Reclaiming the Ancient Art of Postpartum Belly Binding

This workshop is for birth and body workers seeking to offer a more gentle and nourishing postpartum experience—both for themselves and the families they serve.

You’ll learn how to integrate these time-honored practices into your own self-care and client support, ensuring they are used in a way that respects their origins. Basic palpation skills are highly recommended. If you’re new to palpation, you’re still welcome—just be patient with yourself, as hands-on techniques take time to master.

Pricing Details

  • $99 Deposit

    If not paying in full, the $99 deposit is required to reserve your spot. An electronic invoice will be sent to you before the workshop. You may pay the balance electronically before the work or in cash/check on the day of the workshop. Early bird pricing applies if paid in full by April 15th.

  • $349 Regular Pricing

    The regular pricing for the workshop is $349.00. Your registration is fully refundable 72 hours before the workshop starts.

  • $299 Early Bird

    Register by April 15th to save $50. Your payment is fully refundable 72 hours before the workshop starts.

Register here

Secure your spot in this hands-on workshop with access to the online content thorugh the end of the year to revisit instructional videos, techniques, and key concepts at your own pace. This extended access ensures you can continue refining your skills and confidently integrate belly binding into your practice.

Postpartum Belly Binding Demo

A tradtion of healing

Postpartum Belly Binding Workshop

San Diego, California

Saturday May 31, 2025

9am - 6pm PST

Marina Village Confrence Center  

San Diego, CA.

Are you ready for a live, in person, hands on workshop?! I took my Postpartum Belly Binding workshop online and I was thrilled to see birth-workers from all over the world taking my e-course!  But I must admit , I have dearly missed the intimacy of a live , up close and personal environment that only an in person workshop can offer. 



What will you learn?

  • History & Cultral Context

    What is belly binding? Where does it come from? What is the cultural and historical context?

  • Anatomy & Physiology

    Learn the anatomical structure a postpartum body, the uterus and supporting soft tissues and bones. Understand the postpartum physiology of healing.

  • Hands-on techniques

    Learn palpation skills to properly asses postpartum uterine involution. Discover pelvic bone holds for postpartum. Practices manual techniques for centering and balancing the postpartum abdominal tissues.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome!

    • Welcome!

    • Terms and Conditions

    • Your Binding Materials

    • Postpartum Belly Binding Handbook 2020 - La Matriz Birth

    • Workshop Slides

    • Driving Directions

  • 2

    Follow Up Q&A Live Meetings

    • Register for a Live Q&A

  • 3

    Instructional videos & handouts

    • Elastic Bandage : Belly Binding Instructional Handout

    • Proper Body Mechanics Demo

    • Bone Holding Demo

    • Uterus Palpation Demo

    • Diastasis Demo

    • Transverse Abdominal Demo

    • Intestinal Massage Demo 1

    • Intestinal Massage Demo 2

    • Inguinal Region Demo

    • Elastic Bandages Binding Instruction

    • Ceserean Bandage Binding

    • Woven Faja Application Demo

  • 4

    Reflection & Certificate

    • Course Reflection: Please submit upon completion of the workshop to receive your certificate of attendance.

  • 5

    How to download my Certificate of Completion and CE's

    • Link to Recorded Instructions

Instructor(s)

Partera

Tema Mercado

Tema Mercado is a Xicana Licensed Midwife in California and Partera Profesional Certificada in Mexico , mother to six children and a grandmother. She believes that birth work can change the world and has dedicated the last 11 years to birth and reproductive justice on the U.S Mexico Border serving families on both sides of the border. Tema was born and raised in San Jose, California and spent her adolescence in Mexicali, Baja California. Her midwifery practice and overall work in the community stems from a social justice and heart perspective. Tema is a traditional singer and story teller, these two gifts led her to share her voice as a speaker and facilitator. She believes that knowledge sharing is essential for the preservation of cultural healing arts. To find out more about Tema and her work, you can visit her website http://www.lamatrizbirth.com/ and her IG page @matrizmidwife.

Course Reviews

what birth worker's have to say about Tema's binding course...

5 star rating

AMAZING!!!!!!!!

Melanie Martinez

It is such a beautiful introduction to the course!!! Heartwarming, educational and empowering.

It is such a beautiful introduction to the course!!! Heartwarming, educational and empowering.

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5 star rating

Postpartum Belly Binding E-Course

Jackie Gorman

Very grateful to Tema for sharing her knowledge and cultural lineage in postpartum belly binding. It was highly informative and a great addition to the curre...

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Very grateful to Tema for sharing her knowledge and cultural lineage in postpartum belly binding. It was highly informative and a great addition to the current 10 month online course I'm completing with Rachelle Garcia Seliga - Innate Traditions

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5 star rating

Absolutely Magical Course

Briana Fujii

Tema is honestly such a magical spirit, who shares her knowledge so beautifully. She creates content that is easy to intake and retain. I appreciated the t...

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Tema is honestly such a magical spirit, who shares her knowledge so beautifully. She creates content that is easy to intake and retain. I appreciated the time and effort that was put into creating this course. So much rich knowledge and information was shared in order to properly learn how to support with postpartum belly binding. I highly recommend taking this course if you are looking to expand your skillset and the support you offer. Also, learning from Tema is a plus. I honestly wish I could have taken this course in person with her!

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5 star rating

Great Wisdom

Kiara Gonzalez

It's such a privilege to be able to learn from Tema. The e-course gave all of the tools necessary to provide deeper support for my families. I left with a de...

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It's such a privilege to be able to learn from Tema. The e-course gave all of the tools necessary to provide deeper support for my families. I left with a deeper understanding of anatomy and how it all applies to belly binding practices during the cuarentena. Thank you Tema!

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5 star rating

Excellent, Comprehensive Introduction to Postpartum Binding

Kristy Valdez

This course begins with the necessary, important, and informative background of history and culture, then addresses anatomy and physiology, before diving int...

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This course begins with the necessary, important, and informative background of history and culture, then addresses anatomy and physiology, before diving into thorough descriptions and hands-on teaching for postpartum belly binding. The way the course is set up, as well as the wealth of information, walks students through the practice step by step to ensure application is safe and appropriate for the people we work with. I really appreciated the teaching style, the content, and the pace of the course. Thank you so much for this incredible resource!

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5 star rating

Belly Binding E-Course

markeitta taylor

Tema and her team does a great job in teaching proper belly binding. She goes far more into depth than just the fundamentals of binding. She is very informat...

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Tema and her team does a great job in teaching proper belly binding. She goes far more into depth than just the fundamentals of binding. She is very informative and intentional with educating her community of this work. I would recommend to other birth workers and postpartum individuals.

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5 star rating

Postpartum Belly Binding E-Course (pre-recorded)

Jacqueline Martin

Tema has created a course for self-directed learners interested in birth work. The course content is informative, relevant and provides step-by-step instruc...

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Tema has created a course for self-directed learners interested in birth work. The course content is informative, relevant and provides step-by-step instructions every step of the way. With all things you get of it what you put in. What Tema teaches is a valuable skill set many postnatal women will benefit from greatly. A 5 star rating:)

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5 star rating

Must Take Course

Jennifer Chu

This belly binding course is a must watch course! It gives you more than you can imagine and will not disappoint. You will learn more than just belly bindin...

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This belly binding course is a must watch course! It gives you more than you can imagine and will not disappoint. You will learn more than just belly binding. I am already offering it to my clients, and it feels great to be able to include this as part of my care.

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5 star rating

I like the title but it doesn't incorporate all that the ...

Asatu Hall

The text and the content of the class is very very informative and in-depth. The videos, presentations and the handbook are beautiful and cover so much info...

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The text and the content of the class is very very informative and in-depth. The videos, presentations and the handbook are beautiful and cover so much information, Tema gives very detailed explanations of the history, rationale(physiological, emotional, and spiritual) for each aspect of this healing technique. I love the way you incorporated care for the Mama who has had a C-section, often time we as midwives want to offer support and education to aid in her healing and I have been personally been searching for ways to help these moms and I found this addition especially valuable.

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5 star rating

Stop what you're doing & give Tema your money!

Frances Estela

Seriously, this course has been so helpful for me as I train to become a postpartum doula. It covers more than just belly binding. Maybe it should be called ...

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Seriously, this course has been so helpful for me as I train to become a postpartum doula. It covers more than just belly binding. Maybe it should be called something like, “Anatomy, Belly Binding, & Holistic Care for the Postpartum Birther”. As a general tip when you take this course, take the moment to reflect on your own ancestral lineage & history after going through the first power point presentation. This course will greatly help your personal & professional growth. ~Frances Estela

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5 star rating

Superseded Expectations

Sheena Drummond

This course was more than just a how-to. It was informative and authentic. I could not have asked for anything more. I would highly recommend this course to ...

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This course was more than just a how-to. It was informative and authentic. I could not have asked for anything more. I would highly recommend this course to others.

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5 star rating

made for mamas

catherine ferrera

Tema beautifully and intentionally crafted a a way to share this potent abuela knowledge. The layout of online platform was not only easy to navigate but the...

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Tema beautifully and intentionally crafted a a way to share this potent abuela knowledge. The layout of online platform was not only easy to navigate but the classes were so rich in wisdom so you could dive right in. All classes came coupled with handbook and presentation downloads which made digesting this info just so visually appealing. Having these courses recorded and the amount of time we were gifted to work with these lessons facilitated integration at our own organic pace. Im really grateful for the way this was thoughtfully presented as it made it super accessible for a mama of two, studying, homeschooling, nursing, and birth working. Thank you Tema and family.

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Frequently asked questions ..

  • What if I get called out a birth?

    To request a full refund (minus payment processing fees), you must email [email protected] at least 72 hours before the start of the workshop. Your email must include the name of the workshop, the date of your purchase, and the name and email associated with your registration. If you are called to a birth after the 72-hour window has passed, you will be eligible for a refund minus the non-refundable $99 deposit. That deposit can be applied as a credit toward a future workshop or supplies. If you are called to a birth during the workshop, no refund will be issued. However, you will be given the opportunity to attend the next scheduled workshop.

  • Are you offering scholarships?

    All scholarship opportunities are first offered to the cohort members of my "Unveiling the Journey, a Mentorship for Aspiring Parterx's" . If there are scholarships remaining , I will make an announcement and post here.

  • Are there any payment plans?

    Yes, putting down a deposit allows you to make payments up until the start of class.

  • Is this workshop open to all?

    Yes! This workshop is intended for all birth-work practitioners.

  • Will you be offering this workshop again?

    Yes! I hope to offer the workshop q 1-2 years.

  • How is this workshop different from the e-course?

    The main difference si that we will be learning in the flesh. We will still discuss the same curriculum as in the e-course. What will be most different is the hands on learning. The hands on learning can make all the difference for those of you who do not have a back round in body work or are new to palpation skills.