Childbirth Education

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I am all about educating and empowering expectant couples. If I were at a place in my life to teach childbirth education classes, I would absolutely love to do it. I'm not trying to convert the world into thinking that every woman should birth at home, or every woman should give birth naturally with no medication. I want women to educate themselves about pregnancy and birth. Learn about the whole process, about your body and the changes you will go through. Learn about your baby and its development and growth. Learn about your partner and how he/she can support you in labor and birth, and how you can grow together to embrace the changes in your lives. Learn about your care and birth options, so that YOU can take control of your care and make the best decisions for you.

I found a nice little article in ezine articles that talks about some of the benefits of childbirth classes:

You Don't Really Need That Childbirth Class, Or Do You?

I'd like to also list some childbirth education resources. I'm sure I'm missing some, but these are some of the big ones I could think of right now:

Lamaze International
The Bradley Method
Hypnobirthing
Hypnobabies

You may also be able to find childbirth classes available through your local health department, or even through a local hospital or clinic. Please keep in mind that childbirth classes sponsored by a hospital or doctor's office is more likely to have biased information because they are using the classes to promote their particular venue (hospital or clinic, etc.). Any education is better than none, however, so if your options are limited don't let that keep you from attending a class. Many childbirth educators will also offer online instruction as well, so if you are in an area where you don't have access to local classes, please look into that option.

Informative Birth Story of an Emergency Cesarean

I discovered a blog called Doula Momma, on which the author posted her birth story. It's a very interesting story, with complications I hadn't ever considered before. I love to learn new things about childbirth, and this birth story was very informative to me. This woman had a baby who was presenting face first and unable to descend in the birth canal because his position wouldn't allow it. Please take a few minutes to read her story. While I personally prefer natural unmedicated birth, it's important to remember that we have medical interventions for very good reasons. I try to present all sides of birth because I feel it's important to know the possibilities and options so that you can make informed choices in your own birth.

Click here to read the birth story

Ricki Lake's Push for Safe, Empowered Birth

Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein were interviewed by Maria Iorillo, CPM of Mindful Mama:

Ricki Lake's Push for Safe, Empowered Birth

"Ricki Lake never set out to be a childbirth activist, but since the release of her film The Business of Being Born in 2008, she has become the face of a growing movement toward informed and empowered birth choices. And now with her newly released book, Your Best Birth , Lake and her friend, producer, and coauthor, Abby Epstein seek to help even more women understand their options and, in their words, "take back the birth experience." Mindful Mama recently sat down with Lake and Epstein to talk about their lives in the spotlight, and what's next."

I discovered this interview through the new online pregnancy/birth community: My Best Birth