Birth Art session yesterday! I love helping mamas prepare for or process their births. Birth Art allows that space and patience needed. Almost always revealing a small piece of the “bigger picture” that may not have been thought of consciously. 🎨💜#TeegardenDoula *big thanks to this client for permission to share her art ☺️*
BengKung Belly Binding
What is BengKung Belly Binding?
BengKung Belly Binding is the art of wrapping a postpartum woman’s belly for physical support and to help hasten the recovery process after childbirth. Women have been practicing belly binding for centuries throughout different cultures. This particular belly binding technique originates from Malaysia and uses a long strip of cloth to wrap around around the abdomen from the hips to the ribcage. A special technique is used to hold the wrap and bind together.
What are the benefits of binding?
● Provides strong support to the womb and pelvis after childbirth
● Aids your body’s natural healing process.
● Helps to slim the ribcage, belly and hips.
● Pulls the separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) back together, it is common for these muscles to separate to make room for your growing womb and baby but women often need additional physical therapy or gentle tummy exercises to strengthen their core again. Binding can also help facilitate this healing.
● Prevents back pain: while wearing it, the wrap encourages you to sit and walk straight, and also to use good posture while breastfeeding as most women tend to curve toward their baby which puts stress on your shoulders and neck.
For more information or to secure your spot in my schedule for your own postpartum healing and binding, contact me at maloryteegarden{at}gmail.com or through the contact page of my website!
PJS Placenta Encapsulation
I was featured in the Peoria Journal Dtar today in an article focused on Placenta Encapsulation! Check out the fun video below that PJS posted of me in action!
A huge thank you to the two families that welcomed us into their homes!
Happy New Year!
2015 was an amazing year! I learned so much about birth, women, babies, families, and myself. There were triumphs and challenges, pure joy and utter heartache, I’ve witnessed raw life in all its glory. I’m in awe of women: their nurturing care, strength, and authenticity. I cannot express to my clients and supporters how truly thankful I am for each of you. Thank you for letting this birth work that I am so passionate for, be my career and way of supporting my own sweet family. I am so excited to see what 2016 has in store for us!!! 💗
Birth Art Class
I have been invited to share my love of birth art (more below on what birth art is!) at The Birth Circle of Peoria, IL on January 7th! This is free and will be lots of fun! The Birth Circle is a newer group that meets once a month to discuss birth stories and experiences. It is open to anyone who is pregnant, given birth, or interested in birth.
More info is available on Facebook, or you are welcome to contact me at maloryteegarden@gmail.com
So…what is birth art?!
Any time I mention birth art I almost always get a funny look and the above question. My answer: Birth art is whatever you want it to be! It is a way to express your feelings, fears, expectations and experiences that you have towards pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. There is no right or wrong way to approach this project. You could sit down with notebook paper and pencil, crayons, or you may decide to get fancy and use paint or my favorite addition *GLITTER*! You could even use another medium, such as clay.
Some find that drawing out what they wish for their environment at their next birth (upcoming or not) can be insightful. Or maybe expressing how you felt at your previous birth. Do any particular colors or thoughts stand out that you want to include?
I’ve found focusing on the art project to be helpful to my doula clients in areas like processing their birth story, healing birth trauma, preparing for an upcoming birth, and more.
Please come join me on January 7th! I’m really looking forward to sharing time and stories together!
Childbirth Class!
I am setting up a birth class for next month, as I have a few couples interested! I’m looking at Saturday mornings starting April 4th, 10am-noon. Located in Peoria!
To sign up, you can Facebook me, leave your email on this page, email me at
maloryteegarden@gmail.com
or call/text me at 309.712.1701
The class is broken into 4 sessions over 4 weeks. The price is $150, which includes workbooks from PlumTree baby. If you sign up with another couple or friend, I offer you both a $25 discount.
Some of the topics we will cover:
-Pregnancy & Nutrition
-Choosing Care Providers & Birthing Location
-Is this Labor???
-Stages of Labor
-Labor Positions and Comfort Measures
-Filling Your Toolbox
-Effective Pushing
-Dads & Labor: Love Languages during your birthing time
-Challenges in Labor
-Fear, Tension, & Pain Cycle
-Birth Art activity
-Your Newborn!
-Breastfeeding
-Other Postpartum Issues
-Birth Plans & Wishes
-& more!
Facebook event here: Teegarden Doula Childbirth Class
Malory Teegarden, Birth Doula Services 