E21 Part 2 Steffi Arvanitakis | Two Births, Miscarriage, Birthwork, Waterbirth, Fast Birth

In this episode I am sharing Part 2 of Steffi’s birth stories. You can find the first part of her birth story in episode 21.

Today we hear about the 13 week pregnancy and birth of Star Baby. Steffi gives a profoundly beautiful and detailed account of the physical and emotional process of miscarriage and the months of grieving which followed.

She shares more about some of the different techniques and rituals she practices and provides for pregnant, birthing and postpartum women, including the Closing of the Bones ceremony, Rebozo, Birth Circles, and turning of a breech baby.

Steffi winds up this episode with the story of her final pregnancy and birth with youngest son Manu. Manu’s birth was very fast, just a couple of hours of very intense labouring, and was followed by an extended first stage where Steffi actually ended up manually assisting with delivering her own placenta.

Steffi’s story depicts a physically straight forward story of miscarriage which was safely managed at home.

Like any birth a miscarriage comes with the potential for risk & it is essential to be well informed & appropriately cared for when choosing to remain at home.

I would like to acknowledge that this episode contains strong emotional themes around grief and loss, as well as very honest and raw descriptions of the actual process of miscarriage. If you’re feeling that this might be triggering for you, I have noted the timing that we move onto Manu’s birth in the show notes, so you can skip straight to that and come back to Star Babies birth story at another time when you’re feeling ready to listen. That being said, if you have listened to part one of Steffi’s story you will already know what a beautiful story teller she is, and I think she navigates this topic in the most gentle and respectful way.

This episode is laced with so much profound wisdom and is true medicine for women in their childbearing years, so I’ll let Steffi share her story.

 

If you would like to see some more photos of Steffi and her beautiful children, head over to my instagram @keepbirthwild.podcast.

 

During this podcast Steffi makes mention of Mapuru & The Arnhem Weavers http://www.arnhemweavers.com.au/

& Aunty Minmia  http://www.dromanabooks.com.au/home/events/quandongtree.htm

 

Steffi also speaks about The Closing of The Bones & the of the use of Mexican Rebozo. You can find more information about traditional Mexican approaches to birthwork & to purchase traditional rebozos at  https://www.naolivinaver.com/index.html & https://lamatriz-105776.square.site/

And for those wanting to learn more about the practice of womb/ pelvic steaming you can visit @steamychick on instagram.

Thank you again for listening and keep an ear out for the next episode!