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Medical inductions are on the rise, causing birthing women and labor support providers to spend additional hours or days in the hospital, unable to labor at home as long as possible, anchored down to tubing and susceptible to other interventions, including the possibility of increased vaginal exams, increased risk of infection, the need for an unplanned epidural, and anxiety about the unexpected.  What can mothers do prenatally to "prepare" for an unplanned induction? 
 
Which scenarios would make an induction necessary for the mother and baby's safety (rather than a convenience), and what can be done to reduce the chances of these situations?  We will discuss the psychological response to an induction, and techniques to remain confident and optimistic about labor with an induction.  We will also discuss the fear that an induction will lead to a cesarean, and how to maintain focus on cesarean prevention and a positive birth experience.  This class is open to doulas, midwives, and mothers. 

Date/time:  Wednesday, August 5 at 7:30-9 PM Eastern time.

(If you have a coupon CODE, do not use PayPal.  Contact us here with the CODE.)

Are you a mother, doula, or midwife who has experienced a challenging pushing situation?  Or are you planning your first vaginal delivery, and wondering about this very important part of the birth experience?  Join us to discuss the safest and most comfortable ways to push out a baby, according to scientific evidence, using techniques that can be practiced anywhere but that are little-known in modern hospitals. 
 
If you are planning natural childbirth, will you be allowed to push "naturally"?  What's really the best way to push with an epidural?  Can the pushing phase safely last 8 hours or more?  How can a woman practice the best pushing techniques -- while she's still pregnant?  Pushing is often when medical staff take the most control, so what can a mother do prenatally, and during birth itself, to enlist their support for her needs?  This course will provide inspiration and strength to those who have, or have not yet, given birth.

Date/Time:  Available as a recording, 132  minutes.

(If you have a coupon CODE, do not use PayPal.  Contact us here with the CODE.)

For women who are planning to breastfeed, as well as doulas and midwives, what happens immediately after birth?  Should breastfeeding happen before the first hour has passed, or does it take an hour for the first feeding to start?  How many times should a mother nurse on Day One?  Is anything coming out of the breast, and if so, how much?  What is the best technique for the first feeding, which is usually not taught in hospitals?  Join us to discuss these questions about the importance of the baby's earliest feedings.
 
What is the one thing a woman can do prenatally that is even more helpful than taking a breastfeeding class?  Will the techniques you learn in the hospital really be what you need to know when you get home with the baby?  What is the difference in breastfeeding success if your baby sleeps in your room or the nursery?  And how can health care professionals utilize more successful breastfeeding techniques on the first day? 

Date/Time:  Available as a recording, 103 minutes.

(If you have a coupon CODE, do not use PayPal.  Contact us here with the CODE.)

Are you a mother-to-be who strongly wishes to avoid an epidural? Or are you a doula or midwife who has seen a client experience disappointment, guilt, or even trauma after an unplanned cesarean? With hospital epidural rates at approximately 85 percent for first-time mothers in the US, and over 50 percent in Canada and other countries, even women using doulas and midwives need to be prepared for the possible use of interventions.

How should doulas and midwives talk to their clients prenatally about these issues, when it may be the last thing parents (or doulas) wish to focus on? What kind of follow-up is appropriate for mothers who encounter unexpected medical procedures? Doulas and midwives may experience emotional after-effects as well. Talking about interventions prenatally will not cause them to happen – but may help prevent the stress of worrying about them silently in labor.

Join us to discuss effective and empowering strategies that can be employed before, during, and after birth in these situations. 

Date/time:  Available as a recording, 105 minutes.

(If you have a coupon CODE, do not use PayPal.  Contact us here with the CODE.)