"Microbirth" The Movie

Some time ago I invested in a film project by Alto Films called 'Microbirth'. This film explores the microscopic world of birth and early development.  It researches how vaginal birth, skin on skin contact and breastfeeding all contribute to kick starting our intricately complex immune system through the exposure to a variety of microbes which then create our microbiome. I am hosting a screening of this fascinating new film in London on World Premiere Day, Saturday September 20th. This film is about raising awareness of the hidden consequences of our modern birth and child rearing practices. It is a must see for everyone not just pregnant women! Visit www.microbirth.com to find a screening near you!

SOUL BIRTHING, ACTIVE BIRTH CENTRE and YOGABIRTH present a PREMIERE SCREENING & DISCUSSION PANEL

Saturday 20^th September, 8.00pm (Doors open at 7.30pm)

Active Birth Centre, 25 Bickerton Road, London N19 5JT

Following the 2 min trailer is an excerpt from the Microbirth press release.

Could the way we are born determine our future health and even impact the future of humanity? These are questions explored in a new feature-length documentary “Microbirth” premiering in hundreds of grass-roots public screenings around the world on Saturday 20th September 2014.

Featuring prominent scientists from the UK and North America, “Microbirth” warns that modern birth practices could be interfering with critical biological processes making our children more susceptible to disease.

Recent population studies have shown babies born by Caesarean have approximately a 20% increased risk of developing asthma, 20% increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes, a similar risk with obesity and slightly smaller increases in gastro-intestinal conditions like Crohn's disease or celiac disease. All of these conditions are linked to the immune system.

“Microbirth” explores several possible plausible explanations. One hypothesis is that if normal vaginal birth is interfered with or bypassed completely because of Caesarean birth, this could alter the “seeding of the baby's microbiome”, the critical transfer of bacteria from mother to baby at birth. Scientists suggest this could lead to the baby's immune system not developing to its full potential. Another hypothesis is the actual process of vaginal birth, including the cocktail of hormones produced during labour, could profoundly affect the baby's immune regulation and metabolism.

Dr Matthew Hyde, Research Associate of Neonatal Medicine, Imperial College London says, ”We are increasingly seeing a world out there with what is really a public health time-bomb waiting to go off. And the research we are doing suggests it is only going to get worse, generation on generation. So tomorrow's generation really is on the edge of the precipice unless we can begin to do something about it.”

The film's co-director Toni Harman says, “Caesarean Sections are essential and often are life-saving. However, up until now, no-one has really looked into the long-term impact. This emerging research is painting an alarming picture in terms of future health across populations. There may even be repercussions for the future of humanity. And yet, up until now, I don't hear any alarm bells ringing.”

The process of Breathing

The phobic stir of the FIRST breath

For many, the first breath is taken in shock and pain, the harsh air burning  delicate throats and lungs and immediate cord clamping cutting off the flow of oxygen and nutrient rich cord blood.  This shocking memory sits in every cell and causes fear to accompany our thoughts about the breath.  In response we choose not to breathe deeply, not to take in this full life giving and purifying substance.  We resist, we hold back, we breathe shallowly not willing to return to those sensations.
Breathing consciously and deeply is one of the most therapeutic, healing acts we can do.  

Breathing deeply and consciously;

• Nourishes the body with life giving oxygen 
• Lowers adrenaline levels (stress)
• Increases Serotonin (happy hormones)
• Releases toxins from the cells
• Calms the emotions 
• Supports the release of and healing of life diminishing decisions made in the womb, at birth or in the first years of life
• Enhances creative expression
• Brings negative emotions/feelings to the surface so that they can be released and healed
• Creates an understanding of connection
• Accesses an expanded state of consciousness including higher guidance

Practice breathing deep into your high chest and low into your belly and see what happens!

When you are angry - BREATHE
When you are sad - BREATHE
When you are excited - BREATHE
When you are afraid - BREATHE
When you are ill - BREATHE
When you don't know what to do - BREATHE

Asbestos Awareness Week

This is an email that I received from someone that reads my blog.  Her story and her quest are worth a few minutes of your time.

Hi Lynne!

Thanks for responding to my comment! I’m reaching out to you today in hopes that you will help me with a cause that is very near and dear to my heart. At age 36, I was diagnosed with mesothelioma just 3 ½ months after my first and only child, Lily, was born. I was given just 15 months to live unless I underwent a drastic surgery to remove my left lung. Miraculously, I beat the odds and I’m still here eight years later.

Asbestos is not banned in the US, yet it’s the only known cause of mesothelioma. I was exposed to asbestos through my fathers work jacket when I was just a little girl; my diagnosis came about 30 years later. Once diagnosed, most patients die within 2 years. I am one of few survivors who openly share their story and work to spread awareness regarding the dangers of asbestos.

In honor of upcoming Asbestos Awareness Week (April 1-7), I have created a webpage dedicated to raising awareness. I would love it if you would be willing to share it on your blog to help educate and protect your readers from this preventable disease!

Here’s the link to my awareness page: mesothelioma.com/heather/awareness

Please let me know what you think :-)

All my best,

Heather

Monty Python -On Hospital birth

In 1983 Monty Python included this 'hospital birth' sketch in their hilariously funny satirical film "The Meaning of Life"! In this short three minute clip they sum up everything that is wrong with high tech medicalised birth. In the thirty years since this film was made, this situation has only become more exaggerated so that the 1983 parody looks more like real life in a modern birthing suite!

The more technology used, the less human the experience!

In this wonderfully predictive sketch, the mother, father and baby are shown as the least important elements of the birthing process. The most important elements being the doctors, the machinery and the money making potential of each procedure!


In their eminently funny way, the Monty Python team demonstrate how modern birthing methods frighten babies, depress mothers and marginalise fathers.  They highlight the insanity of many routine hospital birth procedures and emphasise the inhumanity of 'isolating' babies from mothers!
I find it astonishing that over 30 years ago, they had so accurately observed the growing trend of over medicalising birth in such fine detail, highlighting in case you missed it;

• the accepted superiority of the doctor
• the notion that women are not qualified to birth their own baby
• the inutility of high tech machines
• the power of the hospital administrator
• the administration's concern for profit over quality of care
• the lack of knowledge by all concerned
• the insensitivity of the hospital environment
• the unnecessary number of birth attendants
• the bright lights and loud noises of a birthing suite
• the frightening environment the baby is first born into
• early cord clamping
• rough towel treatment of the baby
• clinical post birth medical checks
• isolating babies
• keeping the mother helpless and powerless
• separating babies from their mothers

This short video perfectly demonstrates what I have been researching and writing about for the last two years in regards to "The Hidden Dictatorship" and Birth!

I urge you to watch and share so that more people can see through the art of comedy, the tragedy that is unfolding everyday in delivery suites around the world!

The Hidden Dictatorship

I am sharing with you today an excerpt from the new book that I am writing with Binnie A Dansby.  In Chapter Five we look at 'The Hidden Dictatorship" that is currently influencing the choices we make!

Most people do not question the democratic structure under which they live, choosing to believe that essentially, both governments and corporate organisations, on the whole, act for the benefit and well-being of the people. One reason why they don’t is that they have been programmed by the ‘powers at be’ not to. For most people it is much easier and safer to stay ignorant of these hidden machinations.  Although the evidence is all around us, we choose not to see it! 

For instance, most people do not know that;

• ·      At the beginning of the twentieth century, The Rockefeller Foundation, as a means of improving their tarnished image, donated vast sums of money to medical research and education, forever changing the direction of medical knowledge towards a pharmaceutical application and away from herbal medicine and natural healing techniques.
• ·      The international pharmaceutical giant, Bayer was once part of I G Farben, the organisation that conducted human medical experiments at Auschwitz during the Second World War.
• ·      Pharmaceutical companies sponsor ongoing Post Graduate Medical Education, specifically biasing the curriculum to recommend the use of their medications or treatments.
• ·      Medical Professionals receive financial incentives and perks from the Pharmaceutical companies to promote their products.
• ·      US government agricultural policy and corporate decisions in the 1970’s have directly contributed to the global obesity epidemic of today.
• ·      The financially powerful food industries of Great Britain and North America have systematically supressed numerous reports, discredited books and quashed government policies that have;

o   stated clearly that high levels of sugars in a person’s diet leads to obesity and other related diseases

o   recommended limiting advertising & other promotional activities used by the food industries to encourage us to eat more and more unhealthy food

o   produced guidelines to limit people’s intake of sugars

o   shown that children are no less active now than they were 30 years ago although childhood obesity continues to increase

• The Food Industry continue to refuse to take responsibility stating that each individual is responsible for their own food consumption and blame lack of exercise for the rising levels of obesity.

Knowledge is a form of power and we have the means at our disposal to source great amounts of knowledge.  A simple search on the internet will produce all manner of facts, figures, opinions and stories.  Each of us need to WAKE UP to what is going on out there and start to make choices that are much healthier (mind, body & spirit) for both ourselves and our families!  

Stay tuned as this is only a taste of the information that will be available in our upcoming series of books called 'The Wake Up" Series!  

If you like what you are reading then please share with others and also sign up for my monthly Inner Sense Newsletter.

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Surrender - The Art of Letting Go

What does Surrender mean?

Surrender is the process of letting go of that which we no longer need!  Letting go of our RESISTANCE.  Letting go of  FEARS. Letting go of PAINFUL emotions. Letting go of thoughts or actions that cause negativity in our lives.

Resistance is our response to deeply held FEARS.  What we most resist is what we most need to heal or change.  I am sure you have all had the experience of wanting to do something new to create change in your life, only to find excuses, blocks, obstacles  and ways to avoid the task or issue  completely? 
To surrender your old thoughts, beliefs, habits, friends, job, and lifestyle that no longer serves you does NOT mean that you are weak or giving up! It is actually the opposite!
It takes great COURAGE to face up to our FEARS, fight our resistance and create something new.

Why Surrender???

Surrender is a CATALYST for personal CHANGE
Surrender allows us to to be REBORN into a new consciousness, a new way of being!
Surrender brings a great sense of FREEDOM to your life.
Surrender brings you into CONNECTION with the universe, other people and most of all yourself!

Surrender & Birth

Surrender is an ESSENTIAL part of achieving a natural birth!

When a woman trusts her body, releases her fears and allows her body to do what it has been created to do, then natural birth is the usual result.  You can also take it one step further and fully surrender yourself to the physiological process that is birth.  It is in this state that ECSTATIC Birth becomes possible! 

I experienced fear and resistance to the innate power in my body during my first child's birth.  I had never experienced anything like it and the intensity brought up very deeply held fears about life and death.  It wasn't until I surrendered to this power that my baby was able to be born, breech and beautiful!

Most women experience fear in childbirth at some stage of the process and enlightened support understands how to allay those fears and encourage the woman to fully surrender herself to the birth. In most cases, the medical model of birth only serves to create more fears and resistance with all of its protocols and high tech management of the process. 

It is time the Medical System surrendered its control over a process that is at its heart natural and one of life's miracles!

The first part of this article is an excerpt from my June Newsletter - Inner Sense News

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