how many children do you have?
one
how many pregnancies have you had?
2
how old were you when you gave birth?
26
what are your childrens' ages?
9 months
did any of those end in early release? (miscarriage, still birth or abortion?) if so, can you share a little about those experience?
yes, my 1st pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 7 weeks. I never developed a fetal pole. I was not working with mushrooms on a regular basis at that time.
what surprised you about the mushroom journey?
how impactful it is to commit to something as small as a mushroom blend capsule. the smallest actions can have the deepest impact.
Protocol & Dosing
with psilocybin, what has been your dosing experience?
microdose (.1 - 1 gram), mid dose (1-3 grams), full dose (3+ grams)
how long did you dose for?
throughout the year
if microdosing, what size would you have? (.1 - 1gram)
.1g, .15g, .2g, .25g
in what form were you ingesting the mushroom?
capsules, teas, whole, In a psilocybin infused jun kombucha that my partner and I make
how often did you dose?
intuitively -- as needed
if you were on a protocol, what protocol did you follow?
5 on, 1-2 off
did you have any support with dosing?
when did you start ingesting mushrooms?
before i became pregnant
Pregnancy
why did you choose to ingest mushrooms before your pregnancy?
After my 1st pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, I sought out all kinds of mushrooms (psilocybin, reishi, lion’s mane, chaga, shiitake, the list goes on) to process that loss and to support my mind and body toward better overall health. I combined all those mushrooms, filled the blend into veggie capsules, and took them most days. (I’m going to refer to these caps as “mamadose” for the rest of the survey)
why did you choose to ingest mushrooms during your pregnancy?
I took my mamadose capsule everyday while pregnant, whenever I took my prenatal vitamin. I solidified this decision after reading Mikaela de la Myco’s “Entheogenic Earth Medicine Assisted Motherhood.” I knew I wanted to, but when I read the research she combined with her own experience, I knew that I could safely.
what benefits did you notice in your pregnancy?
My pregnancy was largely uncomplicated. I felt happy and embodied mostly I think due to the daily mamadose. This is the only time I’ve really taken it daily with no days off.
After Birth & Breastfeeding
why did you choose to ingest mushrooms after you gave birth?
My microdosing has not been as consistent since after giving birth. In all honestly, I have had a harder time prioritizing my self care. In the past week, however, I had a mamadosing mom encourage me to start back up. I did, and it has been so good.
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?
My and my child’s moods are both more settled and our attachment feels more secure and honed in when I am eating mushrooms (again — of all kinds, not just psychoactive ones). I do not rush, I desire to be patient and present, hometending tasks don’t feel so burdensome, I can problem solve better.
did you notice any challenges to a) yourself b) to your baby and what were the benefits when ingesting mushrooms while breastfeeding?
There have been a few time with higher doses that I felt my child was more active/fussy after breastfeeding. And the sensory input of her needing to express more was a lot for me to take in on more than a microdose. I believe this heightened sensory experience for both child and parent can be avoided if someone were to just stick to a microdose. I also believe, however, that there are benefits to working through “out of the ordinary” experiences (which a heightened sensory experience is) with your child such as: trust building, communication development, deeper listening, in the moment integration of emotions, strengthening self-regulation/co-regulation skills.
Parenting
what benefits did you notice in your parenting that you attribute to the mushroom?
An deepening of love for my child. Being able to be embodied and out of my anxious mind. Problem solving without overwhelm or rushing. An actual desire to be present, even in the harder moments. More capacity for self-love and self-forgiveness.
what were the unwanted effects or challenges of ingesting mushrooms while parenting?
Feeling the need to only share I was mamadosing with some, not all.
what benefits have you noticed about your children that you attribute to the mushroom?
People always comment on how alert she is, that even though she’s an infant she’s fully here. To the people I feel comfortable with sharing I say, “my baby was born on mushrooms.” Increased visual acuity is a known impact of the mushroom, and I see that in my child’s constant observation of nearly everything. It’s been that way since 2-3 months. I would apply all of my benefits listed to her as well.
Summary
what would you like to say to other mothers & pregnant/birthing people about your own experience?
Parenthood is about trusting yourself. The mushroom wants to help you trust yourself, love yourself and your child(ren) more than you already do. Yes, that is possible. Do not be afraid. Even when this path feels lonely, know that many have walked with the plants before you.
would you recommend this path to other people?
absolutely. sometimes to moms at the park