CYCLE WISE

Herbal Miscarriage & Abortion: Supporting pregnancy loss at home with Molly Dutton KennyMolly Dutton Kenny is a midwife, advocate, and educator promoting a full scope and spectrum of midwifery practice to support holistic, comprehensive reproductive care. One of the things that drew me to Molly is her promotion of home-based care as the norm for reproductive management, including holistic support for abortion care and pregnancy loss.
Filling the void of education and care around abortion, miscarriage, and pregnancy lossWoven throughout Molly’s studies in fertility, midwifery, and childbearing was a deep study into holistic care for pregnancy loss and abortion. Too many of her clients had experienced previous abortions or losses without adequate support and Molly could see the effects in later pregnancies. Her own experience of four losses herself grounded Molly in a deep reverence for the power of the body, and a deep void of education and care around abortion, miscarriage, and pregnancy loss.

The specialized focus of Molly’s midwifery study is supporting at-home, holistic options for people experiencing pregnancy loss of all kinds, and writing and teaching on the topic with other midwives and reproductive health care workers.

In this episode we dive into: 

• How common and normal are pregnancy losses?
• Why might it be a good thing to stay at home for my pregnancy loss?
• How safe is it for me to wait out a pregnancy loss?
• What should I expect a pregnancy loss at home to feel like?
• The loss is real and that there is a spirit we can connect to.
• What herbal support is there for my pregnancy loss at home?
• What are some warning symptoms that I would need to take seriously?
• Why am I bleeding so much in this pregnancy loss?
• Do I need postpartum care after a pregnancy loss or abortion?

Resources & LinksFind Molly on Instagram @molly_duttonkenny

Website: mollyduttonkenny.com/

Shop Yoni Steam Herbs. The “Gentle Soother” blend is ideal for postpartum steaming.

Book a postpartum Womb Massage with Indigomoon in Copenhagen.


Thank you for listening! It’s an honor to share these episodes with you. If you got something out of it, please share it with a friend and consider supporting Cycle Wise podcast by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. 

Why didn't anyone tell me this? A pregnancy and postpartum Journey with Kelsi Ludvigsen
Kelsie Ludvigsen says motherhood changed everything for her. The birth of her daughter one year ago sparked her to embark on a journey to unravel and learn what taking care of ourselves and getting the support we need truly looks like within our reality of motherhood. 

Re-emerging as a Mother - unravelling self-care and support
Despite her postpartum training before even getting pregnant, when Kelsi’s daughter arrived her thoughts echoed “Why didn’t anyone tell me this?”.  Feeling like she lost herself in early motherhood when all her self-care practices like yoga no longer worked for her, Kelsi goes on to share how she has integrated and is re-emerging as her new self with her evolved self-care and support framework as a mother.

Kelsi Ludvigsen is a postpartum educator and visionary in Copenhagen, Denmark, and has online courses focusing on creating a space for mothers to reclaim and reweave their transition to motherhood. She also works with pregnant women who are preparing for their postpartum period and with women who wish to process birth trauma.

In this episode we dive into: 

• How Kelsi’s first trimester forced her to rethink self-care as a mother
• Becoming a mother as an expat living far away from family.
• The unique needs of each trimester in pregnancy 
• Feeling lost in early motherhood, what steps Kelsi took to heal and rediscover herself.
• How to prepare for postpartum in a society that isn’t set up for the postpartum woman. 
•  Navigating motherhood identity shifts and postpartum loneliness.
• Grieving life before motherhood, and the number one thing to never say to a new mother.
• Healing fear of birth: How Kelsi rewrote her family’s negative birth experiences and had an amazing birth. 
• We birth how we live and we postpartum how we live.

“We arrive at the alter of postpartum with what we’ve carried from the alter of birth.”

Resources & LinksFind Kelsie on Instagram @kelsieludvigsen

Website: Kelsieludvigsen.com

Shop Yoni Steam Herbs. The “Gentle Soother” blend is ideal for postpartum steaming. 

Book a postpartum Womb Massage with Indigomoon in Copenhagen. 

Thank you for listening! It’s an honor to share these episodes with you. If you got something out of it, please share it with a friend and consider supporting Cycle Wise podcast by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. 

Today I am taking you on a journey through my epic 4.5 day long freebirth of my son. That’s right, four-and-a-half-days in the birth portal with just my husband and I present, there’s quite the story to tell! Join my husband, Rachan Chindarsi, and I for a very personal, story-time conversation where we take you through what happened, the unexpected challenges we had to face, and how we made it through so many sleepless night laboring, while guided by the knowing that “Birth is ceremony”. 
Our Freebirth Journey​This episode is a throwback to January 2020, when I was still in bed resting during my 42 day confinement after birth. And my husband crawled into bed with me and Kamaiio one day, and we hit record while talking about our free birth journey. So this was recorded in the early postpartum days when we felt both incredibly exhausted and victorious after a powerful birth. So it’s not perfectly put together, but it’s a special moment in time that I want to share with you.

I chose to keep my pregnancy outside of the system, meaning I didn’t have a midwife or a doctor – instead my husband and I walked this journey together in the way that was so right for us. Along with my husband, we’ll take you through what happened in those 4.5 days in the birth portal and how a piece of paper on the wall that said “Protect Kamaiio’s Birth Journey” played a central role in me powerfully freebirthing our son.

This is a long story of a long birth – but make sure you stick around to the end where I share the key mindset shift that transformed my birth, and of course the victorious ending where I caught my son myself after days and days of labor.

In this episode we chat about:

• Our birth plan, and a bit about how we prepared for taking full responsibility for our son’s journey here.
• How birth started at 42 weeks, “due-dates”, and the illusion of inductions. 
• How a piece of paper on the wall that said “Protect Kamaiio’s Birth Journey” played a central role.
• How my son let me know that he was okay through the long birth. 
• The key mindset shift helped me remember my power, after being in labor for 4 days. 
• And finally the most ecstatic moment of my life; birthing my son in the water, and catching him myself.

Thank you so much for listening. It means so much for me to sharing our birth story with you. It’s my hope it will help to normalize the wide variety of births, and for women everywhere to remember their power. I would be so grateful if you share this episode, so we can inspire more women together.Resources & LinksConnect with Indigomoon on Instagram @Indigomoonenemark

The evidence on due dates by Evidence Based Birth: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-due-dates/

Learn more about our cord burning ceremony. 
https://www.instagram.com/p/CI3nUAIhydv/

Written birth story with pictures on my blog: The Freebirth of my son Kamaiio Coaiia.
https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/the-freebirth-of-my-son-kamaiio-coaiia/

Body positivity has gone mainstream. But what does it really mean to create a truly loving relationship with your body? How do we begin to root our worth and value in our true Self?  

My guest today is Eden Dalton-Thompson who shares her journey to accept and love her body by unlearning diet culture and stepping into radical self love. If you are on a self-love journey, this one is for you! We deep dive into what it really takes to unlearn what the world has taught us about our female bodies. 
And I said to my body, softly, ‘I want to be your friend.’ It took a long breath, and replied ‘I have been waiting my whole life for this.'-Nayyirah Waheed
Heal your relationship with your bodyMost of us have felt the heaviness of thoughts that tell us something is wrong with our bodies. And it sucks to feel trapped in not feeling good enough. 

There’s truly so much magic available within your cyclic womanly body but it’s impossible to feel the truth of that within your own body when you are stuck in a spiral of focusing more on how you look than how you feel. 

Body positivity is now mainstream, but we need to go deeper. Self acceptance isn’t just a mindset, it’s a relationship. I love talking about the real inner work it takes to create a loving relationship with your body in a patriarchal world steep with body hate. 

Eden Dalton-Thompson is a Yoga teacher that celebrates body through movement and passionately shares her journey to accept and love her body by unlearning diet culture, and stepping into radical self-love. In this episode we talk about:

• How Eden went from feeling there was something wrong with her to then ditch the diet culture and step into radical self-love.  
• How trauma affects your ability to love yourself and eat intuitively.
• What it takes to create a healthy relationship with food, exercise, and body-image. 
• The importance of questioning your beliefs + discover the truth that will set you free! 
• How to uncover the root of your beliefs, so you can finally heal and transform what is keeping you trapped in body-jail.  
• Rethinking female body hair.   
• The number one shift you can make to fall in love with your body; it’s so simple, but SO powerful. 
• The unconventional thing I’m doing to accept and reclaim the changes in my postpartum body. 

If you’re on a journey to unapologetically fall in love with you, then you’re in the right place. 
Resources & LinksEpisode page: https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/cycle-wise/008-unlearn-body-shame-free-yourself-with-self-love-with-eden-dalton-thompson/

Connect with Eden on Instagram @edenliving_life

Work with Eden: In her HYR Self program Eden guides you through healing your relationship with your body, health & Self. Book a free call here. 

Work with Indigomoon: If you want to create a deeply meaningful and empowering relationship with your body, check out my 1:1 mentoring program Self:LOVED. Imagine finally feeling at home in who you are. Fueled by pleasure, and fully supported by your own ability to create reality out of visions, AND to weather the storms of life without losing connection with your inner truth. If that’s your YES, then Self:Loved is the mentoring program for you. 

Join my husband and I for a very personal conversation where talk about the emotional journey leading up to the conscious conception of our son Kamaiio Coaiia, including the three pregnancy losses we experienced. This was recorded back in January 2020, one month after the free birth of my son Kamaiio Coaiia.  

Our Conscious Conception Story​
This is a very laid back conversation, literally. It was recorded while my husband and I were sitting in bed with our newborn baby, as I was still in my 42 day rest period after birth. We were not our most eloquent, as we were deep in the sleep deprived, but love filled newborn days. And we didn’t even know if we would share this with anyone.  

In this episode we chat candidly about what we did to prepare for pregnancy after loss, and the message our son had for us before we even conceived him.  

This is us sharing a piece of our personal journey leading up to our self-assisted pregnancy and birth. We talk about the deep journey we took to consciously conceive our son, including:  

• Navigating pregnancy after loss and connecting with our spirit babies.
• Taking responsibility for our baby’s pregnancy and birth. 
• Why I chose to free birth and keep my pregnancy outside of the system.
• Walking together as a couple, without leaning on a midwife or doctor for answers.
• The importance of preparing for pregnancy physically, emotionally, and mentally.

I hope you’ll enjoy a peak into the deep journey we took to bring our son earthside.
Resources & Links
Connect with Indigomoon on Instagram @Indigomoonenemark

Read More on my blog: Rethinking How To Prepare For Pregnancy.

The Inner Work Of Loving Menopause
For most women the word “menopause” doesn’t conjure up a lot of positive and exciting prospects. But today I’m talking with Grethe Lous on the inner work of loving menopause. And how to use this transition as a transformational time to step into leadership and your inner wise woman. Grethe shares the perspective of menopause as; a pause where you find new layers and depths of the woman you are. This is an episode for every woman who wants to ripen and rise through every cyclic season of her life.
Unlock the power of menopause
Grethe Lous is on a mission to help women discover their inner wise woman. Grethe has an intuitive, spiritual approach to menopause. She supports women through all aspects of menopause from physical, mental, emotional, to spiritual changes that may arise during this season of life. 

I’ve had the pleasure of diving deep with as a client in my mentoring program, and seeing first hand the way she has soulfully unfolded her season of menopause as a catalyst to step into more wisdom and personal leadership. 

With this episode I hope for us to be the women that value menopause, and together create a new story around what it means to transition and age with more power and more pleasure. 

We talk about…

• The subconscious ways we define menopause that hide its true power. 
• What it takes to use pain as a messenger and source of power. 
• What you have to do if you want menopause to be the best time of your life.
• How to stop numbing yourself through the changes and embrace the mess. 
• Setting boundaries, inner leadership, and asking for your wisdom to be acknowledged. 
• Including your family to thrive through menopause.
• How community leads to less symptoms and more pleasure through menopause. 
• Grethe’s powerful transformation through my mentoring program and how it helped her create the work she does now.
• How Yoni Steaming helps in menopause. 
• The power of  working with your sensual and sexual energy at any age. 

“In cultures where menopausal women are accorded value, there is less likelihood of difficulties. Symptoms may be experiences, but are interpreted differently, they are not seen as problems that require treatment. Rather they may be viewed as indicators of the arrival of a new and respected phase of life. These are two different energetic responses, the symptoms may be the same, but it is our response, our interpretation of them that changes” by Xiolan Zhao

Resources & Links
Connect with Grethe Lous: grethelous.dk | Instagram @grethes_overgang | Join Grethe’s Facebook Group

In this episode I mention the menopause research from Professor Jo Brewis, you can learn more about that HERE. 

Quote shared from the book:  “Reflections of the Moon on Water, Healing Women’s Bodies and Minds Through Traditional Chinese Wisdom by Xiolan Zhao.

Rest is not a luxury after birth, it’s a necessity. But in a modern world that is not set up to support new mothers, it requires resources and knowledge to make a postpartum plan that works. Here’s what you need to know. Be inspired by what Carla did different the second time when she knew how critical rest, hands-on-support, and community is for optimal healing after birth.

We talk about navigating the first year postpartum with gentleness and solid support. How critical postpartum preparation is, and the major cost to women who aren’t prepared for postpartum both physically and emotionally. We dive into what you must include in your postpartum care plan, and the myths about arriving at 6-weeks postpartum. We unfold what it looks like to support the greater journey through your first year postpartum, as you are after all “postpartum for life” as Robin Lim has said.

I hope you are left with inspiration for supporting yourself and the new mothers in your community. The postpartum phase deserves reverence, and this is something we definitely need to offer ourselves, but it’s also something we have to do together, shifting towards a way of living where we support each other in community through the changing seasons and cycles of life.

❍ RESOURCES & LNKS ❍

Connect with Carla: Instagram @traditional.healing
https://instagram.com/traditional.healing

✦ COMMENT & SHARE ✦
Visit the episode page here:
https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/cycle-wise/005-reclaiming-postpartum-preparation-community-carla-muhling/

Cycle Wise Podcast **GIVEAWAY** WIN A YONI STEAM CHAIR + MORE!Register to be in the chance to win prizes that includes a Yoni Steam Chair.https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/cycle-wise-podcast/#giveaway

☾ Come find me on Instagram @indigomoonenemark
https://instagram.com/indigomoonenemark

↣ Website:
https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/

♡ Facebook:
https://facebook.com/awakenyourinnerwoman

☼ YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8O60PbeDbOjY2hykNoih5A

Noelani was diagnosed with severe, stage 3 cervical dysplasia, and after being bullied by an OBGYN to get surgery, she instead chose to listen to herself and find a way to heal holistically. This is the inspiring story of a woman who found a different path that not only healed her abnormal cells, but also sparked her creativity and set her on a different path in life.

Today we are talking about cervical dysplasia, also known as precancerous abnormal cells on the cervix. The is something that so many women discover they have during a routine pap smear. In mild cases it is often left to resolve on its own, while being monitored to see if it advances. There are various medical treatments offered to remove abnormal cells, such as procedures that laser, freeze, or surgical removal. However today we are talking about choose an alternative route for healing.

These are important stories to share, especially because some women do experience unrecognized side effects from these more invasive medical procedures, such as changes in libido, ability to orgasm, increase in risk of pre-term labor, and feeling disconnected from their feminine center.

This episode is in no way intended as medical advice, or to say which treatment is right for every woman. But rather to inspire you with the story of one woman who chose a holistic treatment with plant medicine.

Noelani Love is a life alchemist, she incorporates all her passions into creating her dream life, and supports others to do the same. She’s a mother, yogini, jewelry designer, musician, surfer, and a woman who dives heart first into life and believes in the healing power of our intentions.

❍ RESOURCES & LINKS ❍ 
Connect with Noelani Love: Instagram @noelanilove
https://instagram.com/noelanilove

Jewelry:
https://noelanihawaii.com

Learn more about escharotic treatment, one of the elements in Noelani’s holistic treatment protocol:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684126/

Book mentioned:
Natural Women’s Health by Dr. Lorie Steelsmith

✦ COMMENT & SHARE ✦
Visit the episode page here:
https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/cycle-wise/004-cervical-dysplasia-natural-healing-noelani-love/

Cycle Wise Podcast **GIVEAWAY** WIN A YONI STEAM CHAIR + MORE!Register to be in the chance to win prizes that includes a Yoni Steam Chair.https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/cycle-wise-podcast/#giveaway

☾ Come find me on Instagram @indigomoonenemark
https://instagram.com/indigomoonenemark

↣ Website:
https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/

♡ Facebook:
https://facebook.com/awakenyourinnerwoman

☼ YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8O60PbeDbOjY2hykNoih5A

Olivyah Bowens is the conscious doula behind Her Holistic Path. Together we take a critical look at todays birth culture, and dive into white supremacy in birth, and how the origins of gynecology and obstetrics are still affecting the way women birth today. We also talk about the troubling things happening in the doula profession, and how women can prepare for birthing on their terms. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in birth, and particularly for birth workers ready to advocate for truly woman-centered birth.

A RADICAL LOOK AT TODAY'S BIRTH CULTURE

Supporting women across all seasons of womanhood is at the heart of my own work, and that includes pregnancy and birth. But with the state of obstetrics, midwifery, and even the doula profession becoming so regulated and medicalized, I often find it tricky to open a conversation that is built on participating in a system that I feel is fundamentally disrespectful to women.

That’s why I love this conversation with Olivyah Bowens, a holistic doula, birth educator, and birth photographer, with her eyes wide open to the mistreatment of pregnant and birthing mothers. She is actively doing her part in supporting women to create a new paradigm of respectful, woman-centered  care.

This is a longer episode to go with the big topic of birth. We talk about the complex and layered terrain of navigating choices in birth, Olivyah’s birth journeys, and how she became a doula. We also uncover how white supremacy caused the fear of home birth, where the idea that “birth is dangerous” comes from, and how doula regulation is damaging women’s sovereignty in birth. Finally we also touch the amazing hormones that keep birth safe when undisturbed, and how the trap of trying to control birth, often ultimately harms 'motherbaby' (a term reflecting the concept that mother and infant are not two separate people, but an interrelated dyad). It’s a great listen for anyone ready to think critically about our current birth culture.

❍  RESOURCES & LINKS ❍ 
Connect with Olivyah:
https://www.herholisticpath.com

Instagram: @herholisticpath
https://instagram.com/herholisticpath

Patreon: Her Holistic Path
https://www.patreon.com/herholisticpath

The racist roots of gynecology: James Marion Sims (January 25, 1813 – November 13, 1883) was an American physician and a pioneer in the field of surgery, both known as the “father of modern gynecology” and as a controversial figure for the unethical approach to developing his techniques.

The pathologization of childbirth: Joseph Bolivar DeLee (October 28, 1869 – April 2, 1942) was an American physician who became known as the “father of modern obstetrics”. He spread his argument that childbirth is inherently dangerous and pregnant women need to be saved by doctors. A belief that still permeates today’s birthing culture. Read more here: https://pathwaystofamilywellness.org/Pregnancy-Birth/the-delee-protocols-the-pathologization-of-childbirth.html

The hormonal blueprint of natural childbirth: Dr. Sarah Buckley has written extensively on the hormonal physiology of childbirth. Download + learn more here: https://sarahbuckley.com/hormonal-physiology-of-childbearing-report/

✦ COMMENT & SHARE ✦
Visit the episode page here:
https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/cycle-wise/003-birth-matrix-culture-white-supremacy-olivyah-bowens/

Cycle Wise Podcast **GIVEAWAY** WIN A YONI STEAM CHAIR + MORE!Register to be in the chance to win prizes that includes a Yoni Steam Chair.https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/cycle-wise-podcast/#giveaway

☾ Come find me on Instagram @indigomoonenemark
https://instagram.com/indigomoonenemark

↣ Website:
https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/

♡ Facebook:
https://facebook.com/awakenyourinnerwoman

☼ YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8O60PbeDbOjY2hykNoih5A

Rachelle Poitras is the woman behind Metanoia – an amazing online platform dedicated to providing you with the best tools and most digestible information to empower you in your journey for wellness and breast health.  Learn how to support holistic breast vitality yourself with the knowledge and tips every woman should know.

TRANSFORM YOUR BREAST HEALTH
Breasts are what I consider energy centers, chakras of your womanly body — of emotions, love, orgasmic energy, and guides in receiving deep nourishment. But they are also a part of our bodies that can be shrouded in fear as many conversations around breasts often center around breast disease –  rather than how to support breast vitality yourself.

Rachelle shares the powerful insights she’s gained through her own healing journey to resolve benign breast growths. During her healing journey she has become a Holistic nutritionist, herbalist, learned about Ayurveda and how our body, mind, and spirit are interwoven.

In this conversation we cover everything from Rachelle’s own journey with both western and holistic medicine, lifestyle and breast healing practices, understanding the emotional and energetic nature of breast health.

❍ RESOURCES & LINKS ❍
Rachelle is generously offering 15% off breast masks. The Nurture Mask is designed for all women of any age to support her in any stage of her breast health journey. Buy here: https://hermetanoia.com/portfolio/breast-mask/

Get 15% OFF breast masks with the code: Moon15

Rachelle’s recommended books:

Finding Ultra by Rich Roll
Women’s Bodies, Women Wisdom by Dr. Christiane Northrup
Renegade Beauty by Nadine Artemis
Breast Cancer? Breast Health! by Susun Weed

Connect with Rachelle: https://www.hermetanoia.com
Instagram: @her_metanoia
https://instagram.com/her_metanoia

The Power Of Breast Massage: I’ve got a Free Guided Breast Meditation for you on my blog, it is a favorite in my community and is a great way to open up a more nurturing relationship with your breasts.
https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/the-power-of-breast-massage-guided-meditation-mp3/

✦ COMMENT & SHARE ✦
Visit the episode page here:
https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/cycle-wise/002-breast-opportunity-holistic-healing-rachelle-poitras/

Cycle Wise Podcast **GIVEAWAY** WIN A YONI STEAM CHAIR + MORE!Register to be in the chance to win prizes that includes a Yoni Steam Chair.https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/cycle-wise-podcast/#giveaway

☾ Come find me on Instagram @indigomoonenemark
https://instagram.com/indigomoonenemark

↣ Website:
https://www.indigomoonenemark.com/

♡ Facebook:
https://facebook.com/awakenyourinnerwoman

☼ YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8O60PbeDbOjY2hykNoih5A