A Croning Uterus

This very moment my uterus is shrinking. So slowly to be imperceptible, yet, yes. She is declining in her size. No longer fertile on a physical plane, her energy is becoming more subtle and fluid. The wisewoman nectar that is not lost in blood each month returns, instead, returns to enhance my ability to give birth to myself, be it through words, works of art, planting my garden, cooking for my family, or gentle, peaceful caress.

Sometimes this transformation heats me with its flame. The physical is slowly consumed and the subtle is expanding, billowing. Will it kill me? Will I eventually disappear in this blaze? Of course. Yet what a fire works display I might reveal in the meanwhile.

Create I must and carefully choose it--elsewise that nectar can as equally create a sour and bitter old lady, regretful of the past, depressed in the present and empty of future. Just as I chose to give birth or abort my physical babies I now must take responsibility for this creative power on an even deeper level. Yes, I must continue to choose.

A Well Positioned Uterus is Happier & Healthier

I cant' stop smiling because I just learned some incredible, additional techniques to help move a retroverted uterus forward.

While most MDs say a "tipped uterus" is a normal variation, looking at the anatomy of the situation leads to different conclusions. In the 19th century MDs believed otherwise. Then they tried everything to get those uteri back into place.However, they didn't find anything that worked, so now they just say it's normal.

Just because something is COMMON doesn't mean that it is HEALTHY. I believe that many "female complaints" are related to a malpositioned uterus. I personally experienced relief from menstrual cramps and the end of brownish blood at the beginning and end of my period after Maya Abdominal Therapy. Many other women have as well.

In the Maya culture, the womb is the center of a woman's well being. If a woman or a girl-child falls or otherwise jars her body, she goes to have the village midwife or masseuse to replace the womb where she belongs to avert later problems with mentruation, fertility, pregnancy or menopause. In our culture, a car accident and jarring sports are two common ways the uterus can be moved.

One time the uterus is vulnerable to movement is just before and at the beginning of menstruation. At this time the womb is actually twice a heavy and larger, due to engorgement preparing it for a possible pregnancy. (Compare the red "uterus" to the pink one in the photo.) It reduces again with the menstrual flow and hormonal changes. Any jarring during this time is even more likely to cause malpositioning. No wonder it is so normal to have a uterus out of place in our culture today! Most women don't slow down with menses, even though most feel their bodies pulling them in that direction.

After childbirth, the uterus shrinks back to the size of a fist from the size of a small watermelon. The ligaments that hold the uterus suspended in the pelvis have stretched and grown. Postpartum is a vulnerable time for the uterus to become malpositioned.

You may have heard of a woman who always had menstrual cramps before having a baby, and then didn't, afterwards--- or visa versa, having post baby cramps when she didn't pre baby. This is because the uterus can flop around in that space until the muscles and tissues return to the prepregnancy state. In traditional cultures, women would wrap their bellies to support their organs postpartum and avoid this problem.

A post partum check in to be sure the uterus has gone back after the changes of pregnancy can prevent problems with menstruation or future conception.

Now that you understand the importance of a well positioned uterus, please seek a Maya Abdominal Therapist if your uterus is out of place. I can help you if you are in the Boulder area, or go to www.arvigotherapy.com to find a listing of practitioners.

Have a happy uterus!

Caring for the Core-Part II

In "Caring for the Core-Part I" I talked about the placement of the uterus and how Maya Abdominal Massage helps her find her proper position. How does the uterus get out of place? As I mentioned, the uterus is suspended by ligaments in the pelvis in a way that allows her to grow with a pregnancy but also leaves her vulnerable to moving out of place.

The uterus is more vulnerable to going out of place three main times in a woman’s life- just before and during each menses, early pregnancy, and postpartum. This is because in these instances the uterus is larger & heavier than usual. With menses the uterus doubles in weight with a full endometrium. The uterus grows with pregnancy, often falling down on the bladder with weight in the first weeks until it finally starts growing upward out of the pelvic brim. Extensive pushing during childbirth can also over stretch ligaments and cause prolapse of the uterus. Postpartum the uterus which has given birth is getting smaller—but the ligaments that hold her in place have been stretched to the maximum. They take longer to get their full tone back and at this time when the abdominal muscles also are stretched out from the pregnancy, the uterus is vulnerable to misplacement.

Women who have repeated pregnancies close together, or who don’t have proper care after a miscarriage or abortion are also vulnerable to misplacing their uterus. Any jarring or heavy lifting during these vulnerable times can throw the uterus out of place. No snowboard jumping during your periods!!!

Even outside of these vulnerable times, someone who is constantly running on cement or doing any sports or activities which jar the body is more likely to have a uterus out of place. One friend jarred her uterus out of place when tobogganing with her kids. Another did it shoveling snow. It can happen from falling on the sacrum or being in car accidents. Having poor pelvic alignment can cause the uterus to tip with the pelvis. Chronic constipation or coughing can bear down on the uterus and cause her to prolapse or go lower into the yoni. Walking barefoot on cold floors can cause the circulation to bring coldness to the uterus which makes her vulnerable, as can a sedentary lifestyle, or emotional armoring from sexual abuse.

Avoiding these causes when possible is one way to care for our core. If it’s an unavoidable cause, then having some care from a certified Maya Massage Therapist and learning to do the self care on yourself will help replace the uterus, tone the ligaments, and restore circulation of blood, lymph & energy in the belly.
by Terra Rafael, Certified Arvigo Maya Massage Therapist & Registered Midwife