Childbirth Education

As a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator my philosophy of birth is:

• Birth is normal, natural and healthy.
• The experience of birth profoundly affects women and their families
• Women's inner wisdom guides them through birth.
• Women's confidence and ability to give birth are either enhanced or diminished by the care provider and place of birth.
• Women have a right to give birth free from routine medical interventions.
• Birth can safely take place in birth centers and homes.
• Childbirth education empowers women to make informed choices in health care, to assume responsibility for ther health and to trust their inner wisdom.

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Care Practices That Support Normal Birth

Research reveals not only the dangers of interfering in the natural process of birth, but also maternity care practices that help keep birth normal. The WHO identifies four care practices, and Lamaze adds two more (marked with asterisks: *). These practices ensure the best care for birthing women around the world.

• Labor should begin on its own.
• Laboring women should be free to move throughout labor. *
• Laboring women should have continuous support from others throughout labor.
• There should be no routine interventions during labor and birth. *
• Women should not give birth on their backs.
• Mothers and babies should not be separated after birth and should have unlimited opportunity for breastfeeding.

Group Series beginning monthly in Philadelphia.  Lamaze classes support, promote, and protect the normal birth process, by teaching women and their family practices that ensure the best care for them and their babies. The four week class series focuses on preparing for labor and delivery. Relaxation, breathing, natural comfort measures, and the role of the support person are emphasized. Other topics include common variations of labor and birth, hospital procedures, medication, cesarean delivery, and postpartum care.$200 per couple

Register with The Maternal Wellness Center of Mt. Airy
215.713.2666
(Space is limited)

New York City Schedule

Refresher: Childbirth preparation for the 2nd (or 3rd) time around
"Take time out of parenthood to refocus on birth." For those who have completed a childbirth preparation series, a great review of relaxation techniques, breathing, natural comfort measures, and the role of the support person. Opportunity to discuss the joys and frustration of your past births and make plans for the next. Other topics include normal labor and common variations, hospital procedures, medication, cesarean delivery, and postpartum care.

$90 per couple

Register with The Maternal Wellness Center of Mt. Airy
215.713.2666

Preparation for Parenthood: Baby Care & Parenting
"It's not just about changing a diaper". Hands On. Small Classes. A Comprehensive Parenting Series. A tapestry that encourages prospective parents to view the baby as "the expert" in guiding them through the early months and not to expect perfection from themselves. Discussion includes normal newborn behaviors, appearance and abilities, coping with the physical, emotional and relationship changes after the baby's arrival, coping with fatigue, time management, getting help, dealing with criticism and unsolicited advice, postpartum depression, sexuality and more. Practice the fundamentals of infant care: how to bathe, diaper, dress and comfort a baby. Identify signs of illness, and discuss safety issues.

$75 per couple

Register with The Maternal Wellness Center of Mt. Airy
215.713.2666

New York City Schedule

Private Classes Available upon request.

An evolving body of research repeatedly shows the danger of interfering without a valid reason in the natural processes of pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. Any intervention, no matter how simple it seems, may disrupt the normal process and create problems that, in turn, must be managed with more interventions. All interventions have side effects that can be risky for both mothers and babies. In light of such evidence, the World Health Organization (WHO), a leader in the international public health effort to promote normal birth, says that maternity care should aim to achieve a healthy mother and child with the least intervention safely possible.

In the United States, reality falls far short of this goal. Most births in the U.S. today are interrupted by procedures designed to start, maintain, and finish labor according to an arbitrary schedule. Few women experience their pregnant bodies unfolding and opening in their own time, in their own way. Ironically, normal birth isn’t the norm for American women.