Aloha mai kakou,
It's been a long time since we've wala'au. Life has been hectic here on Kauai for my 'ohana and I this summer. I hope that you are are also settling back into routines that are more stable.
I am now in my 30th week of pregnancy and wanted you all to pule for our 'ohana. I just 'oki'd my midwife Aubrie....for varies reasons that I will not go into. So, I we've been pule (ing) for a another midwife (someone I wanted to seek out prior to Aubrie) to be our birth support.
My very good friend, and mutual friend to some of you too, Mehana (Blaich) Vaughn is also looking for a midwife to support her first (YIPEE) birth as well. AND, can you imagine, a doula here on the island told her that there are no midwives on the island of Kauai. What's up with THAT.
Now...this mana'o just set me off again, into creating the resource guide/brochure whatever and get this out into the community because even people in "the field" are giving out the wrong information. So, after I hanau....late Sept/early Oct. I'll be bugging you'all for names and numbers again.
On a side note: I just completed a la'au lapa'au class with Kumu Levon Ohai. It was absolutely amazing and if any of you wahine that live on O'ahu are enrolled in Hawaiian Studies at UH Manoa and can register in his class....TAKE IT. The man is absolutely amazing. Being one of only 6 Hawaiian students in a class of 36 was very interesting. Where are our Po'e Hawaii?
The amazing thing is that I did learn much about using la'au for pregnancy, birth , and post care...not of my own asking either, this came by way of our field lab visit in Ke'e near Ke Ahu a Laka. This huaka'i was was like opening up a new world for me and seeing, learning, and tasting the enviornment out in the wilds. If you gals saw "Spiderwick"...it was like that (sort of), if you get the movie.
Anyways, I'm babbling. I love you guys, and miss our connections, so please keep in touch. I'm back ON - LINE.
Aloha, Lorilani
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Aloha kaua! I think the worst part of it is that there are no Hawaiian midwives. Unless I'm mistaken....please correct me. I would love to see this change.... Our people have wonderful ike that is apparent in lomilomi, laau lapau, lua etc... And for someone of my own race to understand why I need my ohana around, why my kane is oli-ing etc during this time. ( not that my midwife commented but still) for someone to just know and us not have to explain why we do what we do...someone to kakoo spiritually with the whole process...guarantee more Hawaiians would switch over! Ok sorry for rambling!
ke aloha,
cami
So true...and you would think that with all of the resources in the "Hawaiian Health field" that this would be a top priority of study...also, to get more wahine involved in "wanting" to pursue the lifestyle and kuleana of becoming a midwife. I think this needs to start from 'opio.
I would have to say, that since the "'ohana support" in regards to midwifery has sort of dwindled...except on Moloka'i (maybe) that it is difficult for young girls, teens, and young woman to even see the process of conception (or not); carrying, and birth as something that is an honored process. Much focus is given to the actual birth....when there is so much to ho'oponopono during the pregnancy, growth for both kane and wahine and settling issues to prepare for the best possible birth, and then how to carry this support for baby's entry into this enviornment....even though baby was very well aware of the enviornment the entire time.
A midwifes role may not be to understand each and everyone's culture diversities when it comes to birth, but to respect those diversities. On so many levels, their role is to connect spiritually with our babies and guide us, the wahine in having a safe and healthy birth that does no harm. If a midwife is at any time (taken aback) not comfortable with cultural rituals and protocols at any birth, I'd have to question her experience. Most midwives that I know....are well exposed to all kinds of rituals and protocols, it is what we are made of, as humans... It's a Papa-Earth-Mother thing. They gotta know that.
Even ourselves as Hawaiians, we have many facets and differences. I know many Hawaiian woman that have not fully developed their mana and are totally terrified of the idea that anyone would want to give birth without drugs, let alone, at home. And I'm talking about intellegent woman.
So, I am rambling mysef....but, so passionate about how to train the next generation. It's a dream, a goal, a life commitment. And, I hope that we will ALL be apart of this wonderful journey. 'iesu pu....aloha, Lorilani
I will definitely pule for you, sista! And I'll try to ask around about resource/connections too. Kaua'i is not an island that I know very well, but "no midwives" on the island just does not sound possible! Come on, everybody -- between all of us we gotta know somebody who knows somebody good...right?
Strong blessings and much aloha,
Laulani
Mahalo Laulani...
'Ae, I got Kauai covered and met at least 4-5 midwives, 1 cranial sacral specialist, baby massage therapist all in one sitting Wednesday night at a "Fire Circle". It was pretty cool.
We were asked to share our own birth stories, or what we know about our own births, how we were prepared for, etc....it really brought some things back that I can relate to my life now.
As for resources, whenI have a "clear" moment, I'll post different pages for each island and see what we can contribute to, add to, or manifest...etc. Including doulas, assistants, and just community people whom love to co-create a healthy enviornment for birth, mom, and baby.........a hui hou, Lorilani
Replies
ke aloha,
cami
So true...and you would think that with all of the resources in the "Hawaiian Health field" that this would be a top priority of study...also, to get more wahine involved in "wanting" to pursue the lifestyle and kuleana of becoming a midwife. I think this needs to start from 'opio.
I would have to say, that since the "'ohana support" in regards to midwifery has sort of dwindled...except on Moloka'i (maybe) that it is difficult for young girls, teens, and young woman to even see the process of conception (or not); carrying, and birth as something that is an honored process. Much focus is given to the actual birth....when there is so much to ho'oponopono during the pregnancy, growth for both kane and wahine and settling issues to prepare for the best possible birth, and then how to carry this support for baby's entry into this enviornment....even though baby was very well aware of the enviornment the entire time.
A midwifes role may not be to understand each and everyone's culture diversities when it comes to birth, but to respect those diversities. On so many levels, their role is to connect spiritually with our babies and guide us, the wahine in having a safe and healthy birth that does no harm. If a midwife is at any time (taken aback) not comfortable with cultural rituals and protocols at any birth, I'd have to question her experience. Most midwives that I know....are well exposed to all kinds of rituals and protocols, it is what we are made of, as humans... It's a Papa-Earth-Mother thing. They gotta know that.
Even ourselves as Hawaiians, we have many facets and differences. I know many Hawaiian woman that have not fully developed their mana and are totally terrified of the idea that anyone would want to give birth without drugs, let alone, at home. And I'm talking about intellegent woman.
So, I am rambling mysef....but, so passionate about how to train the next generation. It's a dream, a goal, a life commitment. And, I hope that we will ALL be apart of this wonderful journey. 'iesu pu....aloha, Lorilani
Strong blessings and much aloha,
Laulani
'Ae, I got Kauai covered and met at least 4-5 midwives, 1 cranial sacral specialist, baby massage therapist all in one sitting Wednesday night at a "Fire Circle". It was pretty cool.
We were asked to share our own birth stories, or what we know about our own births, how we were prepared for, etc....it really brought some things back that I can relate to my life now.
As for resources, whenI have a "clear" moment, I'll post different pages for each island and see what we can contribute to, add to, or manifest...etc. Including doulas, assistants, and just community people whom love to co-create a healthy enviornment for birth, mom, and baby.........a hui hou, Lorilani