Rebozo Patterns

As some of you may know, I finished my training as a Doula last weekend and I learned about the Mexican Rebozo. In its simplest term, the rebozo is a traditional mexican shawl. The shawl is used in the Mexican culture to assist women with fertility, the birthing process, and postpartum.

In the Mexican and other cultures, the rebozo is used to cushion the head while carrying large objects, to carry the child after birth, and many other uses. However, I would like to share how the rebozo is used to aid women before, during, and after pregnancy.

Fertility

Fertility Position

Some women who have difficulty conceiving may choose to have a rebozo massage. The massage entails shimmying and sifting the hips so that the uterus, womb, and in a good position for conceiving and carrying the fertilized egg. Wrapping the pelvis nourishes a woman to self-healing that will allow a healing to take place within, that in turn sends a message to the mind and body that it is ready to foster new life within the body.

I have practiced this technique during class but not on a private client. I have a good feeling this will assist women who have what is called an upturned uterus to assist in realigning everything to allow proper blood flow as well as mental and physical openness to pregnancy and birthing. The young lady I worked on told me she felt "light and energized."

This is a technique I will definitely use to assist with empowering women, if they choose to have a child but are having difficulty conceiving.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Position

There are many uses for a rebozo during pregnancy and they are as follows:

• Warmth as a shawl or wrap.
• Back support to lift abdomen.
• When used regularly will allow the baby's head to move towards and soften the cervix.
• As the baby's head is softening the cervix it releases endogenous prostaglandins.
• The release of endogenous prostaglandins towards the end of pregnancy will reduce small contraction pain.
• Will assist in back and hip discomfort.

Since I have now tested the rebozo out on women who are not pregnant and pregnant women, I can see how the rebozo is a great tool, especially when decreasing pain. Even though I am a Reiki Master Teacher and I use the Reiki modality when I touch others and infuse the rebozo I use, I can see that the rebozo is a miraculous tool when used properly.

A woman who is considering using a rebozo during pregnancy, I feel would be very helpful in support and relieving back pain. I plan on gifting the women I am helping through their birthing celebration with a Reiki infused and Native American blessed rebozo.

Birthing

Birthing Positions

Now that I used the rebozo to help with a birth celebration I can say that at first I was doubtful. I mean, what woman does not have a shawl? Well, the trick is to know what to do with this magical shawl. The rebozo shawl does have specific dimensions. The measurements should be 72 to 100 inches and 29 inches wide.

These measurements help wrap the pregnant person and use different techniques to relieve pain. Some of these techniques include but are not limited to:

• Belly lifting.
• Sifting, jiggling, and wrapping the hips.
• Swaddling to enhance relaxation.
• Relaxes tight ligaments.
• Moves baby in the proper position for birth.
• Back pain relief.
• Realigns pelvis that moves baby further down towards the vagina.
• Provides comfort.
• Gives the option of pushing positions.

As I mentioned earlier, I was able to assist and use many of the above techniques during a birth and the young woman found great relief when using the various positions for back pain relief and pushing the baby out. I found the rebozo to be a remarkable tool and one I will not go without in all the future birth celebrations I am honored to be a part of.

I purchased a soft organic cotton material to use for my rebozo, one that is flexible and easy to maneuver around a woman who is giving birth. The material is also water resistant in case the birth is a water birth or happens to be in a tub during the birth process. I also find that anything in the organic cotton family holds a certain light within the fibers. It is a feeling of being hugged in clean, comfortable, and energetic light. I wear organic cotton quite a bit within my own wardrobe and find it one of the best materials for overall good health.

Postpartum and Closing of The Bones

Closing of the Bones Ceremony

Many women today suffer from postpartum depression, and the rebozo can assist in the natural after birth process. Some of the ways a rebozo can help are:

• Protecting the abdominal muscles.
• Abdomen realignment while pulling the vagina back into the torso along with pain relief.
• Cesarean section parents will find abdomen support and pain relief.

I have yet to recommend or work with postpartum parents, however, everything I have tested out so far has proved helpful to new parents. I would definitely see how the rebozo would work in a postpartum situation since the rebozo is so successful through the stages I have now had firsthand experience.

Closing of the Bones

Something I recently found was an ancient ceremony in connection to the rebozo. Many women are performing this ceremony as a way of making peace with the birthing process. I will offer this as an option for the modern women I work with, in order to assist with passing through the postpartum process and allowing their soul to make peace with their birthing celebration.

The Closing of the Bones is a sealing ceremony whereby there is a wrapping of many rebozo's around the woman's body. There could be flowers, candles, incense, friends and family present. The intention is for the space to be held to recognize that the birthing process was hard work and to assist all those who took part. It is a moment of healing.

For many this process took a lot of strain on the body while carrying, giving birth and caring for the baby afterwards. As new parents, many family members focus the attention only on the baby, meanwhile the parents are forgotten. In this ceremony, the parents are celebrated. Every parent deserves this type of ceremony!

Baby

Happy Rebozo Baby

After birth one of the most rewarding ways to use a rebozo is carrying the baby. Some of the benefits a parent may find while using a rebozo are:

• Baby cradling.
• Baby can hear and feel the heart beat.
• Rocking motion helps baby sleep better.
• Less anxiety for the baby because s/he is more relaxed.
• Breastfeeding is more convenient and private.
• More bonding time.

As you can see there are so many different advantages to using a rebozo, and the list spreads across many different cultures. What I found most inspiring is that this one piece of material could be so sustainable. Many of us have probably seen a rebozo I know I have, but I honestly had no idea what this tool was or how to use it until last weekend.

Hopefully, you have learned some of what I have, and if you ever have the option of whether or not to use a rebozo, as you can see this is an amazing tool to assist parents through any birth celebration! Peace.

Image Sources for: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

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