Thursday, May 08, 2008

A couple of months ago, our friend and Matthew's colleague, Bia Labate, came to visit us. She's an amazing Brazilian anthropologist, working on various books and maintaining a blog. While washing dishes together, I spoke about my interest in ayahuasca and birth. I guess she was impressed and asked if I wanted to write a chapter in a book she was putting together tentatively titled, "Health and Ayahuasca". I was delighted and intimidated. She impressed on me that anything written up would be awesome since nothing has been formally written on the subject.

So I sat down at the computer and stared at the blank screen... some time later, I had the title~but as most projects go, write a little, scratch it out, write a lot and then rewrite that. Before I knew it I was deep into the writing process and it felt great! I felt like I had finally figured out how to blend my love for impulsive, creative writing with academic, often boring, writing.

This exercise in writing has been an awesome gift. Matthew and I spent hours talking and developing ideas. I decided to put Matthew as a co-author, since he was so brutal with the editing and so crucial in developing and translating (thank you!). Below is the text, hope you like it!

Monday, November 06, 2006

Reading back at my previous posts, I find it hard to believe how my thinking has changed. Or, I should say my conception of Ayahuasca. I have not tried the tea here in Brazil, but listening to the adherents of its religion I see that the tea cannot so easily be labeled a hallucinogen. The term itself is so misleading, it puts a generic, false presupposition upon the substance. I even hesitate to use the word “substance” for this in itself is misleading. I think brew or tea might be a better term. From what I’ve gathered, people view the tea as a powerful spiritual guide to the realm of God, the astral or heaven, and as a guide for moral behavior. Also, they view it as a powerful healer. I’ve seen the brew itself, outside the religious domain, used as an antiseptic on cuts or wounds, to promote healing of cradle cap, and I’ve heard two testimonials of it curing cancer.

I’ve been trying to work up my vocabulary and courage to ask women at the churches about their views on pregnancy and Ayahuasca (huasca) and children drinking huasca. But have only felt comfortable talking with a few people I already know. From these conversations, I can make an educated guess of how people feel about the subject; huasca helps ease the pain associated delivery, children who drink huasca have a higher GPA, are generally more calm and are happier than other children. I'm looking forward to finding out if this is right and maybe do a little research to see if anyone has done any work with these topics...

From the few people I have talked with, I’ve gotten extreme responses, which has me even more excited about the topic. First, I was told that women don’t use huasca anymore during labor because they have cesarean sections. I asked, “all the women?” And then followed up with, “why?” The response was yes, all. Women are afraid of the pain associated with childbirth. Not that I‘m chauvinist, but this information was given by a man, so I was a bit skeptical of his straight forward, matter-of-fact reply.

Therefore I did a little sleuthing on Google Scholar. What I found was alarming. Brazil has the highest cesarean rate in the world, with 36% of women having c-sections and in private hospitals as high as 80 to 90% (Hawkins 2000). The study found that first time mothers do not seek to have c-sections, but that doctors promote the procedure and since they are “the authority”, the woman complies. From other studies I have read about birthing, the authority of the doctor is not questioned in the US either.

The second conversation about huasca during delivery was a bit different. I was told that women use it currently to help ease the discomfort of labor, and yes, this information was given by a woman. So, we have such differing accounts, I think my best plan, once I feel comfortable with my language skills is to go and speak with the women at the various churches. There are many different huasca religions here in town, but, since I have contacts in two sects, these are the two I will focus on. Spend some time visiting with the local OBs and midwives, and then going to the “Maternity Hospital”.

More to come, soon I hope…

Saturday, July 22, 2006

My Experience Giving Birth with Santo Daime by Vera Froés

At Colonia 5000 I was impressed by the fact that small children and pregnant woman would take Daime. To help children be born in a birthing with Daime was a marking experience for me.

Birthing happens in the following way: the Daime is served to the woman in labor in doses of a little more than half a cup, and in lesser quantity for the two or three women who accompany the delivery. Immediately the attendants begin to sing the hymn “Sol, Lua, Estrela” of Mestre Irineu, until the birth is finished. Then the baby is placed on the mother’s belly until the umbilical cord stops pulsing and is cut. For the placenta to come out, a specific prayer is said, along with massage in the belly region.

I was present in cases in which the child was breech and couldn’t be born, and when the mother took Daime, the child turned and was born in the correct position. Another woman, who became a good friend of mine, Vera Viana, had two girls by caesarian and, pregnant with her third child opted for a normal birth. Judá, the name the child was given, from a miração her father had with Santo Daime, is the child who is being baptized by Padrinho [Sebastião] on the cover of the book.

All these experiences motivated me to try a natural childbirth with Daime myself, when I was living in Boca do Acre, Amazonas, and was Director of the Municipal House of Culture, collaborating in the general administration of the rubber-camp [seringal] Céu do Mapiá.

Fourteen years ago I did a caesarian with my daughter Luciana; the doctors thought I had a very narrow pelvis, which would not permit a normal birth. I suffered a lot from the anesthetic, besides not having participated in any of the success of becoming a mother.

I tell now what became the most important and emotional experience I had with Santo Daime.

On December 22nd, 1986, at exactly five o’clock in the morning, I was surprised to wake up and notice that my water had broken. We had arranged—myself and Marco, my husband—that we would take Daime, but owing to my prior births and as a precaution, we would go to the hospital, apparently the only one in the area.

I started to ingest the liquid at 7 in the morning, and from there took another dose every half hour. I remember that I took almost a liter, always leaving a little in the cup, which obliged Marco to take a dose every time I did.

I felt the contractions accelerate quickly; I had never felt that before, and by two in the afternoon, already suffering a lot, the mirações gave me relief. I had the impression that I would abandon my body and not return, had visions of several people in my family who had already died, and especially of my father, deceased 26 years, that put me in the shadow of the fear of death. The consolation came on remembering what Mestre Irineu said:

“A woman who takes Daime doesn’t die in labor.”

The Daime seemed to have reunited the right people to give me help, beginning with Dr. José, director of the hospital, a spiritualized and competent person; my friend Dorinha, who massaged me a lot; Sônia, the hospital dentist who, in my mirações seemed to irradiate laser rays from her blue eyes; her assistant, Benízia, who stayed at the ready from the first hours of suffering; and naturally, my untiring companion Marco, who always encouraged me to take more Daime, in order to, together, take the experience to the end.

The nurses of the hospital looked, scared, on seeing me take that yellowish-brown liquid. On that day, the hospital was deserted, not one sick person coming in, nor any women giving birth; the party was all for me. At 4 o’clock the doctor didn’t think the Daime would resolve the labor, and spoke with Marco to prepare me for a caesarian. Marco didn’t hesitate; he came to me with a three-finger glass of Daime and said:

“Vera, if you don’t take it, you’ll go under the knife.”

At this time I could not stand the pains anymore and said it was impossible because I was mirando too much, objects danced in front of me and everything shone. At the same time, the words “go under the knife” transported me 14 years back to the horror of the caesarian, but I didn’t have the courage to take even a drop more. At that moment I had a vision of Our Lady giving me the cup and saying:

“Take it, my daughter, it is your last dose.”

Believing what I saw and heard, I grabbed the cup and drank.

Right afterwards I entered into labor and the baby began to “crown.” The time had arrived, and Marco, who was singing the hymn “Sol, Lua, Estrela,” wanted to help me, but it depended all on me. There was some metal near my legs and the instruction was to pull the metal and push when the pain came. On the first try I vomited the Daime, which came out like a jet through my mouth and nose; immediately I drew back, feeling the baby’s head coming and going.

The miração grew: I saw the room filling up with people (spirits) and a legion of angels floating. I found myself present and distant at the same time, I felt myself balancing on a fine cord stretched between two side, one side life and the other, death. Someone whispered in my ear:

“Give life, let’s go, it’s now!”

At that instant I promised everything to Our Lady of the Conception, the image that stayed with me, I asked for strength to get through, because in the middle of each strong contraction, I vomited the Daime and drew back.

All of a sudden the room filled with light, it seemed that the sun itself was coming up. Another time I heard:

“It’s this time, let’s go!”

I pushed hard and there came the pain, tearing from the inside, giving the impression that my bones were breaking. It was a painful and marvelous moment, especially qhen I felt the baby’s head come out, stimulated by the voice of Dr. José, which sounded “atuado” (~ “possessed”) to me, guiding the little being with his hands.

“Pay attention because your child is being born, it is your child who is arriving, a little more effort, Vera, he is coming!”
It was time to vomit the last Daime for the baby to come into the world, in this moment I saw that all the spirits who were helping me turned and looked at the spirit that would incarnate in the baby, a burst of light lit up everything and the baby cried, I felt an indescribable happiness, was in harmony with all the world, floating on clouds of light. Thus Veraluz was born.
Overjoyed, Marco photographed everything, and as soon as the child left the room, dropped drops on Daime in its mouth following the custom of the People of Juramidam. I was in a state of grace for two days, neither hungry nor sleepy. I had a feeling of fullness and a certainty that the Daime achieved true miracles in women’s childbirth.
Later I became friends with Frederico Arruda, professor of pharmacology at the University of Amazonas, who together with the psychologist Luíza Garnello and other member of her team, performed experiments with Daime in pregnant rats. They verified that in fact, the rats that took Daime has a quicker labor and the offspring were born more alert that those of the rats that didn’t receive Daime. Naturally this didn’t surprise me, but it proved scientifically the positive effects of Daime in pregnancy.

Monday, July 10, 2006

An American Birth Experience 2004

"Our actual due date was September 13th. We were planning a home birth with a team of midwives and even had a birth tub giving us the option of having a water birth.

On Tuesday, September 28th I was just over 2 weeks late and my cervix was still closed for business. Our midwives suggested we go for an ultrasound just to check things out and so we did. We came away with flying colors on all but one thing. The amniotic fluid level was low. Although this caused alarm to our midwives, and stressed us out a bit, we felt the baby was fine. I had started taking herbs and acupuncture treatments to naturally induce and wanted to see what the next couple days would bring.

With no real activity two days later, (Thursday, September 30th), we again went in to monitor the baby. We were excited as the baby looked great and the amniotic fluid reading had risen and was now at a safe level (the level’s can change sometimes depending on how the baby is positioned). We again went home.

Friday, October 1st early AM was a night of continuous light labor.
In the later part of the morning I noticed the baby wasn’t moving as much as usual. Our midwives came over and we all decided it was best to go to the hospital and have a look at the baby again. This was a heartbreaking moment, as we knew we would probably now birth at the hospital rather than in our home.

2pm or so we meet with a great post-term doctor, hospital midwife and nurses. The baby looked great but we were all in agreement that it was time to check in and get the show on the road. The staff and care we received couldn’t have been better. They all really listened to us and understood the importance of us having this baby as naturally as possible.

4:30pm they insert a foley catheter into my cervix to invite opening. This is a bulb type device that actually expands the cervix (to about 5 cm, which is halfway to completion). Within an hour the race was on. It was contraction city.

By 12:30am we had reached our goal of 5 centimeters and the foley fell out. We thought we would get a great night of sleep but instead I started laboring hard. We were encouraged and even thought we’d have a baby by morning’s light.

Details- At the onset of stronger contractions I asked the nurse if she could tell me approximately how long each one was lasting. Thank God she said these were 2 to 3 minutes. I had no concept of time but would have fainted if she said they were 30 seconds or so.

I’m not sure if I could have survived this last night and next day if not for Bryan.
He was with me through every painful moment, every primal cry and breath. He held me, pushed and pulled on me, bathed me, brushed my hair, kept me hydrated and lent me comforts that can’t be asked for. At one point he asked me if he could leave my side to go to the bathroom. I said yes. Suddenly the room filled with laughter from my midwife and acupuncturist. I too laughed and understood the hilarity of it because he hadn’t had a break in hours.

I need to also mention my acupuncturist C. L. Wow! What an incredible healer and soul of a saint. I had been working with C for about 3 weeks. She had been preparing my body for labor and was planning to be at the birth in our home for pain relief and support. Upon our decision to go to the hospital, I left her a message so that she wouldn’t wonder where I was.

As my contractions swung into high gear Friday evening she appeared like an angel. She gave me acupuncture, acupressure and sweet loving support. When my foley fell out at midnight she said she was going home to get some rest. Cut to 5:30 am when I was getting my first break in hours I look up to see who is around me. There’s Bryan, my midwife D and C. Unbelievable.

Saturday, October 2, 7am our hospital midwife (Kaiser, our care provider, has midwives on staff in their labor and delivery ward) comes in to check me and shared I was still at 5 centimeter’s, only 80% effaced and that the baby was still high.

I labored until noon on Saturday and was wiped out. I’m sure it didn’t help that I hadn’t had a meal since Thursday night.

It’s now 12:30pm Saturday afternoon. Everyone agrees I need a huge break and that an epidural with light pitocin is the next move. I gotta tell ya, drugs had never seemed more appealing. We’re now all hopeful that this will really get me going. The baby and contractions look great on the monitor. Other than severe shakes I’m finally able to rest and relax a bit.

Around 3:30pm a swat team of nurses come barging into the room. The baby’s heart rate is fluctuating. After the drama is diffused they realize that I need to stay on my right side or the baby starts pooping out. They agree to stay on our path if I can stay on my right side and if I agree to have an electrode inserted to monitor the baby more closely. Done deal. The catheter also slightly breaks my water, which we hope will also create more opening. P.S. I’m still sitting at 5 centimeters and 80% effacement.

At 4:00pm they insert a device into the uterus called and IUPC that monitors the strength of the contractions to make sure that the force of the contractions are enough to bring the baby through the birth canal (I had already been monitored for the frequency of the contractions, but now they’re making sure all systems are go.) And they are.

9pm the baby’s heart rate fluctuated drastically again, which could be the baby rolling or tugging on its cord, or that the baby is truly in distress. It’s thirty hours later, I’m less than half way there and now they say my cervix is swelling rather than opening. Taking these things into consideration and that I’m 2 weeks and 5 days late our team was beyond concerned and wanted to go in to get the baby. As much as I wanted to have this baby naturally, I wanted to have this baby. It was a huge heartbreak coming to terms with the fact that our idyllic, natural home birth had now turned into a hospital birth by Caesarian.

10:14pm Saturday, October 2, 2004 [our baby] enter[ed] our world with the sweetest angelic vocalizations.

Sat Nam"