Stork and Cradle
Empowering Childbirth and Parenting Preparation
Empowering Childbirth and Parenting Preparation
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About Stork and Cradle
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We at Stork and Cradle strongly believe birth is a normal physical, spiritual, and social rite
of passage for families. Women and their partners are encouraged to tap into their inner
stores of strength, confidence, knowledge, and intuition to prepare themselves to give birth.
These classes are a soulful approach to birthing and breastfeeding success. We are here to
mentor you in giving birth as necessary for your body, your beliefs, and your baby.
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:
1. Childbirth is a profound rite of passage, not a medical event (even when medical care is
part of the birth)
2. The essence of childbirth preparation is self-discovery, not assimilating obstetric
information.
3. Active, creative self-expression is critical to childbirth preparation.
4. The purpose of childbirth preparation is to prepare mothers to give birth-in-awareness,
not to achieve a specific birth outcome.
5. Pregnancy and birth outcome are influenced by a variety of factors, but can not be
controlled by planning.
6. 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.
7. 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).
8. Pain is an inevitable part of childbirth, yet much can be done to ease suffering.
9. Fathers help best as birth guardians or loving partners, not as coaches; they also need
support.
of passage for families. Women and their partners are encouraged to tap into their inner
stores of strength, confidence, knowledge, and intuition to prepare themselves to give birth.
These classes are a soulful approach to birthing and breastfeeding success. We are here to
mentor you in giving birth as necessary for your body, your beliefs, and your baby.
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:
1. Childbirth is a profound rite of passage, not a medical event (even when medical care is
part of the birth)
2. The essence of childbirth preparation is self-discovery, not assimilating obstetric
information.
3. Active, creative self-expression is critical to childbirth preparation.
4. The purpose of childbirth preparation is to prepare mothers to give birth-in-awareness,
not to achieve a specific birth outcome.
5. Pregnancy and birth outcome are influenced by a variety of factors, but can not be
controlled by planning.
6. 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.
7. 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).
8. Pain is an inevitable part of childbirth, yet much can be done to ease suffering.
9. Fathers help best as birth guardians or loving partners, not as coaches; they also need
support.
Copyright Stork and Cradle, 2008