Episode 28 - Perinatal Specialist of Competent Heart: Dr. Tina Harris Part 2/2

Unknown 0:02

Hello, hello aligned birth family misters friends out there in podcast land. Dr. Shannon here today and today is part two of an interview. So we were able to interview Dr. Tina Harris, who's a doctor of physical therapy and we went all in the last episode and talked about what is the pelvic floor and what is pelvic floor health and what is a doctor of physical therapy with a focus on pelvic floor health. So she gave us all kinds of information last time because we did define all of that and how she works with people and what it is all the things and the hats and flowers that our heads that she has and wears and does. And today we're going to go into some of her birth, birth work or history, how she got into this birth worker world. But again, I'm Dr. Tina has been practicing physical therapy since 2013. And so initially worked in lots of different settings. But we're going to go into a little bit of following the birth and unfortunate loss of her first son at 21 weeks pregnant. That's when she followed her heart's calling to really create her organization competent heart perinatal specialist. So that's where we're going to go today. And understanding some of the history there and how she got to where she is now. She's also an international best selling author. So we're going to talk about the book that she has, and we talked a lot about again that physical therapy aspect. In the last episode we talked about her level one naturopathic and attorney Reiki practitioner work and her yoga and acupressure work, but you have to go listen to the first episode because I learned so much and I know I know everybody else needs to hear that stuff. But she's a self proclaimed lifelong learner and I don't know the vibe I get from her. She just cares. She cares a whole lot and she wants to empower people and for people to come into their empowerment and to really create that birth support team. And let's be honest, that like, support team for life because birth is such a transformative process, but also life, you know, just looking at having these people on your side. So I'm really excited to have Dr. Tina here again today, and to talk all about how she came into this birth worker world. So thank you again for being here. Dr. Tina?

Unknown 2:21

Thank you. So much for that beautiful introduction.

Unknown 2:24

Yeah, we I know we had such a good time on the first episode. And again, this was like, we found each other on Instagram, and I just reached out to her because I actually had found I think had done you know, Rachel I talked and we were coming up with her like podcast lineup and I was like, no I really want pelvic floor therapist and we're both like, ah, Dr. Tina, we're gonna sign I was like, totally just kind of fan girl reached out to her. So this is always like, I get in like fangirl mode with with interviews and stuff because I'm like, Oh, I get to talk to them. So I love what you put out there. I love the energy that you have and so yeah, this was our first time actually talking in real life through zoom, whatever, whatever. Whatever. But yeah, so again, first episode, I can't thank you enough because that was kind of was so informative. And it's so beautiful, how you look at the function of the body and how it's all connected and the importance of that overall health and that pelvic floor like it was just all beautiful. So I thank you for that. But yeah, let's, I want to talk about competent heart, Periodontal specialists. Like how did you get into this birth? worker role because I feel that you are where you're supposed to be. You know, like, I just get this thought this feeling this vibe from you that this is your impact in the world. And you're kind of living out that calling as it ebbs and flows. And so I want to know how, how you got into the birth worker

Unknown 3:58

world? Sure. First, I just want to say thank you so much for saying that and validating because that's exactly how I feel like I feel every time I get to do my organs like I am living the dream like this is the best thing ever. So thank you. It's really comforting to hear someone else see that feel it and to say it's so

Unknown 4:18

nice to see you my friend. I see you. I hear you. I love it. Yes.

Unknown 4:23

Yes. So yeah, so how I got into this word, it's a it's a story. And so I actually share the full story in the book called infertility, secret struggles and successes. And do you mind if I go into a little bit about the book just Yes. Okay, where

Unknown 4:42

you want to go? I'm here for the ride.

Unknown 4:46

It'll offload and I promise Yeah, so the book is actually a compilation of 20 plus other authors. So it's a multi author book. And it's a variety of personal and professional insights into the world of infertility. And so in their book, there's other professions that share about different techniques and things that they have seem to be working with their their communities to address infertility. And so I shared my story in chapter four. I shared my story of how not necessarily didn't have an infertility story per se, but I did have a I do have a loss story, and how that loss propelled me and basically got me onto the path to where I am now and how I support others throughout their personal you know, fertility, pregnancy, birth and postpartum journeys. And so the story how it all started, was way, way back when, like 10 or 11. I was always obsessed with pregnancy and birth. So remember the TV show, baby story on TLC? Uh huh. I watched that was like a young child. It's probably weird because I'm just like you I loved it. I love seeing it. And I remember when my first niece was born, I was probably 11 or 12. And I was really offended that I wasn't allowed in the room. Like I wanted to be there to see her being born like why can't I be? And so ever since then, like just that little passion of like, I loved pregnancy. I love birth. It's just beautiful. I didn't know why back then. But I just knew that I did. And so as I you know, grew up and continued on and actually the next aspect was when I was in physical therapy school. And we were doing a section on it was back then it was called women's health. And I was actually honestly a little bit disappointed, because we had a half a day of instruction on it. And I'm like,

Unknown 6:50

Yeah, you're like there's a lot more to it.

Unknown 6:54

There's a lot more to it. So that was my lifelong learner NIST came into play, and I started doing my own research. And I was like, I have to know more. This is way too interesting. I love this way too much. And so at the end of our curriculum, you're able to basically build your own course. And so I did and I, the closest pelvic floor physical therapist, at that time, was in Richmond, Virginia. So I was in Augusta, Georgia. So I drove six hours to Richmond, Virginia to do two weeks worth of shadowing and internship. With a pelvic health therapist there. And once again, completely fell in love all over again. I was like this is exactly what I wanted to do. Fast forward to graduation, I went ahead and did some travel work. And so it's kind of hard to, you know, you get placed where they need the help. So none of the places were really pelvic health related or anything like that. In 2017, we were my husband and I, we traveled together. We were in California, doing travel work and found out we were pregnant. And I was like Okay, it's time to go home. We're too far from home now. Like we made it. Let's go home. So we drove to California, or we drove to Texas, and then California. We drove all the way back home. And then two weeks after we got home. I went into preterm labor and went to the hospital. Turns out that I was diagnosed with incompetent cervix, and they did all the things that they could you know, bedrest medications to try to stop labor. I was only 21 weeks and three days pregnant at that time. So they were trying to obviously keep them in longer. But none of the measures worked. And so the next morning the next afternoon, actually, he was born extremely premature and unfortunately wasn't able to survive outside the womb. And so at that point, and we just the whole experience in the hospital. When I look back on it, in hindsight, I was like that really wasn't the best care that I received. I had known that I wanted to do that. But we were so early on that I hadn't had it and we had just moved back home. Yeah, I hadn't had a chance to have an OB visit. I had had a chance to research doulas in the area. It was just all happened so quickly. So we really had very little support. Family was supportive as much as they could be. They were also grieving a loss as well as the staff support. It was a lot to be asked, you know, to be asked. And so part of me was just like, You know what, I really don't want anyone else to have to experience something like this. I'm at such a vulnerable time. And I I wanted to do something about it. And, you know, one day I was taking a walk and listening to a podcast and one of the guests on there had shared that. You know, she had had a loss and she determined in her heart that the memory of her child wasn't going to be a brokenness. And I was like, Yes, I read that resonated so much with me. I was like, the memory of my son is not going to be a brokenness. It's going to be a legacy. And I'm going to figure out a way to but his life is a legacy. And so I found a doula. Training, it was actually her birth in bereavement doula training, and I went ahead and I started that and was like, this is the thing I'm going to do. I'm going to help those that are were in the situation that I was in so that they can have some support, as best as possible. went through the training and actually had to stop because it was very triggering for me. I wasn't quite ready for it just yet. And so actually wasn't until 2020 After we had our rainbow baby, who actually just turned three this week after he was born, and you know that pregnancy pregnancy October loss is no joke either, but haven't gone through that experience having kind of processed a lot doing a lot of inner work. I went ahead and did the training again. I was able to complete it and finished in April of 2020 which is of course when COVID was like it was like yeah, so I was like I still want to do this work. And so everyone went virtual. I was like, Okay, well, we're just gonna go virtual. It actually works out really great for having a young family. You know, being virtual, I'm able to still be here with him. And he's actually downstairs now. With the babysitter. Yes, I love it.

Unknown 11:27

Yes, yeah. And so, yeah, just really embarking on this journey. And throughout that too, you know, came alongside the pelvic physical therapy aspect as well, and really incorporating all of that and I just realized, even before all that happened, so it was kind of a thought in my mind was like, okay, physical therapy. I know, we always hear about prenatal and postpartum physical therapy, I'll say but what about the in between, you know, and that's like, kind of where the doula the doula work comes in. But I was like, as I mentioned in the previous episode, you know, a lot of transformations happens during labor and birth, physically within the body. And as physical therapists, we're very apt and able to have that knowledge, that expertise to be able to address and to support during that time. So why aren't physical therapists in the birth room? Likely not going to be one that is in the birth rate, as well as bringing on this additional doula expertise as well. And so that's how I blended I was called builder my two main games. So I branded my main gates into the organization, competent heart prenatal specialists. And I know you asked about how I came up with the name. So I was diagnosed with incompetent servants. And so which I absolutely disobeying him that day

Unknown 12:45

and that and as soon as you said it, I wrote it down. I was like, That's why she's competent heart in the fact Yes, like, got it. Go girl.

Unknown 12:55

I just Yes. Yeah. Just having that diagnosed was like I felt incompetent. Oh, yeah. You know, after losing my son, I was like, already have all this field. I felt like the one thing my body was created to do, to conceive and carry my child. I couldn't do you know and so as a way to, you know, kind of fight back against them like you know, what I am proclaiming bullied for claiming that I incompetent I am able, I'm worthy. And that that is how I came up with competent heart and then the heart aspect is what I feel like signifies like the truest aspects of us as humans, you know, we connect with each other heart to heart, compassion, connection, warmth, all of it and that's what I really value and Val to bring to my clientele into my community. And so by putting those two together, side note is also my initials.

Unknown 13:51

But that's because it's meant to be key. Yes.

Unknown 13:55

And so that is how I came up with that with the name competent heart and it's just, every time I look at I was like, yeah, that's is it?

Unknown 14:02

Yeah, it brings you know, when you look at it, you're like, yep. Ah, I don't know, you hold space. I just, you know, you hold space for people. And I feel like that's also that's that heart aspect of this as far as you saying, Okay, well, we have prenatal pelvic floor and we have you know, postpartum that's in between. You filled that with that dual work and now you're able to hold space for people in all of the way through. I do have like, I do have tears and like chills right now just hearing you know your story, but how you you know, it's a journey. It wasn't obviously they didn't tell you you have an incompetent cervix the next day you're like, you know what, I'm gonna create competent heart like it was this journey and it was part of it.

Unknown 14:53

But it does flow so well.

Unknown 14:55

And, you know, that's challenging. Does a lot. There was a lot of changes for you and lots of transformation. So absolutely. I love how that's been built into the organization that you have here though, and what you were able to create.

Unknown 15:14

Thank you, like I mentioned the butterfly for the logo, so butterfly is one of the second nod to the bereavement community, you know, butterflies signify, you know, the loss of, you know, pregnancy and infant loss, but also for that transformation piece, you know, transformation occurring not only during the childbearing season, the I think you mentioned it in the previous episode, too. Throughout the entire life, we're always transforming is always becoming coming into, you know, the newness of ourselves with each experience.

Unknown 15:47

Exactly, exactly. I have a question though. Way back when I wrote it down and you're saying so, you said you had this lifelong love of birth, which there's another birth worker I've interviewed who'd said the same thing. She's like, I was watching birth, you know, people like what does she do? And I'm just watching as a kid, you know, so I'm like, Oh, I love that that, you know, there's that, that drive and that desire at such a young age to understand it, but what made you go into the physical therapy world?

Unknown 16:20

of physical therapy? Yeah, so that's actually a funny story because it's not as deep I think. So as you know, in high school, and things like that, thinking about what you want to be, and I was a kid, I wanted to be a veterinarian, so I think I always just wanted to help people. But the vet aspects went by the wayside when I realized it wasn't just cats and dogs, and like, you'd have to take care of snakes and other like reptiles. Reptiles, so I was like, Okay, maybe something else? Yeah. So, it really was. I think it just popped into my head one day I was I can't say physical therapy. I had never no one in my family or immediate, you know, connection was a physical therapist. I had never gone to physical therapy like for treating myself as a child or anything like that. It was just one of those things that popped into my mind or just I wonder what that's about. And then I started doing the research and I was like, Well, that's pretty cool. I could, I could definitely, you know, get behind that. And then the high school I went to was a magnet program for Health Sciences. So you just kind of like continued on this path of just, you know, nurturing the potential for being a physical therapist, and every experience that I had that was you know, similar to it. I was like, Yeah, I really, really love this. So yeah, I just kind of followed my heart. I guess it was an intuitive kind of hit, but I didn't know what it was at the time, but I just went with it.

Unknown 17:49

At that is so neat, because you had a lifelong love of birth. And then even going into that physical therapy realm didn't necessarily know that you were going to end up with like, this pelvic floor. health aspects, you know, like, yeah,

Unknown 18:04

I have no idea what pelvic floor was back then.

Unknown 18:08

But now, now look at what you're able to

Unknown 18:10

offer and look at it's all aligned. It's

Unknown 18:15

all aligned and see and that's also part of the like, yeah, you are you know, you're doing what you're supposed to be doing are where you know where you can make that big impact in the world. I love that too, that you went over the name of your business though, because I know I work with several women with the diagnosis of the incompetent cervix and it was you know, bed rest and but it was just I don't know that puts thoughts and feelings on you even when you hear like failure to progress. I had progress and then I you know, it was it was like these things that were happening to you. And like, you're like wait and you could kind of see it out of body and you're a little bit like, wait a minute, is this half I'm not an active participant in this right now. It's just something going on around you like a whirlwind. Yes. My Words. Words that they put out there and like words are power like you can either you can create or you can destroy with words. And so I don't know I'm Yeah, Rachel and I have talked at this forum. Like we need to episode on like all the words that we do not like

Unknown 19:23

and like change them and say, Okay, this is what we're going to, this is what we're gonna

Unknown 19:27

call it. Yeah. So there is a there is a push to change the name to early cervical opening, which basically just describe what's going on, but it doesn't have an implication of, you know, your value as a person.

Unknown 19:41

That doesn't have to have that negative tone.

Unknown 19:44

Exactly.

Unknown 19:45

You know, I don't I mean, we have enough fear and negativity I guess associated with birth anyways, like we don't need you know, there's no we don't need any any other though. So yes, I have heard other other words to being thrown out as far as okay. It's also looking at it as like defining what it is. You know, Oh, yeah. It's just an early cervical opening. It's not that competent.

Unknown 20:11

Exactly. Like oh my gosh.

Unknown 20:15

So yeah, so I love I love the business name, then so competent heart and I love that heart aspect. Now.

Unknown 20:25

I do want to

Unknown 20:30

your son as well, too. And I love that you listened to that podcast, and it was like, No, it's not going to be of brokenness. It's going to be this legacy. Do you so do you find do you work with other families that have also suffered infant loss and does? How does that look and what are you able to offer and care for in those times?

Unknown 20:54

Yeah, so at this point, no specific programs for I do have the mentorship type of offering for those that may be have experienced the loss or you know, I want to kind of process through that I'm developing a program to be a little bit more in depth right now. So I'm not really putting out the one that I have previously, because I'm working on something even better. Speaking Oh, yes, yes, yes. I do have clients that, you know, a lot of times people don't talk about it, you know, because of Shane's. And, you know, we don't want to discuss it, it's hurtful. It's traumatizing. And so I definitely get it. But I think having gone through it you have you know, I've never understand exactly what your experience has been. But having a little bit of insight of, you know, maybe some of the things that you're thinking or experiencing, and we can kind of talk through some of those things. And so definitely, I talk that through with clients as doula clients. Sometimes, you know, people that come in for physical therapy will share it with me as well just because it's very intimate space and, you know, we get to know each other, you know, basically and just being able to talk things through actually can be really, really helpful. And that can go for if you had any, you know, pregnancy loss, infant loss, or, you know, even just a traumatic birth experience. You know, sometimes I I would recommend, you know, there are people out there that do birth story, you know, processing and I might, you know, recommend, you know, that might be helpful helpful for you because, again, going back to what we discussed last week, the pelvic floor, the Body Keeps the Score, like you mentioned, all of that is being held in you. And you know, if you're going through a pregnancy after loss, this next baby is experiencing that too, if we're still holding on to it. And that was one of my I was one of my biggest struggles with a rainbow baby was like, I don't want to be holding in all this anxiety and all the stress and worry. Yes, I was very anxious during pregnancy every time you go to the bathroom, it's like you gotta check you know, is there you know what's going on here. And I was on bed rest for almost two months. And so it was very, you know, it was very nerve wracking, but being able to process that trying to process that I didn't, I didn't go to therapy, but just try to process it within myself. I'm all about feeling the feels like I feel like energy just needs to be moved out and through you and so don't hold back the tears just let it out, you know, let it flow and release it. And so that, you know, again, your bodies can come back to that natural healing stage, and being able to do the things that you know it's intended to do.

Unknown 23:37

Yes, because it's like feel the feels and then let's not let's make sure we don't stay there. You know, like, let's feel it and you got to process and you do have to feel it and then it's like, Okay, now we can move on, you know, or some similar and that's what I was gonna ask too is that how was that pregnancy after loss? So did you have any of the same issues with the cervix in that second pregnancy?

Unknown 24:02

So I said, So that's actually a whole other story. I was being because I had the the history so I was being followed up by a specialist and by perinatologist, and they were doing scans every two weeks to check the cervix length and everything like that. And early pregnancy everything was perfectly fine, like long cervix, it was measuring super long, you know, no issues until actually week 24 And week 24 compared to week 22. So exposures half the length, and I'll say, but still within that range or is like okay, it's still normal, but I'm like, Okay, we're still we're at the very edge of normal for one, and we had this very drastic change in two weeks. But what happened what happened was that provider discharged me from their care. And I was just like, but wait, things are changing. Why am I being discharged? And I never even to this day, I never got a response from them. So here's when I went ahead and advocated for myself. The next week I had a regular OB appointment, and I was like, Hey, can you check for me? You know, can we just do a quick scan and see what's going on? So week? 24 It was two centimeters, week 25. It was 1.8 and online, okay. So things are continuing to change. And so I requested another referral to another provider specialist, and they obliged. So we 27 I went to this new provider for a second opinion. We were at one centimeter. And it was at that point the providers like um, yeah, I think you should stop working. And, and although there's really no evidence that said rest is perfect, protective against, you know, preterm labor and things like that. It was something that I needed to do, even just mentally knowing that I was doing something as much as I could help me my name is possible. Exactly. And I was able to care so I was 27 weeks I went on bed rest. It was modified better. So I was at home I had bathroom privileges. And I could go downstairs once a day to up and down the stairs once a day, and I was able to I went weekly for progesterone shots to the doctor's appointment, so I was my field trip. Once a week I was able to leave the house. And by doing that I was able to go from 27 weeks to at my 34 week checkup was I was starting to have some cramping and things like that. And we noticed that was starting, you know, some preterm labor things but apparently, after I talked with the provider again afterwards, in the realm of you know, this incompetent cervix like that is considered a success being able to carry to 34 weeks without having you know, this large procedure or any kind of protect preventative procedures. That was considered a success. So at 34 weeks, I went to the hospital. I was in on hospital bed rest for two weeks, until he was born at 3030 36 and five. And he's here now so he was a little bit early. He came a month early. But he didn't need any NICU time or anything like that. He was just ready. So it was a lot like I mentioned, you know, being home by yourself, you know, pregnancy after loss, own bed rest during the day. It was just it was a lot to deal with that family and my husband was very supportive. He did all the things physically around the house, of course, and so yeah, we were able to, you know, to bring our rainbow baby here. Oh,

Unknown 27:44

my goodness. What a powerful I don't know, it's very powerful. It really I think it was It does sound like a lot like you know yeah, you go through and you're kind of processing and saying it

Unknown 27:56

but yeah.

Unknown 27:59

And I think a big thing here too, is well, issues with the medical community concerns things but you continuing to advocate for yourself. And going where you're like, No, and it's not that it's like it's not that you just didn't want to hear what they were saying. It's like no, I there's, there's people out there that will help. That's what you were like, No, there's going to be other people out there to help. And I think that plays probably plays a big part in why you

Unknown 28:35

speak so big

Unknown 28:39

on building that verse support team. Yes. Because you had to go in this way you didn't you were building that team of people that would listen to you.

Unknown 28:52

And that's why I tell my people all the time. It was like if they're not if the person that your providers that listening can go find another one, right? You hired them for one and so you can absolutely fire them and hire someone else that will listen to you. So I am very big on advocacy, really knowing what it is that you want in need. And sometimes we don't know what that is. And sometimes it takes like okay, what don't I want? What don't know what isn't that a lot? More? That's it? Yeah, so for me with that with being discharged at 24 weeks, I was like, Well, you know what, my goal wasn't to just carry my child to viability. My goal was to get to full term. And so I'm going to find someone that's going to help me get to full term as best as possible.

Unknown 29:44

That's so amazing. That's so amazing. And I'm glad that you were in that position to be able to do that too. So, so thank you. Thank you for sharing your story of loss because it needs to be shared. I'm such a big proponent of like, we have all of these things happen to us inside. It's not just to keep these stories in so thank you what for adding to his legacy by sharing the story and then even putting it in the book. Now, how did you find out about the book because this sounds amazing, too, that it's all these authors and all these storytellers coming together so how did you find out about it?

Unknown 30:19

It was actually a good friend of mine that connected me with the publisher and the one that organized this all together. So I can't even take credit for that.

Unknown 30:30

Because like it was outside me, you know? It was

Unknown 30:33

Divine Alignment. Good friends, he connected us and it was just I was like, yes, absolutely. When under present. Yes. And we're

Unknown 30:43

going to link the in the show notes to to the book as well. And we're going to link to the websites do because I'll go over and have you kind of talking about where people can find you as well too. I want to touch a little bit on

Unknown 31:01

I don't know if we did in the last

Unknown 31:02

I know we talked about your level one naturopathic and attorney Reiki certification but I don't know if we talked about how, why you added that into

Unknown 31:12

your realm of things and one of the flowers on your hat. So

Unknown 31:18

how did how did that come about?

Unknown 31:21

Yeah, so I'm just really big on like, holistic methods of healing. Personally, I'm kind of straying. Away from this, you know, completely westernized view. And really just curious as to like, what else is out there? You know, we've been on Earth for several 1000s of years. And, you know, before Western medicine came around, we weren't right people were thriving and living and had, you know, a lot of rituals and traditions and things like that, that they were able to draw upon for a lot of for health, you know, and wealth and wellness and things like that. And so, it's just again, that lifelong learning, just curiosity, and I came upon it and mostly I really use it for self care a lot. I really valued for my personal self care, and just the people that are, you know, come within my circle. You're part of my self care too. And so I really just like to share, you know, the things that I'm also experiencing because it might be helpful for you too. And so when I learned about it, and we're just like, yeah, all of this just resonates like I completely agree. It's been part of my spiritual journey that I kind of embarked on this past year, and just really exploring, you know, the divine power that is within all of us and how we can how I can tap into that and how I can be connected even more so. And so the Reiki the acupressure, the yoga has really been so much more has really been kind of a key points in in that and just like yeah, this makes sense. This feels good.

Unknown 33:03

Yeah, I just that's certainly how that adds it. And then I love that you put in your in the bio when it talks about encouraging awareness and education about the body and empowering the people in your world and you're bound to be active participants in their journey to healing. So and that's kind of part of it. So yeah, I do. I do see that lifelong learner. We're all we're all students, right? Absolutely. Forever students. Now, before we do like where people can find you. There's one other format just for one, but there's something else that you do. If you wanted to touch a little bit on what ch expressions is, yeah, and what you do with that.

Unknown 33:54

Yeah, so theater expression is my new baby. Yay. And so within that realm, so it's, it's new, but also not so new. So I mean that so it's actually a rebrand of a company of a business that I had previously that I kind of I developed and started after a rainbow baby. And where I was creating customized grip socks. So that came along because when I started to work out again, I was at a Pilates studio, and because I was on bed rest for so long. I lost so much strength, you know, naturally lost all connected to my core. I really couldn't really engage it and I, I was on the reformer, the Pilates Reformer, and I could not keep my feet on the bar. And it was just shaken and it was slipping. It was falling like even when I'm coming in some grip socks. But at that time, I wasn't willing to spend like 2030 bucks on a pair of pants. I was like there's got to be a way that I could do this myself. So I found out the way and so I started creating these custom grip socks and I still do that, that ended up expanding into doing custom apparel, so t shirts, or their items and swag and things like that. And then I rebranded to ch expressions and now the new baby of it is what I do with crystal bracelets. And so I create crystal bead bracelets with intentions for fertility for partner support in pregnancy, labor and birth and postpartum. And so those are my different lines with my collections of the crystal bead bracelets, and I absolutely love creating them. It's part of this creative streak. That I've discovered. After having my rainbow blue. I feel like each child brings out a different aspect of me. And so the rainbow baby has brought out this creative aspect of me because for years I was like oh yeah, I'm not creative because I can't draw I can't see, you know, I you know, I don't really dance, but this is the the creative side of me. That was kind of birthed with a rainbow baby. And after discovering like the power of crystals, which is part of that spiritual journey in this holistic health. I was just like, yeah, like, if it can do so. The the experience I had with crystals was I have dealt with migraines for my entire life as long as I can remember. The only way I've been able to get rid of any migraines was by taking a medication. Some people think they can sleep it off some people you know, they eat or whatever that never worked for me. I have to take lots and lots of medication to get rid of it. And then I'm left in this fog and so i i came across an amethyst stone and this crystals are helpful for headaches and migraines. So I was like Okay, let's try it out. I found a local crystal shop got my piece of crystal and when the next migraine came, I literally cuddled with it all night. I held it in my hand. I slept a bit. I would wake up in the night I was like oh it's still here. Okay, go back to sleep. And then by the time I woke up in the morning, it was completely gone. My migraine was completely gone. No fog. No nothing. I was able to go about my day as regular and I was like what is this? Yeah. And so I was like if the power of crystals, you know can do this for me and never been able to hear my migraines otherwise, what else can it do? And that's when I started researching other types of crystals. Are there things that it can do indications, and I found a lot of them can be helpful for the childbearing seasons. And so I was like, okay, cool. I'm going to put it together the creativity started flowing. Yeah as insight. I developed some bracelet collections, and I love working with them. Like I always feel really excited and happy and high vibe when I'm working with them. So it's a beautiful thing.

Unknown 37:57

That's neat. And it's not like you know, that you don't have anything else going on. You're like oh, it's just it seems like to that it's almost a little bit of like a self care aspect to like you are you like you even said you are energized by that activity, that creativity tapping into some of those, you know, wonderful energy centers in the body and that sort of thing. So I'm definitely adding that in the intention behind it too. So I think that's pretty cool that you, you have that to offer to the world too.

Unknown 38:29

So yeah, it's like I do a lot of things, but they're all really connected and it's all in mind. It can like pull them out piece by piece assignment, when do you have time to do anything? But it all really does connect to each other. And again, providing that holistic support, you know, for my clientele, and like you mentioned for me too, like I get great joy and you know, I love doing what I do and it's just, it's fun. We're having fun and you could do it forever. So

Unknown 38:57

exactly. And you got to keep it you got to keep it fun. So yes, I do. I am in at all of all the things that you that you offer and what you have to get to and I'm thankful that you have used your story so beautifully.

Unknown 39:15

To give back so you can

Unknown 39:17

I appreciate that. Yeah.

Unknown 39:18

All right. So where can people find you? I know we talked about it in the last episode, but again, let's talk about where people can find you.

Unknown 39:28

Yeah, so I am on Facebook and Instagram at ch perinatal. and my website is also ch perinatal.com. And I do have an Instagram page for CH expression we're getting we're working on getting some more content on there. But that's on Instagram at ch expression 22

Unknown 39:49

Perfect and then so we're gonna link up that in the show notes. And then I also want to put a link to the book that you're a part of as well. So thank you beautiful part of the story. So, again, thank you so much for