how many children do you have?
one
how many pregnancies have you had?
3
how old were you when you gave birth?
31
what are your childrens' ages?
21 months
did any of those end in early release? (miscarriage, still birth or abortion?) if so, can you share a little about those experience?
2 abortion, those were before I was ready to have a baby in my early twenties with an extremely abusive partner I did not want as my babies father or to have him in my life forever
what surprised you about the mushroom journey?
I’m pretty seasoned with mushrooms and psychedelics in general for the past 15 years so I wasn’t surprised.
Protocol & Dosing
with psilocybin, what has been your dosing experience?
microdose (.1 - 1 gram), mid dose (1-3 grams), full dose (3+ grams), high dose (6+ grams)
how long did you dose for?
still dosing
if microdosing, what size would you have? (.1 - 1gram)
.3g, .5g, 1g
in what form were you ingesting the mushroom?
capsules, whole, In cacao
how often did you dose?
intuitively -- as needed
if you were on a protocol, what protocol did you follow?
No protocol, took as desired or needed
did you have any support with dosing?
friends/ relatives/ community member guidance, only my own research, found online resources, no support or research, mostly my own intuition
when did you start ingesting mushrooms?
before i became pregnant
Pregnancy
why did you choose to ingest mushrooms before your pregnancy?
Incredibly therapeutic with depression and anixety, it’s fun, short-lived, helps me connect to myself especially in dance, gives me perspective and insight, it’s intimate and helps me and my partner connect playfully, also a great asset in ceremony and in non-human contact
why did you choose to ingest mushrooms during your pregnancy?
It’s natural organic and for all the reasons I said above. Out of every substance i felt most safe with the total impact of mushroom. I also felt it would benefit my child.
what benefits did you notice in your pregnancy?
Massive help with discomfort, helped me connect deeply to my baby (the first time i really felt him and I connect was on mushrooms) helped me trust the process, helped with my mental health, was a fun substance i didnt feel guilty about
After Birth & Breastfeeding
why did you choose to ingest mushrooms after you gave birth?
Same as above responses plus much relief and mental health support in post partum.
did you ingest mushrooms while breastfeeding?
Yes
did you notice any benefits to a) yourself b) to your baby and what were the benefits when ingesting mushrooms while breastfeeding?
100% all above answers b) I also noticed a definite increase in awareness, creativity, imagination, playfulness, and intimacy with my baby on days I dosed. I have genuinely only noticed positive effects on me and my baby.
did you notice any challenges to a) yourself b) to your baby and what were the benefits when ingesting mushrooms while breastfeeding?
No if anything i became less concerned with the amount at all as time went by and i watched him thrive in those sacred mushi spaces.
Parenting
what benefits did you notice in your parenting that you attribute to the mushroom?
More playfulness, more trust in myself as a mom, less pressurization, a settling into the moment that is sacred, a deeper communion with my baby
what were the unwanted effects or challenges of ingesting mushrooms while parenting?
N/a
what benefits have you noticed about your children that you attribute to the mushroom?
Well he came out of me 100% on health from hearing to oxygenation to his eyes. I do feel the mushroom contributed to his incredible strength and wellness. His personality and sense of humor and playfulness and affection really comes out with the mushi.
Summary
what would you like to say to other mothers & pregnant/birthing people about your own experience?
You and your baby are safe and supported with mushrooms at every point of your journey. Just ensure the quality of your mushrooms
would you recommend this path to other people?
Yes 100%. I’ll be doing this for all my pregnancies.