Comprehensive Childbirth Preparation

The journey through pregnancy and childbirth is a rite of passage, an all-encompassing experience that requires a
woman to be fully present in the moment. Pregnant women experience not only dramatic physical changes, but
emotional and social ones as well, as all aspects of their lives and identities transform. Every woman labors
in her own unique way, using her innate strengths and instincts.

New parents feel a variety of emotions as they approach the birth of their baby: joy, anxiety, tension,
vulnerability, excitement, and apprehension. Working through these emotions in a safe, nurtured environment is
essential to approaching birth with optimism and relaxation.

Becoming informed is the most fundamental step
a mother can take toward an empowered, satisfying
birth.

My private childbirth preparation series includes:

• Choosing or changing care providers

• The physiology of labor and delivery

• Third trimester issues: normal discomforts, remedies, physical intimacy, preparation for birth

• Pain coping using deep breathing, visualization, progressive relaxation, massage techniques, and key positions

• Technology, medication and intervention: making informed choices

• Postpartum issues

• The changing dynamics of your relationship

• The essentials of labor support

• Choosing a birth team: learning your options

Optionally, classes can include infant care and breastfeeding, or these can be taken separately.