My 18th cycle on Natural Birth Control

With this Full Moon my 18th cycle on natural birth control started 🌝🩸 I felt so excited since I finally feel that I understand the signals of my body: when I am fertile and when my body is preparing herself to let go and to clean, resulting in receiving my period.

I feel way more connected to my body, and I feel more understanding and empathy for myself through the seasons I flow, compared to 18 months ago.

Womb wisdom workshop

I have been on birth control since I was 17 years old. I took hormones for 7 years, from different type of Pills to an IUD. It was Janneke's workshop about Womb Wisdom my first time at the Tantra festival in Amsterdam last year, which made me question why I was on hormones for all these years. It was also the first time that I experienced feeling in my womb and asking what it was she needed, and how she felt. This might sound a bit wavy but while having my hands on my belly on the place of my womb with my eyes closed I felt a No to the unnatural IUD in my womb, and I felt guilty for how I let it be shoved in my Uterus, not knowing that there was also the option not to take anything and still be able to prevent pregnancies. After the workshop, Janneke shared her work about Sensiplan: the natural birth control and I felt immediately a Yes.

Natural birth control

In September 2023 I took out the hormonal IUD. During three months I have done the Sensiplan: Natural Birth Control course, together with my partner. Thanks to Janneke I learned to track my menstrual cycle every day through temperature and mucus checks and I learned how to prevent unwanted pregnancies. I find it magnificent to learn how powerful our body is and how it can regulate and can clean itself. Also how clear the signals of every season of our cycle can be if you learn to get to know your body. After the start of my 18th cycle I really feel I can say that I understand my body and feel so much more love & empathy for all the seasons she flows through.

Winter season

From the four seasons in our menstrual cycle (Winter, Summer, Spring & Autumn) the Winter season 🩸is the first season of our menstrual cycle, the bleeding phase. It has also been one of the seasons where I had to bring most change: love and attention to.

I am known with having very painful periods, luckily some times it is bearable, and instead of skipping this season I nurture myself as much as I can. Tools that help me to make this season more comfortable:

• Menstruation Tea, from the ‘DM’

• Hot water bottles. I even have a strap-on one or I place heat pads of my underwear. I tried them this cycle for the first time and they are epic, only they are not very sustainable.

• Period panties, to let the blood flow freely. I find them so comfortable, and hygienic (something I was worried about before). Besides they are also sustainable.

• I take magnesium every day

• I cook myself iron rich vegan food, such as spinach, and I am in love with Beetroot Pasta!! (the pasta becomes pink😍). Let me know if you would like the recipe.

• I rest, sleep, withdrawal when I can and feel like, but I also go for a walk if this is what I need in the moment

• I communicate with the people surrounding me that I am in Winter and might feel a certain way f.e. Less energised, quiet or feel the need to cancel.

• Moving my body as it feels like. Since also not all yoga Asana’s are advised during this process, I listen to how my body wishes to move

• Ritual. Sometimes I wear something red, buy myself (red) flowers, or I light a red candle.

  I journal and reflect on what I wish to let go this cycle or/and do a menstruation meditation.

  I have taught myself a ‘happy bleeding’ affirmation, don’t get me wrong it’s is not always ‘happy’ feelings when my period is super painful, but it helps me to let go and respect my body for going through this season, also to celebrate not being pregnant.

• A Hara Awareness (belly) Massage with @veravie_awareness I can also recommend. It really helped to relax my body contracting from the pain

If you wish to share any other tips & tricks or if you have any questions, love to hear from you♥️