Our mission is to empower women and their partners. We give you tools to make informed decisions and feel confident. This is important in order to build a trusting relationship with obstetricians and midwives so you may have a satisfying birth experience.
Philosophical Assumptions and Guiding Principles for classes:
- Childbirth is a profound rite of passage, not a medical event (even when medical care is part of the birth)
- The essence of childbirth preparation is self-discovery, not assimilating obstetric information.
- Active, creative self-expression is critical to childbirth preparation.
- The purpose of childbirth preparation is to prepare mothers to give birth-in-awareness, not to achieve a specific birth outcome.
- Pregnancy and birth outcome are influenced by a variety of factors, but can not be controlled by planning.
- In order to help parents mobilize their coping resources, it is critical for childbirth classes to acknowledge that unexpected, unwelcome events may happen during labor.
- Parents deserve support for any birth option which might be right for them (whether it be the use of drugs, technology, home birth, or bottle-feeding).
- Pain is an inevitable part of childbirth, yet much can be done to ease suffering.
- Fathers help best as birth guardians or loving partners, not as coaches; they also need support
