childbirth education
Pregnant? 4 Questions to Ask Yourself Now About Your Labor
What is my fantasy of the perfect birth experience? Do you want to squat to push out your baby in your bedroom? Labor in water? Get an epidural in the hospital parking lot? While no one can predict how your labor will go, thinking about your ideal will help you make decisions now and in…
Read MoreIn Labor, Gravity Is Your Friend
Imagine a woman giving birth. What position do you see her in? If, like most people, your views on birth have been shaped by what you see on tv and in the movies, you likely imagine her lying flat on her back in a hospital bed. Traditionally birth took place at home, and people formed…
Read MoreDoulas! 8 Compelling Reasons to Become a Childbirth Educator:
You’re already doing informal childbirth education in person, and by phone, text, email, and Facebook message. Offer formal classes and you’ll get paid to spend more in person time prenatally, getting to know your clients, and less time answering questions piecemeal. You’ll know your clients are receiving top quality childbirth education. Being able to offer…
Read MoreNever Punch a Hole in a Wall When You Can Go Out a Door
I’ll always remember a dad I had in childbirth class who was a firefighter. He told me he was in favor of vaginal birth whenever possible because “you never punch a hole in a wall when you can go out a door.” While I hope I say it a bit more eloquently in my blog…
Read MoreWorking with Women and Families Towards a Midwifery Model of Childbirth Education, by Julie Brill, CCCE, CLD
I started my formal education as a birth professional twenty-two years ago this month, when I began a yearlong study course with the Massachusetts Midwifery Alliance. It was a great foundation for what would develop into my career as a childbirth educator and mentor of other childbirth educators. Since then my work has attempted to…
Read MoreScheduled Cesarean Birth? Know your options! By Julie Brill, CCCE, CLD
If you and your provider have discussed scheduling a cesarean birth for your baby, now is the time to consider your options. While most cesarean births occur to resolve issues that develop during labor, a minority are scheduled in advance. Common indications include placenta previa, transverse presentation, breech presentation when no provider skilled in vaginal…
Read MoreAlternative Treatments Reduce the Risk of Cesarean Birth for Breech Position
First the good news, most babies turn head down by 6 weeks before their due dates. The bad news, about 4% remain in a breech, or butt first, presentation. In the US almost all breech babies are delivered by cesarean, making breech the third leading cause of cesareans. Fortunately, studies show chiropractic, acupuncture, and hypnotherapy…
Read MoreEating in Labor FAQ, by Julie Brill, CCCE, CLD, CAPPA Faculty
Q. Should I eat in labor? A. In a word: yes! Labor is hard physical work, that’s why they call it labor. You and your baby will be better equipped to handle this work when you are well nourished and hydrated. Fasting in pregnancy is not advised, and that includes during the last hours when…
Read MoreCervical Exams: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, by Julie Brill, CCCE, CLD, CAPPA Faculty
“Is this something I have to do?” is a question about vaginal exams frequently asked by my childbirth students. The short answer is no. Especially in teaching hospitals, women are often examined frequently, without even knowing why. The most important question to ask when considering an exam, like any other test, is “What will we…
Read MoreTen Tips for Beginning Childbirth Educators by Julie Brill, CCCE, CLD
1.Be upbeat. Convey that birth is safe. Begin each class with a brief outline of what you will be covering so students can know what to look forward to. End with time for questions and a brief preview of the next class. Always end on a positive note. 2.Use word of mouth advertising. It’s effective…
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