Cervical Self-Examination Kits

Have you ever seen your own cervix? Why is seeing your own cervix so important?

Self-examination can...

• Enable you to recognize the normal secretions which occur in your body, including their changes throughout your menstrual cycle. This includes recognizing secretions that tell you when your body is fertile.
• Enable you to identify abnormal discharge, irritations, or abnormalities.
• Help you recognize the signs of pregnancy.
• Demystify your own anatomy.
• Help you address scar tissue from previous births or uterine surgeries.
• Give you context for your care providers' explanations or concerns regarding your reproductive health.

Pacific Northwest Birth Services offers cervical self-examination kits for women interested in learning more about their reproductive health, menstrual cycle, and fertility.
The cost per unit is $25, which includes:

• 1 Disposable Speculum
• 1 Hand Mirror
• 1 Flashlight
• Information on Self-Examination

We do not recommend that these kits be used during your pregnancy, as any vaginal examinations can raise the risk of...

• Premature Labor
• Infection
• Increased Labor Pain

We absolutely recommend these kits for women interested in learning more about their reproductive cycles and uterine health.
To order, click here.

For more information on cervical self-examination, please visit:
The Shodhini Institute

Beautiful Cervix Project

Women's Health Specialists

Upcoming Placenta Encapsulation Workshop

Pacific Northwest Birth Services will be holding a Placenta Preparation workshop on March 17 from 9am-1pm. This course is perfect for expectant parents, doulas, and childbirth educators, or for anyone wanting an introduction to placenta medicine.

We will discuss the following:

• The History of Placentophagy 
• Basic Placenta Anatomy 
• Care and Handling of the Placenta 
• Placenta Prints 
• Specific Benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine for New Parents 
• Tutorial for Traditional Chinese Medicine Method of Encapsulation 
• Dosage and Contraindications 

Attendees must plan to arrive on-time and stay the full period.
Classmates will be asked to handle a real human placenta, however we still encourage squeamish people to attend (it's less icky than you think!) and participate.

This workshop will also include exposure to bleach.

Click Here to Register!

$3,837 donated for a student midwife's education!

My name is Madeleine Shernock, and I am a doula, childbirth educator, and student midwife. In the past three years, I have served over 50 families at their births, and have worked to close racial and socioeconomic disparities in reproductive health in my community. My experience includes work as a sex educator, a Shodhini, and a mentor for new doulas.

I have decided to enroll in a state-approved midwifery program so that I can get my license and offer a fuller spectrum of skills and support to my community.

45 days ago, I started an Indiegogo.com campaign to raise money towards my tuition and apprenticeship fees, which are estimated to cost $11,000. I offered a long list of crafts, food items, and services I would happily trade for donations.

Thanks to 86 donors, I have collected a total of $3,837 as of today, January 22! Additionally, 6 people donated their own goods and services toward my fundraiser, nearly 100 folks (including folks I don't even know!) shared the link for my fundraiser on their social networking sites, and my peers are talking more and more now about the value of a safe, positive birth experience.

I would like to thank the following doulas, midwives, musicians, classmates, coworkers, friends, and family members across the country for donating money, food, time, and/or services to my campaign. Your gifts mean that I am much closer to attending school. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for your support and encouragement.

Michelle Kunschke
Tim Kerbavaz
Debra Merritt Bruflat
Gena Kirby
Lynda Barton Kirch
Elisa Hough
Rowan Love
Rebecca Michelson
Zac Bauman
Monika Rosicka
Colette Duncan
Willow Rosen
Marisha Thompson
Shelley Jones
Maria Allegra Curiel
Gina Figueroa
Kiana Freitas
Kathryn Ely
Doug Shernock
Lucinda Chiszar
Amy Young
Kate Jamison-Alward
Susan Lashbrook
Paris Franke
David Nguyen
Hilal Omar Al Jamal
Sarah Morris
Sally Acosta
Jessica Gee
Lindsay Walsh
Elisabeth Westwood
Sara Burton
O'Nell Starkey
Raine Azure
Rachel Hansen
Stephanie Anderson
Angela Leon
Anne Gast
Raquel Lemus
Amanda Devereux
Erin Majorie
Angela Tschudy Seney
Tina Lyon
Tim Warner
Rachael Cowan
Jaye Simpson
Wendy Bardsley
Anita Nuechterlein
Melanie Anthony
Laurel Ripple Carpenter
Jillian Bruno
Michelle Lockett
Priscilla LoForte
Reagan Carosino
Mae Gates
Natalie Walters
Jalisca Thomason
Claire Sloan
Brooke Myung
Becky Glatz
Laura McKinty
Anna Hernandez-French
Kathleen Turner
Vanessa Fraser
Kathryn Brantley
Jessie Hagadorn
Andrea Keating
Jenni Clark
Kelly Grow
Hilary Porter
Cecily Olsen
Sean Johannessen

and several people who donated anonymously.

If you donated and are waiting on a perk in the mail, I am sending them out as soon as they are ready. I had an unanticipated (but pleasantly surprising) high amount of orders for cloth pads, so these may take up to 4 weeks to be shipped. I will send you a confirmation via e-mail or facebook message.

If you missed out on the campaign but would still like to donate, I do have some of the perks still available. E-mail me for more information.

Thanks again for all of your love, kindness, and encouragement!

Love,
Madeleine