Please read before you begin:

Welcome! This course has been a decade in the making, and it means a lot to me that you are here for it.

Obstetric Violence is an emerging topic.  The information in this course will evolve and may even conflict at times, especially because we are integrating different community perspectives as we go.

Expect to be triggered.

Much of this content has the potential to be triggering (e.g., birth trauma, obstetric racism, religious trauma, sexual assault, domestic violence).

Parts of this course may feel confronting to you, especially if you are a healthcare provider or in the medical field. We all have to face our own biases and complicity in this complex problem. That is not only okay, it is wonderful. If you are feeling discomfort, you are growing, and that is a part of the process.

This is why we have taken such a trauma-focused approach to discussing this topic.  We can’t talk about obstetric violence without talking about trauma–including our own trauma in facing the topic.

Be gentle with yourself and go at a pace that feels doable to you.

Take your time. Different sections of this course may feel lighter or heavier to you.  Heavier parts may take time for you to process.  Please don’t skip through your processing or you may find that you are unable to come back and complete the material.

You don’t need to go in order with the modules. Go in the order that feels easiest and most interesting to you.

Take regular “body” breaks. Use the bathroom; get water and snacks; make yourself comfortable or move around in whatever ways you need.

Grounding

There are countless ways to “presence” or “ground” yourself–or, as we sometimes say, “get in your body.”  (Be sure to watch the “Trigger” videos with Nekole Shapiro here in the Prep Work section.)

Here are four ways  you can practice this, whether you have ten seconds at a stoplight between errands and parenting, or all the time and privacy in the world.  The more you do it, the easier it gets!

Pray

Prayer (to whatever spirit/s or force you believe in) is a powerful, personal ritual that can be done anywhere, at any time, and in almost any way. You already know how to do it. However you feel comfortable, take a moment to pray. Express gratitude for what you have today, for the breath in your lungs, for the precious people close to you… Or ask for what you need.

Breathe

Bringing thought to our breath can be both calming and energizing. Remember, you already know how to breathe; this is a practice for anyone and everyone.

Try breathing IN to a count of four and OUT to a count of eight. Relax, focus, repeat. If your mind wanders, release your jaw. Breathe in, breathe out.

Meditate

If you have just ten minutes and a quiet place to sit, stand, or lie down, this meditation from Nekole Shapiro will put you in a different state of mind and body: Grounding Meditation (Short). Grab a pair of headphones and turn the school pickup line into your own personal vacation.

Yoga Nidra

This is yoga you can do lying down!  Even with just a few minutes to spare, anyone can achieve relaxation and restoration with yoga nidra.  Here is a quick article on the 10 basics of this practice.  Or, if you’re ready to dive in now, lie down, let go, and listen here.