Traditional Birth & Wellness Center
Our Vision
From the beginning in breathing life into the birth and wellness center, the Changing Woman Initiative has striven to expand the expectations of families birthing experiences. From ceremonial dreams to working our way through the four directions in thought, we seek to create a space that embodies the feelings of being in ceremony with the land. We acknowledge that there is a sense of spiritual awakening that happens in New Mexico, where the natural elements have a way of aligning our spirit, mind, and bodies with the natural rhythms of mother earth.
In modern times, the life transformations Native Americans experience through puberty, motherhood, and as elders are done through the medical lens of western medicine. We want our building to be a living embodiment of wellness and healing. Our building will play on the natural elements of the landscape, with rammed earth walls and natural light. Our building will be solar powered, as way to honor Father Sky, and water preserving, as we recognize water is our most precious resource.
Since the 1950’s, Native American women have birthed our babies in hospitals. We are far from our ceremonial homes and spaces. We have willingly given up our ceremonial ways of birthing for the idea that hospital births were better for us. Our building seeks to combine healing elements of the land to provide feelings of calmness, peace, and protection. CWI recognized the importance to create an Indigenous space where our Indignity is not questioned or expected to be left at the door, rather to be welcomed and incorporated as part of one’s healing path. We believe our building is to be a living and breathing being that will protect our families as they go through their transformation.
Traditional Birth Center
Elemental Birth Suites: Cedar, Sage, Sweat Grass
There will be 3 birthing suites, with adjoining closed in portals. Each room will have tubs. Women will have the option to birth in the tub or outside if they choose.
An architectural design dream is to include fireplaces in the portals. The the fireplace has many ceremonial purposes and is a mainstay of our ancestral birth history.
Juniper Family Room
Family is paramount to our community’s ability to thrive. We have planned a space for supporting relatives, while the birthing family members in the birth suite. The Juniper Family Room is an open space and large enough to fit many. In our Native culture, we center family and many life transformations occur while being surrounded by them.
Services ProvidedWe will provide the following at the new CWI Birth Center:
- Gynecological and well woman care
- Intrapartum and birth services (midwifery)
- Breast Milk Bank
- Lactation consultation
- Diabetes education and care
- Nutrition education and services
- Behavioral health / counseling
- Traditional medicines
- Plant medicine making workshops
- Prenatal Yoga
- Traditional Parenting Classes
- Postpartum Support Groups
- Sexual Education & Awareness
- Health Policy and Education on Indigenous Midwifery
Native Communities & Surrounding AreaWe will provide service to families beginning with the communities of the 8 Northern Indian Pueblos:
- Pojoaque
- Nambe
- San Ildefonso
- Santa Clara
- Ohkay Owingeh
- Picuris
- Taos
- Jemez
- Tesuque Pueblo
Future plans are to expand services to Indigenous families from the remaining geographical locations in New Mexico.Design Objectives & Cost
Help us reach our goal of raising $7.2 million to build the Traditional Birth Center
– the first of its kind in the entire United States.
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Our Proud Partners
