Have you already had a baby but can’t quite remember what to do?

Rest assured you have come to the right place and I congratulate you for taking a positive step to ensure you and your partner will feel confident, prepared, and empowered during the birthing process.

Like many experienced parents you have many skills for how to live with the child(ren) you have now. Although, questions may arise regarding:

• How will I cope with the pain of labour?
• My last labour was long and tiring what can I do to be prepared this time?
• My last birth experience was not what I had hoped for how can I try to make it different this time?
• How will I ever get enough sleep with a new baby and my older child(ren) to look after?
• I want to breastfeed, but last time it wasn’t as easy as I hoped?

• How will my partner and I maintain our relationship after the baby is born?

You are not alone with your questions and concerns and my specialized Birthing From Within® Birthin’ Again class was created especially for you!

 

 

 

Birthing From Within® is an invitation to birthing families to uniquely and holistically prepare for the journey of labour and birth. Not only by teaching about the physiology of pregnancy and labour, but through storytelling, art, and experiential activities you will learn to build a pain-coping mindset, to birth in awareness and are empowered to truly prepare for what birth and parenthood means to you individually. These classes are a mental and emotional preparation to childbirth unlike any other!

What makes these classes unique?

Parent’s individual needs determine class content.  Every class is a continually evolving process in that the classes are not a static structure of techniques but a constant journey of discovery.  Through thoughtful discussion and interactive processes some of the topics commonly explored are:

• Previous Birth Story: Explore your previous birth story in a creative and empowering way
• Hands-on: Review pain-coping practices & positions for labour & pushing
• Identifying and exploring birth fears
• Decision Making: How to choose “The Next Best Thing”
• Sibling Preparation: Prepare your older child for birth and the new baby
• This Pregnancy: How it is different-how to enjoy it
• Connect with Baby: Start building a relationship prior to your baby’s birth
• Your Relationship: How life will change with another baby-how to stay intimate and connected
• Special Partner’s Class: Partners have a chance to explore what worked and what didn’t last time, a safe place to talk about unexpressed emotions about the previous birth(s), look at how they want their role to be this time

A pain coping mindset is explored and pain-coping practices are experienced. We will look at what worked and what didn’t in your previous labour(s) to help with pain. We will then brush off the old pain-coping skills that you do have and learn some new ones. We will also explore how your partner supported you last time and I will guide you towards effective ways of working together. This class involves a multi-sensory approach, allowing you to access your own innate knowing.  To birth your baby you will need to access your right or primal brain. In our society today we are so caught up with what to ‘know’ and what to ‘do’ that we very rarely leave our left/logical brain to listen to that side of ourselves that holds a deeper knowing.  We will therefore utilize imagery, visualization, art, videos, role-playing, and more to start to access this valuable part of ourselves.

Fear is a very normal yet very powerful aspect of labour. We will look at the power of these fears being present during labour conscious or not and how to cope with any unwished for events and that may come up during labour.

The outcome of a birth cannot be predicted or planned.  We will explore how to birth-in-awareness with your full heart and innate knowing, bringing your full self into each moment, regardless of the events or outcome.  Unplanned or unwanted events are considered.  We learn how to gather information and make informed decisions, opening to the full spectrum of possibility and support available. 

Childbirth preparation is also parent preparation. We will look at what worked and what didn’t during the postpartum time of your previous labour(s). We will look at how to prepare for this baby while considering the needs of your other child(ren).

Partners are encouraged to be an integral part of birth preparation and are invited to enter their own experience and process in connection with the mothers.  A Special class is set up just for partners lead by Nicholas Crooks, Registered Massage Therapist, Certified Infant Massage Instructor, and Father of two.During class, partners will have a chance to ask questions and learn tips for giving massage during labour. Nick will also explore how this labour may be different from your previous experience,  adding a humorous touch to learning the in's and out's of being a support person at the birth of your baby.

Partners will have a chance to explore:

• What it was like last time, how it may be different
• What's my line? How to talk to a birthing woman.
• Do's and Don'ts - Etiquette for birth.
• Being “Present”- what every birthing woman wants!
• How to increase your endurance (self care)

A Postpartum reunion is held after the birth to reflect, celebrate, and connect.  Here we gather to share moments from the birth that shaped you and changed you.  Together we welcome the mother’s return, celebrating her as a “birth warrior.” As well Marie Arcand, RMT from Kitsilano Massage Therapy Clinic will come to the reunion to do a demonstration of infant massage.

 

• To inquire more about these classes or to sign up click here.
• To read about Frequently Asked Questions regarding Birthing From Within® Prenatal Classes click here.
• To learn more about my Birth Doula Care click here.
• To learn more about my Postpartum Doula Care click here.