About my Classes
Knowledge is Power
Mothers in our country have extraordinary access to care, but are often left uneducated about their choices. I feel it is important to cover every aspect of pregnancy and birth, from the physical and emotional, to choosing a provider and hospital. Having gone through it myself, I understand the challenges of making decisions. There are so many points of view and so many schools of thought on birth that, oftentimes, women make decisions based on what the majority says--rather than finding their own paths. I do not affiliate with any one method but believe what works for one woman may not work for the next. I do not want to limit my knowledge, or my clients’, by choosing only one "way" to have a baby. I feel it is essential to provide a comprehensive course and help my clients choose the methods that will work best for them.
Fear not
Fear plays a large part in our views on childbirth. Most women fear the pain of childbirth. In my own labors, I learned that fear is my biggest struggle. I feared pain, I feared the effect that labor was having on my baby, I feared for my own well-being, and I feared that I was not "strong" enough for natural birth. I believe it is paramount that women feel confident in their own bodies and trust that the pain is a side effect of something good, rather than a signifier of something wrong. Many women I have talked to feared most the perceived length of labor. It is hard to look ahead at 8 more hours when you are in pain and believe that you can make it through without intervention. I teach methods that bring women back to the moment and, at the same time, allow them to see the larger picture. Birth is a fleeting moment in life, literally a day out of thousands. With that understanding, it is easier to take each minute as it comes, to face fear in increments rather than all at once or not at all.
The Trinity
Natural
Vaginal
Breastfeeding
I have developed a theory I call the “Trinity of Childbirth,” which is meant to help direct energies where they will be most effective throughout the birth process. It is a three-tiered priority system based on the mother's desire for a natural delivery. Most women desire a natural birth, with good reason, as it is the safest and healthiest way to have a baby. We begin with that goal, a successful natural delivery. In the event of use of pain medication or other interventions, when complications arise, our attention is redirected to the second goal: vaginal delivery. It is very important for families to understand that an epidural is not the end of the labor; though it does limit your mobility we need to know that position changes, opting out of unnecessary interventions, and developing pushing strategies will aid in a successful vaginal delivery and prevent an unnecessary cesarean. If a cesarean becomes necessary, the focus moves to the third goal: breastfeeding. This is especially important because the baby and mother are usually deprived the "latch window" that occurs in the first hour of birth. It is important to be proactive and vocal about the desire to breastfeed and to be aware of special circumstances that will need more attention to help establish breastfeeding. In my own experience I have found that women get distracted by what has already happened in the labor, and they begin to lose sight of the end product- a beautiful new life. I hope that by teaching families to reevaluate their goals at these important impasses women will have the freedom to move on and continue to look ahead, rather than getting tied up in their struggle for a "perfect" birth. I believe this can facilitate a positive birth experience regardless of the outcome of labor.