Leoni is someone who i will always hold so warmly in my heart ,for she helped me to have one of the most powerful and amazing journeys of my life!
I had been traveling for many years around the world when i found out i was pregnant.Me and my partner were in Brasil,and it was a big surprise!…Somehow i felt i wanted to give birth in peru ,so we travelled overland through bolivia ,until we reached Cusco.I wasn’t sure where exactly or with who i was going to give birth ,until my 7th or 8th month when were living in the sacred valley and a local woman recommended Leoni.
Immidiatly i knew that she was the perfect woman for me ,i loved her strength ,and confidence ,we were living a way out of a small village with no electricity or running water,this was no problem for Leoni ,she told me how she went with a head torch up the mountain to help the local women give birth!!!
when i went into labour at 1am my waters broke! so partner went to fetch Leoni and i had some time alone by the fire,which really helped to feel calm and connected to the baby..My daughter Ea’s birth was long ,but to me a magical ,beautiful journey.Leoni came with all her herbs which she laid out ,we all rested ,laughed and ate and i remember Leoni’s calm strength and warm heart felt so supportive to me.she said it would take time so she started to crochet a jumper!!her relaxed manner was so great.she gave me herbs to drink and sent us walking up the mountain to get things moving,When it became intense she breathed with me,and gave me herbs for energy,her knowledge of natural birthing was so reassuring and amazing .
My daughter Ea Tinuviel Devi was born by the fire at 7.30 in the morning .
When i delivered the placenta i hemmoraged quite badly and (from what i remember )the situation became a bit critical as i lost alot of blood and passed out and had to be revived!.Leoni was sooo amazing as she showed no panic,she remained calm and therefore we had no idea of how dangerous it could have been .I feel that her ability to deal with this calmly and without panic saved my life and her knowledge of nutrition and herbs meant that i recovered very quickly.This gave me a deep respect for Leoni and her amazing journey as midwife.
I feel forever such deep gratitude and love for her.
I have now just had a little boy who i gave birth to at home in our yurt in england ,without any complications or loosing any blood.
any woman who has the opportunity to have Leoni as a midwife is very lucky….her warm heart and earthy strength is everything you can ask for in a midwife along with her amazing knowledge and skill……i cannot express in words how much respect and love i have for her!….thank you again Leoni for helping me have a magical experiance i will carry with me for all my life!!!
Marlis Ferreyros
Mi historia con Leonie empieza hace muchos años, desde cuando yo tenía 7 años. De hecho la primera placenta que vi en mi vida fue la que alimentó a su segunda hija Naomi, quien nació en mi casa en medio de la locura de una familia de 7 hijos.
Leo, atendió 4 de mis 5 partos. El primero, tuvo que ser en la clínica pues mi hija venia al mundo con un problema en el corazón. Agradezco, entre otras cosas que esta hija me enseñó, la oportunidad de haber experimentado un parto institucionalizado, haber sentido la incomodidad de los monitores, las agujas, los espacios compartidos con mujeres desatendidas, la gente desconocida, la luz abrumadora de la sala de partos, las piernas atadas. En fin, todas esas cosas que hacen de una experiencia tan hermosa y sagrada, algo invasivo y hasta traumático en algunos casos.
Leonie, fue en mis partos, una silenciosa, respetuosa y paciente guardiana de la seguridad y la tranquilidad de los nacimientos de mis hijos. Tranquila, me dejó trabajar a mi propio ritmo. Observando, sin perturbar. Y en el momento que se necesitaba de meter las manos, más allá de la manera gentil con que recibió a mis hijos. Determinada y acertadamente intervenía. Recuerdo en el parto de Mateo, mi 3er hijo, que nació con dificultades para respirar pues tenía enormes cantidades de mucosidad en las vías respiratorias, como Leonie, sin titubear liberó el paso del aire, tras una magnífica maniobra de succión con una manguerita de suero. No sin antes darle a Mateo la oportunidad de intentar botar el moco solo, con distintas posiciones, con un poquito de tiempo. Yo estaba tranquila, Mateo estaba ahí, conectado todavía a su cordón que seguía pulsando, y Leonie estaba a cargo. Nada que temer.
He tenido, en esta larga historia que mantenemos, el privilegio de trabajar con ella por algunos años. Hemos atendido varios partos juntas y he aprendido de ella, además de algunas recetas mágicas y tácticas para tal o cual situación en el parto. La maravillosa capacidad de escuchar mi instinto para tomar determinadas decisiones, en ciertos momentos. Tomando todas las medidas del caso, para asegurar el bienestar de la mamá o el bebé, escuchar mi instinto en el momento preciso, es algo que agradezco haber aprendido, y agradezco que lo haya hecho en el momento que fue necesario en el parto de Mateo y en varios otros en los que la he acompañado.
Ya no trabajamos juntas por diferentes motivos, entre ellos, mis 2 hijas menores, de 2 años y de 9 días. Pero esto de alguna manera ha interrumpido el aprendizaje y la garantía de que tendremos cada vez más parteras atendiendo el parto de nuestras hermanas, amigas, de nuestras hijas. En donde vivo, en el Valle sagrado, en Cusco, no hay, o por lo menos no conozco más parteras capacitadas para enfrentar situaciones de riesgo en el parto. Es una lástima que la posición del sistema de salud en nuestro país, no solo no apoye este valiosísimo trabajo, sino que por el contrario lo desmerezca y persiga.
Agradezco desde lo profundo de mi corazón que alcancé a ser atendida por una partera del calibre de Leo. Y rezo desde lo más profundo de mi corazón que sus enseñanzas se repartan y que mis hijas tengan la oportunidad de tener a sus hijos en sus casas, llenos de amor y respeto, rodeadas de las personas que quieren y con una partera con capacidad y criterio.
Liza-Marie
Bernhard and I met Leonie for the first time in May 2011, two and a half years before the birth of our daughter. Our friends, Michael and Maggie, had recommended her to us and they suggested that we go and see her before getting pregnant. At the time, I had been sick for more than 3 months as my immune system was not functioning well. Leonie took a full history of my health and performed a thorough examination. She picked up that I had gallbladder problems which I wasn´t aware of at all. She recommended a strict diet with herbal teas to drink to help with my immune system and some other things to help with my gallbladder and overall health. Coming from the West, growing up with doctors and pharmaceuticals, I was a bit sceptical at first about the herbal treatment but out of desperation I followed it religiously. Within 3 weeks of following this diet, I wasn´t sick any longer and had regained my strength. Later that same year, I went to Leonie again for an olive oil based treatment for my gallbladder, which also helped me to get rid of a parasite called giardia. After this, there was no doubt in my mind that Leonie would be the person to deliver my baby, and that she knew what she was doing. Having been born by C-section myself and coming from a country where the majority of births are done by C-Section I was filled with fear for natural childbirth. Despite of all these fears, I trusted Leonie 100% as a herbalist and midwife and I knew that she would be the person to deliver our baby when the time came. During my pregnancy we would see Leonie each month for a check-up and to talk about our feelings, fears and concerns. She had all the time in the world and did not rush through our appointments, whether it took 30 minutes or an hour and a half. Both Bernhard and I appreciated this immensely. The birth itself was a very special, magical and healing experience. When Leonie arrived at our house, she was super calm and organised. She suggested that I move as much as possible and while she was unpacking her equipment, herbs and oils, she was observing me, giving me space to just be and do what I needed to do. Leonie prepared a herbal bath for me in a big plastic container which they put in front of the fire. I got in and was covered with blankets and made myself as comfortable as possible. She told me to get some rest and even sleep, which I thought was a crazy idea because I couldn´t imagine falling asleep through the contractions. The herbal bath had a calming effect on me and I eventually dozed off. When I woke up it was very quiet around me and I felt like pushing. The pushing felt extremely good. After pushing for quite some time the baby´s heartbeat had dropped a bit low. I felt alarmed but Leonie was very grounded and made no fuss at all. She asked if she could perform an internal examination and told me that the baby hadn´t passed through the cervix yet due to extreme swelling of the pelvic floor, as a result of increased blood flow. She said that it was important for me to stop pushing and wait for the swelling to go down. Oh dear, this was not good news to me. When the next contraction came, my body automatically started pushing and Leonie urged me to stop pushing. I could easily have started to panic at this time but Leonie was extremely calm, grounded and professional. She was also firm with me and urged me to really do my best to not push. I sensed that this was really important for me and my baby. She reminded me that I don´t have to do all the work and allow my baby to do her part as well. It took all of my concentration and willpower to go against my body and not push but I understood that this is absolutely necessary. I trusted Leonie completely on this one. After a few hours it was time to start pushing again as the swelling went down. Leonie told me to make deep grunting noises with each push and to “bring my baby down”. After a while when the contractions reached a peak, I would squat on my haunches to help move the baby down and then move around again. Leonie applied hot compresses to my vagina which felt extremely good and comforting. As I gave the final push, I felt my baby´s little body slipping out of me and it was the most incredible thing I´ve ever felt. It was wonder, amazement and relief mixed together. I don´t have the words to describe this wondrous moment. I guess this is what a miracle feels like. Leonie caught the baby and within seconds Rose was in my arms. I had a wet, warm, wriggling and crying little bundle in my arms.. While bonding as a family, she cooked the placenta with basil and tomatoes, sprinkled it with sesame seeds and garnished it with a beautiful red rose from our garden. I instinctively knew that the placenta
would replenish my strength and give me new energy. I was starving at that point too and ate it without thinking twice about it. During the birth I had torn badly, partly due to the swelling. I was quite surprised as I didn’t feel my vagina tearing and wasn’t experiencing any pain. The sewing up part was the worst part of the birth as the anaesthetic only lasted a little while… Leonie couldn’t administer more anaesthetic as it would cause even more swelling than what there already was. It took nearly two hours to stitch me up and I had to practice a lot of patience! Although the tearing was quite severe, I healed extremely fast due to Leonie´s herbal medicines and compresses she gave me. My vagina healed completely and cosmetically it looks the same as before the birth. My birthing experience helped me to connect with my body in a new way and it reconnected me with my self-confidence as a woman. I could go deeply inside myself and connect with my inner strength and I found it to be an extremely empowering experience. It was the initiation into womanhood that I have been longing for my entire adult life. It deepened my bond with Bernhard and it brought a lot of healing to my relationship with Mom. It also taught Mom that childbirth doesn’t have to be a horrible and traumatic experience. If I were giving birth in a hospital, the doctors would have given me a C-section as a result of the complication. Due to Leonie´s experience and knowledge this was not the case and I have the utmost respect for Leonie. She created a supportive environment and gave me the space to do my own thing. I will be eternally grateful to Leonie as she made this natural birthing experience possible and I could not have done it without her! A million thank you´s to you Leonie!
Melinda Cross
Hablar de leonie es como hablar sobre la caja de pandora, llena de sorpresas. Tengo varias anécdotas y experiencias que he presenciado que no solo me han asombrado, si no que también me ha enseñado una mejor calidad de vida, pero en este testimonio contare una de las más fuertes que he tenido. El privilegio de dar a luz en casa y con una excelente mujer y amiga. Cuando me entere que estaba embaraza fue un shock muy fuerte ya que este embarazo no fue planeado. No tenía una relación estable con el padre de mi futura hija. Así que gracias al apoyo de amigos me arme de valor y asumí este embarazo sola. Estuve 9 meses con muchas dudas, miedos, conflictos internos de cómo manejar esto y gracias a Leonie cada mes y consulta se hacía más llevadera y hermosa. Con mucho cariño cada consejo y conversación no solo se alejaban todos estos conflictos si no que iluminaba más mi decisión de ser madre. Con mucha ternura planeamos un parto hermoso no con muchos detalles pero con mucho amor y fuerza. El día llego y fue todo un viaje increíble. Estuve con la fuente rota varias horas hasta que leo me dio unas hierbas y en unas horas mas ya tenía mis primeras contracciones. Estaba sola en casa con mi hija de 7 años y llame a leonie e inmediatamente vino a mi casa. Minuciosamente instalo todas las tinturas y equipo mientras las contracciones eran más seguidas y más fuertes. Con delicadeza me acompañaba en cada respiración, en cada dolor, en el increíble viaje de ser mujer y madre otra vez. Y así fueron 3 horas intensas en que leonie y su asistenta Mónica me acompañaron dejándome ser, actuar, gritar, llorar, mover de un lado a otro en la casa. Ellas tranquilas me daban la mano que necesitaba, el cuerpo para agarrarme y las respiraciones cuando perdía el aliento. Hasta el momento que di a luz a mi hermosa Shanti. Gracias a Leonie esta tradición y viaje de ser mujer y madre no se ha perdido. Es un derecho que poco a poco se está desvaneciendo y gracias a su constante lucha en estos días es un privilegio tener un parto en casa. Leonie no solo te da la confianza y el profesionalismo de esta increíble experiencia sino también te da la oportunidad de reconectarte contigo y con tu instinto de mujer y optar por una mejor calidad de vida para ti y toda la familia. Gracias leo…!!!
María Blanco
Dos veces Leoni me ha acompañado en mi embarazo y en mi parto. Cada vez fue única y diferente. Es que Leoni adapta el tratamiento, la dieta y las plantas medicinales a cada persona y a cada bebé que llegará, tomando en cuenta el cuerpo y el alma toda.
Mi primer hijo falleció a los dos años y Leoni me acompañó en su despedida así como lo había hecho para su llegada. Al esperar a mi hija fue un gran apoyo en mi lucha contra el miedo apostando por la vida.
Por su vasta experiencia Leoni reune saberes ancestrales amazónicos y andinos, transmitidos de mujer a mujer por generaciones. Son saberes que debemos recuperar para poder vivir una vida buena y sana. Confío en ella plenamente.