The Birth Lounge Blog

Sex,  Menstruation , Re-evaluating Cultural Norms, and more with Rebecca Alvarez of The Bloomi (Part 2 of 2 of our interview derived from Podcast episode ) HeHe : So we talked a little bit about the stigmas and the shame about menstruation. Go into that a little bit more, like, just share your thoughts.   Rebecca : It makes me kind of upset to think that there's still such a huge portion of us that feel that sex is shameful or dirty. Or menstruating is shameful or dirty. I'm Mexican. Both of my parents immigrated here and I grew up with a lot of cultural norms that had to do with these topics where the idea of staying clean. Meaning when you're on your period, wash yourself really well using these very fragrant products. Those ideas were just part of my cultural norms, I'll say. And I think that's the case for a lot of women, especially women of color.  Then the idea that sex is more on the dirty side. A lot of like the douching practices that are still being used t...

Sexual Wellness Products with Rebecca Alvarez (Part 1 of 2 of our interview derived from The Birth Lounge Podcast Episode 130 ) You GUYS. I am SO excited to bring this interview to life here on the blog. Did you know that 98% of all feminine care products has at least 1 toxic ingredient? That's scary! Rebecca Alvarez earned her BA in Women’s Health & Sexuality from UC Berkeley and her MA in Sexuality Studies from San Francisco State and is the founder of The Bloomi. She is joining me to dive deep into what’s wrong with traditional sexual wellness products, how to spot harmful ingredients and false labeling, and what you need to know about long term effects of these issues in sexual wellness and women’s health! So Let's have Rebecca introduce herself! Rebecca : I consider myself a sexual wellness expert. I'm also an entrepreneur and my passion is bringing clean intimate care products to women and femmes. I'm sure we'll talk about why that's important and wha...

Hey Tranquility Tribe! This week, we are digging deep into all things down there - yup, vaginas! There’s no one better to guide us through this topic than the vagina aficionado herself, April Davis. April is the mastermind behind The Vagina Blog, an incredible blog and social media presence dedicated to our lady bits. In our society, most of us with vaginas are unfortunately not educated about our own anatomy and are quite frankly scared of poking around down there. As a doula, birth photographer, and birth assistant to a midwife, April has been up close and personal with too many vaginas to count, and she’s excited to share all she’s learned with you! Caring for your vagina The vagina is a self-cleaning, independent woman, but what do you do if you’re experiencing some stank down there? April is always waking down the feminine hygiene aisle and taken aback by all the special soaps, perfumes, and deodorants for sale that your vagina...

17 Date Nights to Spice Things Up in the Bedroom Things could be steamier in the bedroom, ay? Would you believe me if I told you that I get asked about sex  all. the. time.  From young women who are trying to break through their limiting beliefs about sex to women who are trying to relight the spark after having a baby and sometimes it's moms who are raising multiple kids, being a supportive partner, and haven't had sex in years.  *moment of silence for all the lost orgasms, take as long as you need, tissues are to the right* Sex is so important. From an emotional standpoint, to a biological standpoint, to a mental health standpoint, and a physical standpoint. SEX IS IMPORTANT. Even more important is raising sexually responsible and sex positive tiny humans, but that's another story for another day. If you are an adult and you aren't having sex, I want to know  why the f*ck not?!  "Not having anyone to have...

Getting Your Labor Started  There are so many stories of women eating pineapple or dates or spicy foods to give labor a jumpstart. Michel Odent has said that he believes babies speak to their mother’s body by varying levels of hormones and chemicals as well as position of baby. This communication will be the initiation of labor. Until then, I am skeptical that anything can start labor. However, I do believe that if enough of the puzzle is in place and you try one of the traditional natural induction methods like breast pump , acupuncture or sex , you very well might tip the scale in your favor and labor might begin. On the other hand, you may try all the things and still need a medical induction. What's a gal to do?  Release any and all expectations of that right now. Trust that your baby and body know what to do and that your perfect birth story cannot and will not miss you if you trust. You have to realize tha...