“Birth is powerful! Let is empower you!”
Why are so many births described as traumatic?
Up to 45% of new mothers have reported experiencing a traumatic birth (Alcorn, O’Donovan, Patrick, Creedy, & Devilly, 2010). In their meta-analysis, Yildiz, Ayers, and Phillips (2017) reported the mean prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in relation to birth trauma in community samples was 4.0% and 18.5% in high-risk groups. Prior mental health disorders and poor quality of provider interaction are risk factors for birth trauma (Simpson & Catling, 2016).
Traumatic childbirth has ever widening ripple effects for mothers (Beck, 2015) which childbirth educators need to be aware of. The few minutes or hours that a woman perceived she has been traumatized during birth can be likened to a pebble dropped into a pond resulting in ripples spreading out in the water. Some of these ripples resulting from traumatic childbirth can impact mothers’ breastfeeding experiences (Beck & Watson, 2008), the anniversary of their traumatic births (Beck, 2006), and their subsequent births (Beck & Watson, 2010).
In the United States, black women are dying at rates of 3-4x of white women, and they experience systemic racism within the medical system.
In our Empowered Birth Course we talk about how to empower yourself, holistically prepare for birth & learn how to advocate for you and your baby’s needs so the chances of having a traumatic experience go down.
“My birth story is one of humble and happy transformation. My initial approach to pregnancy and birth was with the assumption that everything was already figured out, that I would just follow along medical guidance and everything would go as best it could.
I tossed out this whole approach, oddly alienating in retrospect, when Jen introduced me to resources that explored birth more deeply as a cultural experience. I was presented with additional perspectives and viewpoints, which helped me to understand the development of and decision making surrounding medical interventions and women’s experiences.
The result, over the course of working with Jen, was that I steadily moved into a more attuned state, embracing my experience as a state of health, letting go of fear, and rejecting the interpretation of pregnancy, labor and birth as pathological conditions that require intervention.
For the actual birth, my little babe came a week before due, and I was far from “ready”, yet found myself in a peaceful place of accepted readiness. I was prepared to be unprepared. In fact, during the earlier process of making a birth plan, I had put in a lot of thought about various details but decided on the plan of “no plan”. Looking back, I think this was an important process that allowed me to pre-process the uncertainty of what was to come.
My contractions started early in the morning as “hmm, what’s this?” Then within hours it became “oh, hello!”, then “bloody hell!” We worked with Jen, and she was truly our doula, very aware of how impactful relationships and communication are, especially on the day of birth! Jen is amazingly strong and was equipped to absorb and guide the fluctuating emotions of both of us. For my husband, she was a touchstone, an interpreter and guide through a brand new experience.
For me, I felt Jen was my representative, my connection to the world as I went deeper and deeper into an internal space. With her support, I didn’t have to listen to anyone or take instruction or even be aware of my surroundings. This allowed me to just follow my body and embrace this whole new experience.”
As a woman giving birth, no one can take your place. But Jen was my witness, my believer, and somehow without words or touch she was me when I couldn’t be, and I in turn was her with her strength and her determination.”
What do we cover in our Empowered Birth Course?
Understanding Birth
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- History
- Terminology
- Stages of Labor
- Anatomy
- Pelvic Floor
- What labor looks like
- Needs during Birth
- Importance of Relaxation
- Levels of Consciousness
Birth Tool-kit
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- Fear, Tension, Pain Cycle and how to Avoid
- Pain Management – Pain Medication & Unmedicated Pain Relief
- Breathing Techniques
- Visualizations
- Positioning
- Massage Techniques
- What if scenarios
Birth Choices & Options
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- Active Management vs. Expectant management
- Cascade of intervention
- Touch & Relaxation
- Decision Making
- Action Plan
- Birth Plan
“When I found out I was pregnant I knew I needed Jen to support us. After seeing the enlightened content she was posting on Facebook I reached out to her. This being my first pregnancy I was excited and also unknowing in what would transpire.
I am so grateful for Jen, for all that she helped me grapple with during my first pregnancy and birth. Her encouragement came from a grounded, knowledgeable place and helped to center me many times over.
Her caring yet strong support was perceptive, she really connected to me, my needs and concerns throughout my pregnancy. We built an awesome foundation through the guided visualizations she provided and the support she provided before my baby’s birth.
During the birthing process I was in a very primal state and her guidance helped me through it with breathing techniques and the affirmations and touch that I needed to hear and feel.
I felt supported, loved, strengthened and guided throughout pregnancy and birthing and that is something me and my family will carry as a lifelong thread. We feel blessed.
I highly recommend working with Jen to prepare & plan for birth, she is ABSOLUTELY and divinely amazing!”
You will receive your birth course in a series of emails with recordings and support materials, so you can then listen, practice the exercises and watch the course at your own pace.
You also receive access to two LIVE Bi-Weekly support calls in addition to the recorded course, which provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and receive clarity.
Make sure to take advantage of our introductory price of $147!
Let’s see if we are a good fit to work together!
Schedule your Free Discovery Call today!
We offer birth & postpartum education, preparation, planning & in-person support.
This includes classes, coaching & mentoring, placenta services, doula support, belly-binding, holistic postpartum recovery, sleep consulting, birth story healing.
Our service area is Orange County, CA and nationwide depending on the services provided.
For Live-In Holistic Postpartum Services we provide support nationwide.