A rebozo (pronounciation) is a woven piece of fabric used by Mexican women as a shawl, a baby carrier (similar to the way I use a wrap, but the fabric is not as long), and a comfort and positioning tool for pregnancy and childbirth.
Photo by Luis Marquez
Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries
Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries
Rebozo Use during Childbirth
Techniques for the Rebozo in childbirth include:
- "sifting" the mother
- to aid in the double hip squeeze
- rocking or dangling the mother
- covering the mother's eyes and ears to block distractions
- for the mother to pull on, especially during pushing
Here is the above technique being used in at the hospital during a pitocin induction:
The technique used in the above two videos are explained more in-depth at the Spinning Babies website.
In my doula training, I learned how to do a technique called a "double hip squeeze" with my hands to open the pelvis. This video explains how to use the Rebozo to make the double hip squeeze easier:
More articles and pictures:
- The Rebozo: a transcript of a rebozo workshop given by Doña Irene Sotelo and Naolí Vinaver, published in Midwifery Today (more pictures can be seen by following the link below the photo shown)
- "Comfort Measures for Childbirth: Let's do it with a Rebozo"--a collection of images by Patti Ramos taken at a rebozo workshop with Guadalupe Trueba, including images of the rebozo used for rocking , putting it over the eyes to block out distractions, to pull on while pushing, and other uses
- The Many Uses of a Rebozo at Birthing Essentials--short explanations with pictures of many of the techniques
