Chantel Kismet
Trauma-informed doula and somatic practitioner on the ancient art of bengkung
“I come from an ancestral lineage of healers and medicine women on my mother’s side,” shares the doula of mixed heritage, Indian on her mother’s side, Chinese on her father’s and with deep roots that extend to Indonesia. “Being able to connect intuitively with women has always been a part of who I am and this has shaped my role as a birth worker. I weave traditional Indonesian and Chinese practices into my care, such as jamu wrapping, belly herbs, pressure point massages, stone massages, using turmeric and vaginal steaming. I believe these methods are very nourishing for women and it embraces the relationship between the different elements of nature and life force (also known as qi).
“Bengkung is an ancient art of belly wrapping with origins in Malaysia and Indonesia. It’s used to support a mother’s healing and recovery after childbirth. There are also other forms of belly binding across other parts of Asia, Latin America and Europe. This technique incorporates using a long strip of fabric about 15 to 20 metres long and is worn for about 10 to 12 hours. It provides postural support to the spine, back and organs, reduces water retention, supports abdominal muscles and diastasis recti recovery, and aids in the healing of the uterus. Using the bengkung is not about ‘bouncing back’, but giving yourself time to rest and recover.
“I appreciate how Malay and Indonesian healing modalities embody the mind, body and spirit. They look at nature as a source of life and nourishment. The use of herbs possesses restorative qualities that can aid with healing. There is an element of ancestry and community that trickles down from generation to generation, such as family recipes, that’s very nurturing.”
BENGKUNG
The ancient practice of has its roots in Malay and Indonesian, which incorporates metres of fabric knotted by hand, helps to ‘hold’ and support the uterus and abdominals while offering spiritual closure as a woman heals.
