Here at the Center for Sacred Window Studies, we share voices from many perspectives and backgrounds. We believe that the sacred weeks post birth, and the experience of humanity is experienced in countless ways. We learn by listening to one another and honoring our stories. The views and opinions of our writers do not necessarily reflect the mission, viewpoints or opinions of the Center for Sacred Window Studies.
11.18.18 – The day my life changed forever.
Actually let’s backtrack a bit. 4.8.18 – The day I found out I was having twins was the day my life truly took a 180.
I walked out of the doctor’s office, shocked, sad, happy, scared, traumatized… When I first found out I was pregnant, I saw myself in a birth center, sitting in water, with no interventions. Just me and my baby working together to meet each other.
When I found out two were coming, I hoped for the same scenario, but every door kept getting slammed in my face.
I was confined to Maternal Fetal Medicine and considered high risk… only because I was having twins. Other than that, I was extremely healthy. I was a cross fitter who ate a mostly plant based diet. My pregnancy was uneventful besides the fact that I was having two babies. But around 32 weeks, my son went breech and never turned back around. At 37 weeks, I had a belly birth.
The whole first day of motherhood was a blur.
I was sick all day from the anesthesia, and on top of that it was a circus of family members in and out all day. So much so that I barely remember skin to skin or establishing breastfeeding. BUT the beauty of everything was that my twinnies were healthy and safe. We got to go home all together as a family, three days later. We named them Russell “Russ and Corrine “Coco.” They were perfect.
Fast forward to 8 weeks postpartum when I was supposed to go back to work. I could NOT do it.
There was no way I could leave my little sweet babies and spend the entire day away. So I quit. That was January 8th. And on January 25th, I took another step that would alter the course of my life: I decided to become a doula. I did a three day intensive workshop
with Rocky Mountain Doula in Denver, CO. Slowly, I gathered resources, networked and then attended my first birth in April 2019. I was hooked and was on a mission to continue to educate myself and become an advocate for families and especially new mamas to have a voice and experience the best birth possible.
Around that time, I also took a front desk job at this place called the mama’hood. Its a one-stop shop for new and expecting families. We offer everything from breast pump rentals to finding a doula for your birth and beyond. This step really elevated my career and got me on the path to gaining clients and confidence.
I was introduced to the word Ayurveda a few years ago but never really caught on.
Then in the summer of 2019, I went to an Ayurvedic Retreat full of yoga and cooking and fell in love, knowing I had to know more. One of my dear friends had just graduated from The Center for Sacred Window Studies. We talked about her experience, and I knew it was my calling. I did a little research, and then I embarked on a powerful journey with CSWS. Since then, I have shifted my focus to helping postpartum women, their babies and their families experience the beauty of the first 42 days in a way I did not.
What this program has given me is more than just knowledge — It has shown me the power of the womb and how these special gifts from Ayurveda have been around for thousands of years!
One huge takeaway is that it showed me the power within and how I can heal myself through Ayurveda. Finding out how apply Ayurveda appropriately for your constitution and for the sacred postpartum window is such an experience, and I want to continue to learn and help others and my family as well. This experience as a whole has been quite healing for me and has taught me to practice the wisdom of the first 42 days every day.
What is the first forty two days? It is a window after birth that captures the beauty in healing, bonding and hibernating.
This is a time to stay inside with Baby, be served warming foods, and receive massage for you and for Baby. I practice this theory of self-care and self-love every day by waking up and giving myself an abhyanga massage (oil massage). I also do some yoga and make sure I am eating the right foods as the seasons change and as my body is speaking to me.
To me, sacred window care is not a want but a necessity that every woman and her family deserves.
I know this now and am so lucky I get to do this work and create something beautiful for future families.
The womb is a powerful, sacred place of wisdom and while my journey is just starting, I know I have walked this path before.
Shannon Weiss a twin mama to 15 month old boy/girl twins. She currently resides in Denver, CO with her babies and partner. She is a practicing doula (birth and postpartum), and her passion is to be an advocate and help families have the best birth and postpartum experience possible. Shannon specializes in families of multiples!
Learn more about Shannon at www.doublethelovedoula.com.
All photos courtesy of the author.
Conscious Postpartum Caregiver Program
Inspired by Ayurvedic Principles
0 comments