5 Reasons You Want Your Doula to Know Rebozo!

Today on the blog we have a guest post from Brittany Chavez, owner of the Oklahoma-based Beautifully Connected. At Wichita Doula, all of our doulas have received training and/or certification in rebozo techniques for pregnancy and labor. Brittany Chavez, rebozo teacher and expert, is here to share her five top reasons you should demand a doula who can use rebozo techniques!

Rebozo (re-boh-so) is a Mexican or South American scarf/shawl. Midwives have used it for centuries to promote wellness in pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Rebozo is more than a piece of fabric or a midwifery tool. It is a symbol of femininity and culture. Women receive one on their wedding day, babies are lovingly carried in them, and indigenous women used them as knapsacks.

Modern doulas employ ancient knowledge of Rebozo. We use it as a comfort and support measure for clients. Here are five reasons you can benefit from a doula who knows rebozo!

5. Support Techniques Your Partner Can Do

Doulas don't take the place of your partner. We support you both! A rebozo is an extension of doula support. With Rebozo, you can lean, pull, slow dance, and stay close to your partner while your doula provides massage or counterpressure to your lower back. Staying comfortable and relaxed is an important part of labor, and the rebozo helps attain that.

4. A Wider Range of Pushing Positions

Rebozo helps broaden your options for laboring and pushing positions. Who doesn't want more options? Plus, rebozo-assisted pushing positions encourage us to engage our internal abdominal muscles, making pushing easier.

3. Pain Relief During Pregnancy

Most pregnant people experience back, hip, and pelvic pain during pregnancy - between the baby weight, and the hormones that loosen your ligaments, these aches and pains are very common. Thankfully, there are many rebozo techniques that can help relieve this pain! Your doula can show both you and your partner how to use a rebozo to help relieve your discomfort during pregnancy.

2. The Hip Squeeze That Doesn't Quit

The hip squeeze is one of the most common tricks in a doula's trade! Hip squeezes bring comfort, relieve hip and back pain, and help to widen the pelvic outlet. The only downfall? They are hard to maintain for an extended period of time because they require a lot of strength. That's why we love to use the rebozo for hip squeezes - it requires less strength to maintain, translating into better hip squeezes for a longer period of time. We can even show your partner how to easily perform it!

1. A Well-Rounded Tool

The rebozo can bring comfort, familiarity, privacy, and many other benefits to your pregnancy and birth. A doula who knows how to use it is well-rounded and capable of meeting all of your needs! You may never need a rebozo at your birth - but it's better to have a tool and not use it, than to be left unprepared.

About the Author

Brittany Chavez is the owner of Beautifully Connected. She is a passionate and business minded woman on a journey to support pregnant women and their families. She has the knowledge and determination to make sure all of your wellness needs are met. She has worked as a massage therapist and pregnancy consultant, and has helped over 600 clients in the Oklahoma City Metro Area. She is a doula trainer and travels middle America sharing Rebozo Wisdom with doulas, midwives, and families. She lives in Oklahoma City with her husband and five children.

Want to learn more about Rebozo? Contact Beautifully Connected to set up a Rebozo Wisdom workshop in your area.