled my name correctly.
He wrote four paragraphs and signed his name in a black marker.
But it was a form letter.
A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Tu-Hien Le. She had a regular health and wellness series on Instagram for moms, but recently switched to creating a podcast to reach a wider audience.
Now, she has created The Mamaverse. The Mamaverse is a podcast, vodcast, a blog, and a health and wellness app for moms. The Mamaverse is a community to support moms.
Tu-Hien's mission is to make mamas feel valued and appreciated through a fun online community experience that fosters compassion and collaboration.
I am happy to say that I am a guest on The Mamaverse Podcast. Listen to episode 3 about how to heal chronic health conditions.
It’s been about ten years since I overcame my debilitating, chronic illness. My illness was misdiagnosed for fifteen, long years. During the prime of my life, my life stalled. Some of the best doctors in Connecticut and New York City screened me, but only one doctor was able to properly diagnose me. Sadly, this happens more often than people realize.
Before I became sick, I trusted my doctors completely. But to be honest, I rarely got sick in school or college, so doctors only saw me for my annual physical. However, my life completely changed when I chose to do my Junior Year Abroad in London, England and developed a fever, diagnosed as being from the flu, and did not regain my health until fifteen years later.
Read MoreThis month is International Group B Strep Awareness Month. Group B Strep is a bacteria that is found naturally in 1 in 4 pregnant women and affects 1 in 2,000 babies in the U.S. It is not that common, but this month is to bring awareness to the general public.
For my book about childbirth around the world I interviewed SheéLee Rock, a childbirth educator and doula, located in Virginia. I asked her about GBS.
KHRISTEE: What is GBS?
SHEÉLEE: GBS stands for Group Beta Strep.
KHRISTEE: How does it affect mothers when they test positive for Group Beta Strep?
SHEÉLEE: GBS is a normal bacteria that lives in the vagina, all the time. It can come and go. It also comes and goes from the intestinal tract. It typically doesn’t cause any symptoms or signs. Moms can have it now, in their pregnancy, during their labor.
The concern is that sometimes moms that have Group Beta Strep in the intestinal tract and in the vagina during labor can possibly pass an infection to the babies and a very small amount of those babies can die. What happens though is that moms are typically tested later in pregnancy for this by a swab that goes into the vagina and then a swab that goes into the rectum and if it comes back positive, they’re not tested again, even though, your GBS can change. You could be positive during your tests around 34-36 weeks and then can be negative during labor. Or you could have a negative test, and then be positive during labor; they don’t care. In the U.S., they test you once and go with those results.
Read MoreOn the day of deliver, Antonio Lévano, a well-regarded OB/GYN in Peru is in contact with his patients.
Many women ask him, “Antonio, how will I know when it is time to go to the hospital?”
He encourages them to spend as much time at home as possible. At home they are comfortable. They can eat, move, take a shower, etc.
“How do I know I am having contractions?” they ask.
He says, “You will know the difference. It will feel different than how you normally feel.”
He asks his patients to make a note of the time, every time they feel a contraction. When it is ten minutes in between the start and stop of contractions, they send him a message. He has an app for them to send all of the contractions and times, so that he can see the progression.
He prefers that they are at home until contractions are every 3 to 4 minutes and they feel a lot of pressure or pain in the pelvis. He emphasizes that it is not just the amount of time that is the indicator for him, if they are ready to go to the hospital to deliver. He wants to hear their voice to hear if they are out of breath or unable to talk as usual; this is a sign that it is time to go. If they can talk normally, it is not time yet.
Read MoreHi Ladies!
It seems that everyone who I have been connecting with lately is feeling overwhelm and it seems that moms who are about to give birth even if it’s not their first birth are experiencing a new kind of overwhelm. Many places in the world are still not allowing husbands into the delivery room due to the Coronavirus, many are afraid of contracting the Coronavirus at the hospital, and one woman I know is overwhelmed because she is not allowed off the military base and she doesn’t want to give birth in a military hospital again.
What do we do to release this overwhelm that we are feeling?
Yesterday, in my private Facebook Group, Empowered Joyful Empaths, I discussed this topic and let everyone know that they are not alone if they are feeling overwhelm. I also provided some coping skills to help at this time. You can watch the video in the group or read some of my suggestions here.
Try these coping skills. Pick the ones that are best for you. You do not need to practice all of them.
Meditate. (This can be listening to music, breathing deeply or following a recorded creative visualization.)
Spend time in nature. (Soak up the sun. Be surrounded by green and peace. Let nature support you.)
I was interviewed on Amberlee Jayde’s fabulous Australian podcast, Digital Village. We had great chat! Amberlee interviewed for my book about holistic childbirth around the world. Her transformation is amazing! I look forward to sharing her childbirth stories in my new book series, but until then, listen to our interview.
In this episode, you will learn:
· About my new book that will transform how you see and experience childbirth,
· My mission is to empower every woman around the world in regards to their health and wellness,
· My personal health journey overcoming my debilitating chronic illness,
· How & why I became a holistic healer,
· Universal health issues,
· The importance of healing and how every woman who heals herself, heals all the women who came
before her and heals all the women who came after her,
· We rise as women by uplifting one another,
· The definition of an empath and what one can do to protect oneself from taking on others energy,
· How law of attraction attracts circumstances/ events that surpass our expectations,
· And the importance of a healthy and functioning liver.
Read MoreIt is PTSD Awareness Month. Did you know that PTSD can happen in childbirth? Did you know that it can happen during pregnancy? Did you know that it can be caused by a traumatic childbirth? Many people assume that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) only happens in war or from abuse or a terrible, violent accident, but post-traumatic stress disorder can occur whenever there is a traumatic situation that has not been resolved such as a traumatic childbirth. Yes, that’s correct; many women, nowadays, are having traumatic birth experiences which are resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder or are triggering previous trauma they already had. This is a topic that is not discussed very often. Most people assume that childbirth is a happy memory and therefore, women with traumatic birth experiences are often keeping their experiences silent. But even if they are not consulting with a therapist, these memories are still stored in the body and can affect their lives and future birth experiences, as well as, their relationship with their child.
Trauma is an experience that most people do not understand. Many people think they can simply think themselves into a happier state. Mind over matter. They believe they can avoid thinking of unpleasant experiences and then the experiences will not live in their minds. But trauma is deeper than this. One cannot think oneself out of trauma by being more positive. One cannot heal trauma by avoiding it and suppressing emotions. Trauma must be healed; otherwise, it will continue to bleed into other areas of our lives.
Reoccurring negative patterns/cycles may surface and even chronic illness can develop, showing clearly, that the body has not healed from the ordeal. People may experience triggers. Memories may return causing visceral reactions: they may have intense emotions or physical sensations. People may have nightmares or try to avoid certain places or locations such as where the trauma happened or any place that reminds them of the location where it happened. For instance, if a woman had a traumatic birth experience, she may never wish to return to the same hospital again. Even if she needed emergency care for something not related to childbirth, she may request to go to another hospital. She may break out in a sweat, hives, become agitated, and feel nauseous thinking about going back to the same hospital.
Read MoreHome births are illegal in Peru. With the pandemic many mothers in Cusco, Peru are electing to have home births over hospital births. Health officials in Cusco are aware of this new trend and that many are offering to assist women with home births at this time. No arrests have been made yet, but health authorities are greatly discouraging women from giving birth at home saying that it is not safe. They are trying to ensure that every protocol has been made to ensure their safety at this time with the virus and that they should refuse help at home and have their births in hospitals.
This is so sad! Home births should not be illegal. Home births are not more dangerous than hospital births. Women should have the choice where they want to deliver their babies. If they feel safer at home, they should be allowed to give birth with assistance in the comfort of their homes. In Peru people are still in lockdown. They are not allowed to go out unless it is necessary. Requiring pregnant women to leave their homes when they don’t feel safe is not right. This causes unnecessary stress and potential trauma to mothers and their babies. They are scared for their health and their babies health during this pandemic. Why would they want to go to a place where there are people sick with the virus? Women should have the choice. Women should not fear being arrested nor should the people who are assisting them to have a healthy birth.
Read MoreHI Everyone! It is the end of National Maternal Depression Awareness Month. On a previous blog, I shared a little of Carey’s story with her struggles with postpartum psychosis. Today I would like to continue the discussion of maternal depression awareness.
One recent study found that 1 in 5 women may suffer from maternal mental health disorders and 1 in 7 women may experience Postpartum Depression (PPD) in the year after giving birth. With approximately 4 million live births occurring each year in the United States, this equates to almost 600,000 postpartum depression diagnoses. Sadly, it is believed that postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety are much more common than these statistics reveal. Some medical experts believe that the rate of postpartum depression could be at least twice as much than what is actually reported and diagnosed. It is believed that while there are many diagnosed cases of postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety, only a limited number of women actually receive treatment, often because many women do not know they have postpartum depression/anxiety since they are simply adjusting to being a new mom.
Read MoreMaria De Los Ángeles Chero and Ariela Waltzer pictured above are the first doulas of Peru. Dr. Angela Brocker is a doctor and a midwife in Peru who learned about doulas from living in Germany (where she is from originally) and decided to bring this tradition to Peru. In Lima, Peru, of all births in the private sector, the c-section rate is 85-90%, which is much higher than the national average of 35 to 40%. As a doctor in Peru, Dr. Angela Brocker witnessed a lot of obstetric violence and was even encouraged during her training to do practices against women that she did not agree with. In 2005, Dr. Brocker created a doula training program in Lima; Maria and Ariela were some of the first ladies to learn this tradition from Dr. Brocker at her birthing center, Pakarii. Both ladies continue to be doulas today and love it.
Ariela admits that in Peru doulas are not popular (compared to other countries) and that many women still do not know what a doula is, however, over the past fifteen years, more and more women are becoming aware of obstetric violence. She is happy to be one of the pioneers to support women.
Read MoreAre you a new mother? Are you familiar with all the birth professionals who assist mothers during labor? If you are planning to give birth it is very important that you are aware of your options so that you can pick what is best for you. Keep in mind, every country does not have the same options. There are birth attendants, doulas, midwives, and OBGYNS. In some countries, midwives deliver most of the babies (such as in Europe, Australia, and African countries) and OBGYNS only deliver babies if there is an emergency which requires surgery. In other countries, (such as the U.S.) OBGYNs are considered more prestigious than midwives. But in truth, OBGYNs are not more prestigious, but are more common in the United States. While in other countries (such as Kazakhstan) women are still not allowed to have their husbands or birth attendants present during the birth of their child or doulas present (such as in public hospitals in Peru) .
Read MoreIt’s International Doula Month! This month we celebrate all the hardworking doulas around the world who assist mothers before birth, during birth, and postpartum. Through their love and attention, they help to improve the health of mothers and infants.
For my book about childbirth around the world, I interviewed Maria De Los Ángeles Chero, a well-known midwife in Lima, Peru. Maria was one of the first doulas in Lima. She is a pioneer in Peru helping women to have an empowered childbirth experience. Unfortunately, Lima, Peru is a place with a very high c-section rate. Some say the c-section rate in the city is 80 to 90%. Thankfully with Maria’s calming, empathic nature, she is able to assuage many women’s fears and help them to feel supported at this vulnerable time.
Happy Mother’s Day, moms! Mother’s Day is celebrated in most countries around the world today. Treat yourself like a queen today!
Treat yourself to:
a bubble bath,
a walk in the sunshine,
or a day where you don’t have to do anything.
Put your feet up.
Watch a movie.
Allow your partner to make meals for you.
Take a nap!
Let yourself be pampered.
Do whatever makes you happy!
Self-care and rejuvenation is so important.
In this blog, I will be introducing the courageous women that I interviewed for my two book series on holistic childbirth around the world. Mothers from Canada, the United Kingdom (Ireland, Scotland, and England), the United States, France, Spain, Austria, Australia, Germany, Peru, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Israel, the Netherlands, India, Japan, and Uganda were interviewed.
Read MoreToday is World Maternal Mental Health Day and it is National Maternal Depression Awareness Month in the United States. World Maternal Health Day is a day once a year that raises global awareness of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and reduces the stigma of maternal mental illnesses. One in five new mothers may experience some type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) such as postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety or postpartum psychosis. Unfortunately, many of these illnesses go untreated due to a lack of diagnosis, sometimes causing tragic repercussions for both mother and child. Luckily, postpartum depression/anxiety has become a more mainstream topic, but still many new mothers are not aware they experienced it, until it has passed. Postpartum depression is an all-encompassing illness and so is being a new mother.
Carey Kirkella, from New York City, had a history of bipolar disorder and was concerned that her symptoms could escalate after labor to postpartum psychosis.
Read MoreWhen I was in Peru, I interviewed a well-regarded OBGYN named Dr. Antonio Lévano. He is a pioneer in his county for natural c-sections. Natural c-sections originated in the United Kingdom in 2008, but in 2010, Dr. Lévano was the first OBGYNs to implement this technique in his home country of Peru.
It has been well-researched that babies that reach full-term are healthier than premature babies. Babies that are born premature may have respiratory problems such as sleep apnea or require ventilators, and may even have asthma and allergies throughout their lives. Mothers have a harder time breastfeeding babies which are born via c-section too. To remedy these issues, natural c-sections also called gentle c-sections were created.
Lévano described to me how he does natural c-sections in Lima, Peru. These c-sections are planned. Women decide ahead of time that they would like to have a c-section over a vaginal delivery. Unlike scheduled c-sections, after the mother begins contractions, not before, she arrives to the hospital to delivery her baby.
Read MoreIt is the last day of National Infertility Awareness Week and National Infertility Month. Did you know that one in eight couples experiences the pain of infertility, often in silence? That is a large number. Even though infertility has become common in the U.S. and other parts of the world, many mothers experience shame when it happens. National Infertility Week/Month raises awareness of infertility, helps couples cope with infertility, and encourages couples to “come out” with their friends and family without shame or embarrassment. We heal by expressing our truth, not suppressing it.
When I was in Lima, Peru, I interviewed Dr. Angela Brocker, a well-respected general practitioner and midwife in Peru. I asked her the difficult question, “Why is infertility so common today and how can it be remedied?”
April is International Cesarean Awareness month. This month is sponsored by ICAN – The International Cesarean Awareness Network.
ICAN is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by reducing preventable cesareans through education, supporting cesarean recovery, and advocating for vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).
After researching childbirth around the world, the WHO (The World Health Organization) recommended that only 10-15% of all births be delivered via c-section. They stated that higher than that number were excessive and could cause health issues to the mother or baby. They believe only 10 to 15% of cesarean births are medically necessary. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 30% of births in the U.S. are via c-section.
Read More
