This is very sad story to post. With hardly any warning, the Bellevue Birth Center has officially closed. It is important for me to post this to bring attention to the fact that our resources as women are dwindling in the New York City. A big rally cry and call to action is needed. Though Bellevue was known to accommodate lower economic bracket and those on Medicaid, the services and sacred support that Bellevue offered are the same services and support that every birthing mother should have.

If only the conscienceness of the mainstream was penetrated with the awareness and knowledge of the impact birthing centers have on the birthing mother as opposed to the hospital setting and linear western standards, then they would not be so quick to give a brief sympathetic look over that the “Poor Women’s Haven” (as titled in the NYT’s article) had to close its doors due to low funding and awareness.
Birthing rights and options for all women are in jeopardy. And overall women’s health & educational reform needs to take place. Not just for women from certain demographics, all women, and men who have or plan on having children. That’s basically everyone. How the children of this world are brought/birth into our reality realm is a sacred experience and journey and moment that needs to honored, encouraged and celebrated as opposed to jeopardized, standardized and dehumanized.

Now, there are three remaining natural-birth centers in New York City, The Birthing Center at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, Manhattan, The Brooklyn Birthing Center, Brooklyn, and the Morris Heights Women’s Health & Birthing Pavilion, Bronx. All of which are stretched in various boroughs with only a certain amount of birthing rooms.

Thankfully the Eli Manning Holistic Birthing Center at St. Vincent’s and the free-standing The New Space for Women’s Health are underway to be developed and build. Both free standing and in hospital Birthing Centers need to be adopted into America’s healthcare system. The idea of the C-section rate nearing 1 in 2 and more and more babies having drugs streamed into their not even day old blood systems as a normal commonality is disturbing.

What do you think are the best outlets for self awareness of the body’s design for birth?

I recently discovered a wonderful organization called Earth Birth. Earth Birth is an NGO which is ran by midwives to foster an international women’s health movement that encourages and promotes safe and peaceful birth. Directed by midwife, Rachel Zaslow, Earth Birth raises funds to build clinics and restore communities amongst women in various countries such as Brazil, Sudan and Uganda. With a sustainable mindset, the clinics that are built incorporate green building practices such as rainwater collection, composting for agriculture and solar power. It is the organization’s mission to lower maternal and infant mortality rates, lower mother to child HIV transmission, grant access to supplies, access to trauma counseling, empower women to have positive childbirth experiences and more.

Add Earthbirth on Facebook today to stay connected and find out ways that you can participate.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the team at Renew Physical Therapy. Located in mid-town Manhattan , Renew specializes in orthopedics and women’s health issues. Using state of the art technology as well as having a passionate and talented staff, Renew-PT empowers, strengthens, and heals amazing women who are experiencing sciatica, low back pain, abdominal diastasis-recti, c-section or episiotomy scar pain, painful sex and more . Just check out the video testimonials on their website and you’ll hear & fell the enthusiasm for their services.

What I really admire about Renew-PT is the center’s unique approach to women’s wellbeing. You come first. The private treatment rooms have spa-like atmospheres and incorporate custom pregnancy tables to accommodate your beautiful growing belly. The treatment sessions are up to 1 hour long and when applicable incorporate innovative biofeedback technology or the magical power of the hands using Arvigo Mayan Abdominal Massage. The team works with your doctor by providing them a written note within 24 Hours of your evaluation, detailing their findings so that your doctor can make well-timed changes to your medical care if necessary.

You can also get one-on-one training at Renew-PT to strengthen your core and pelvic wall in your pre and post natal state among other services. Isa Herrera, Clinical Director of Renew, also has a book out entitled, The Pregnant Couple’s Guide to Working Out Together. It is filled with many techniques and tips for you and your partner staying in shape and preparing for childbirth.

Renew Physical Therapy truly is an empowering and healing oasis. In a world and culture that does not necessarily allow women to have a safe and comfortable platform to discuss our health issues and concerns, it truly is inspiring to know that such a center exists for women. We are all entitled to the power to reclaim our health, live a pain free life, and be embraced and supported. Renew-PT helps to bring you to that realization. They do accept insurance (certain rules may apply) and offer flexible payment plans. Do check out and explore their website for further information.
**(they also provide physical therapy services for men to support pelvic and bladder health).