Evelyn Ojeda-Fox, B.A.Ed, Birthing From Within Mentor, NCTMB, LMT MA 53485 MM23206

I was introduced to midwives and natural birth by my grandmother. Many times, at my eager requests, she told me the story of the homebirths of her nine children. I was always impressed by the support she received from her community to allow her to be quarantined with her new baby after each birth! In my family birth was a normal event. 

The birth of my daughters was the beginning of an amazing journey of self discovery - in which I continue to be engaged in! I am blessed with two lovely daughters, born in 1975 and 1978 with the loving support of midwives, three stepdaughters and two granddaughters. Our youngest granddaughter was joyfully born at home. 

As an elementary school teacher for over twenty years I often wondered how I could make a more profound difference in the lives of my young students. Even when I was teaching Preschool I still felt that I needed to meet children and their parents sooner. 

Learning about my own conception helped me realize that pre-conception was the ideal time. The way we are conceived and born informs the way we experience the world, this is known as limbic imprinting. 

The best way for a society to increase the number of healthy, well-adjusted children is by supporting and nurturing the mothers. Womb Parenting became my passion! 

That passion led me to become a Nationally Certified Licensed massage therapist with specialized training in pre- and perinatal massage, and a DONA certified birth doula in 2005. 

The Peaceful Birth Project was born when my husband George and I were living in Michigan. I felt heartbroken by the shocking number of cesareans and the devastation many mothers suffered in silence.

Witnessing their pain, the separation of mothers and babies because of hospital routines and paternalistic doctors, postpartum depression, and mothers emotionally exhausted after a hospital birth having to work so hard to have their basic human needs honored made me deeply ponder my role in the birthing community. I was moved by the courage and wisdom of so many women and felt called to nurture higher consciousness in the birthing environment.

My inspiration came from the homebirth community and my own memories of birthing my daughters. Each homebirth I was invited to strengthened my trust in the mystery of birth and the power of women. 

A woman will always remember the way she birthed her children. The medicalization of birth has dehumanized the most precious rite of passage creating a multi-billion dollar industry that disregards the basic needs of babies and mothers. 

A powerful birthing experience has profound repercussions throughout a woman's life. Women who birth in a gentle, supported and safe way have an easier transition into motherhood.

Babies who are born gently are imprinted with the message that this is a safe place to be. Birth is messy, mysterious, unpredictable. Peace comes from making informed, educated choices.

“Sometimes you just stand in the place of what you believe in and then other things begin to happen from that.” –Unknown Author 

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