A Post For Dads-To-Be About Taking a Natural Birth Class

This is a post for dads.  Childbirth classes would not be nearly as fun without dads!  Our materials at Birth Boot Camp were created with him in mind.  We want birth to be an amazing experience for dad too.  It often seems that while the moms are excited for class, a lot of dads are less than excited and don't really see the point of sitting through a 10-week class.  I have this concern voiced every-now-and-then, so I wanted to take a minute to talk about it. I will be very honest, as usual. No beating around the bush.

First of all, 10 weeks is a long class. If your wife is looking into Birth Boot Camp classes, she has likely researched enough to know that Birth Boot Camp statistics are some of the best when it comes to unmedicated births. This is very cool that she wants to birth your baby without drugs -- which is better for her and your baby. The majority of women are so afraid of this experience, so it's great that she wants to embrace it. You should be proud of this, proud of her! Let's help her do this!

Only about 5-10% of women give birth without medication. This statistic matters to you because it is very likely that your care provider does not know what to do with a woman who does not want to be induced or have an epidural. I have a lot of dads question, "If women have done this since the beginning of time, why do we need a $300 class to teach us what to do?" Valid question. Here is my answer:

Women didn't have a lot of choices until about the last 100 years when it came to childbirth. Once birth moved from a woman's bedroom into the hospital, she gave up a lot of "control" in her birth. Drugs, surgical instruments, and drugs to numb her body and mind were/are readily available. Doctors were/are trained in abnormality and how to "get the baby out" by augmenting labor and birth. Cesarean birth has become so acceptable, no one questions its use and it is presumed safe, or even safer than vaginal birth by many people, including many doctors. Women today face issues that women in previous generations did not. Truly, a couple often finds themselves fighting to have an unmedicated, intervention-free birth.

A Birth Boot Camp class teaches about the process of birth, when intervention, medications, or surgery really is necessary, nutrition and exercises to stay low-risk, and possibly the most important - relaxation techniques to help her through the process. You both are so prepared for this amazing event that you will never forget. It is not just another day in your life. It does matter how the baby gets here.

Dads, let me tell you some things I've seen in couples that seem to be obstacles in this process and even a lot of relationships.

1. Money - When money becomes the issue - not paying for a doula, or a birth tub, or for classes that will empower you with the skills and knowledge you both need - this is a problem. Put yourself in her shoes for a moment. She is looking down, watching her belly getting bigger and bigger, as the reality sets in that this baby has to come out, whether it's vaginally or by c-section. A lot of women have a deep fear of being cut open and know that the best way to avoid this is to not have medications. She has a need to talk with other women who have been through this and who are going through the same thing. She needs information. Everyone around her and in the media is telling her how awful childbirth is and she is afraid of the unknown. When you say that you not willing to spend the money on her "road map" you are telling her that you don't care. It is selfish.

I've seen the look on women's faces in class when she says that her husband won't pay for a doula. Embarrassment and disappointment best describe the look, but it's followed up quickly with justifying his answer. I've seen the same women end up with a c-section. You know that they will always wonder if their husband had paid the $500 for a doula, maybe she wouldn't have had surgery. She will be the one to reflect on that for the rest of her life, not you. A woman's birth experiences mean everything to her. I know you may not understand that, but please be respectful of it. Help her on this journey. Don't place money above your wife's needs/desires when it comes to childbirth. It will be a wonderful thing for your relationship. Trust me. It shows her that you value this experience too and that you will support her.

2. "I'm too busy." What does this say to your wife? "I don't have time to do this with you. Figure it out on your own. Read a book." Again, women need to be encouraged by and learn from women who have given birth without medication. That is the entire reason I became interested in natural birth -- I had a girlfriend who gave birth without an epidural and I thought "If she can do it, so can I."  I know that everyone's lives are busy. Nothing is more important, however, than welcoming a new person into your family. Labor/birth serve as a bridge between pregnancy and parenthood.

I have seen relationships grow through the course of the 10 weeks. It is a privilege to be a part of a couple's life at this time as they work together to bring their baby into the world. I attended a birth several years ago where he was in her ear, talking to her, loving her, the entire labor. The room was dark. He was attentive and knew just what to do. I had left the room for a moment, and on my way back, I walked past a brightly lit room where a laboring mom had just arrived. Lots of nurses were gathered around her, hooking her up to the fetal monitor, placing her IV, etc., while her husband sat in a corner watching TV. This event had nothing to do with him. I walked back into the almost dark room where this laboring mom was leaning on a birth ball with her husband rubbing her back. It was such a beautiful birth. I was so struck by the fact that this couple truly brought their baby into the world together, in every sense of the word.

3. Accountability. I believe that many dads would be happy if their wife just wanted the epidural. I've known lots of dads who wish this was the case. It would make their job easier. Yes, that is true. It's easier to just leave everything up to the doctor, right? Been there, done that. Except that I was the one who wanted the epidural and my husband wished I had a desire to do it naturally. (He didn't tell me this until I actually did have #2 naturally.) He was so proud of me. It's that ignorance-is-bliss attitude. If your wife is wanting information, do not try to take this approach. Be accountable and be her advocate. The payoff is tremendous.

4. "I don't want to watch the birth. I think I'll get sick." You'll likely surprise yourself. Birth is only a few minutes. Labor is usually hours. This is when your wife really needs you. Birth is usually not really a bloody event, despite how it's portrayed on TV. It is almost impossible to work so hard for 20 hours, only to step out of the room at the time of birth. You'll be fine. Don't let this "excuse" keep you and your wife from being prepared.

5. "I can't see her in that much pain. I don't think she can do it without drugs." This is what she will hear from the whole world. Please don't let her hear it from you. You are her team! She needs your support and encouragement. And take it from me, if I can do it, she can do it. My husband says I could never have made it across the plains as a Pioneer!

I have taught classes for over 10 years and I have had many women sitting in my class that I have wondered if they could do it. They always amaze me. I have seen women transformed by this experience. Women who were shy and withdrawn find their voice and self-confidence. Birth is everything in a woman's life. She can do it!

Thank you for staying with me on this. I know this was long. I just want to see more men supporting their wives in having unmedicated births. You do not have to give birth to this baby. She does. Help make this a joyous experience in her life. One that empowers her, not degrades her or even causes her to resent you because of your lack of support. You'll be surprised at how it will transform your life as well, including the love your wife has for you as you support and encourage her. See you in class which starts November 8, 2013 and runs through January 17, 2014.

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The Importance of the Natural Birth and Breastfeeding Requirements to be a Birth Boot Camp Instructor

As most of you probably know, I wrote a childbirth education curriculum in the last year and launched it as Birth Boot Camp®.  The classes can be taken online or you can take a live class in your area taught by a certified Birth Boot Camp Instructor.

In addition to an intense training program, an instructor-in-training must have given birth without the use of any pain medication.  She also must have breastfed at least one of her babies for at least one year.  Believe me when I tell you that this policy is in place for the benefit of the students in her class. It has very little to do with the instructor.  Let me explain.

Recently, I had a brief conversation with one of my daughter's teachers.  She saw the "Birth Boot Camp" vinyl on the back of my car and asked what that was all about.  I briefly told her and she said, "Wow!  You did that without drugs?!" in her sweet Southern drawl.  She went on to say, "I don't think I've ever known anyone who's done that!"  Imagine that she wanted to be in my class and I'm teaching her how to have a natural, unmedicated birth, but I've had an epidural.  Or a shot of demorrol , right at the end.  Now she still doesn't know anyone that's ever "done it" without the drugs.  How is she ever going to do it with everyone around her NOT doing it, even her instructor? It must be impossible to have a natural childbirth, right?

While the education is invaluable, I have often felt that the most important thing people walk away from class with is confidence.  They know they can give birth without medication.  Their instructor did it, and so can they! 

I've had so many women over the years tell me that they thought of me during their labor.  "If Donna could do it, so can I!"  Husbands cheer their wives on right at the end when she wants to give up, saying, "Donna said it would be like this at the end.  You are almost there.  We're going to meet our baby soon!"  If their instructor was teaching it, but didn't -- for whatever reason -- do it, that would break their confidence. 

The graphic designer for Birth Boot Camp's (awesome) materials was in my class last year.  Because of the shape of her uterus, her baby could not turn. He was stuck in a transverse (side-lying) position, despite her trying every single thing she could to get him to turn.  She was devastated to have a c-section, but she really didn't have a choice.  Thank goodness for modern medicine that could give her a healthy baby.  She is a total advocate for natural birth.  She knows the material.  She was completely ready for labor and I'm certain she would have "done it."  Unfortunately, she never got to experience a single "real" contraction.  She asked at one point about the possibility of teaching Birth Boot Camp and I had to tell her no.  I've had to tell a few people no.  It's not personal.  I love this girl, but it's not about her!

If a woman went all the way through labor without drugs and was even pushing and then had a c-section right at the end, how are the students going to truly trust birth in her class?  The same might happen to them.   And it might anyway.  The point is, learning how to give birth naturally is as much about what's going on in the head as with the body.  A woman can teach "prepared" childbirth education without having had an unmedicated birth, but in order to teach how to have a natural birth, we feel strongly that she should have done that herself.   There are other courses a couple can take if they want an epidural or c-section, but that is not what we do at Birth Boot Camp.

The role of the educator is unique.  It's not clinical, like a midwife or an OB.  It is not just supportive of "whatever choice they would like" - like a doula.  Birth Boot Camp is all about natural birth and we deliver a really good road map to get there.  A good teacher - no matter the setting or subject - teaches on a topic that she is not only passionate about but knowledgeable as well.

Sarah Clark, aka Mama Birth, helped write the Birth Boot Camp curriculum, and she tells of having 3 doctors in one of her classes.  She was quite intimidated - or so she says! - and they all said they knew the mechanics of birth (one had caught 200 babies), but they were coming to her class because she had DONE IT.  Boom.

The fact remains, unless you have done it, you can't know what it's like.  You cannot grasp the loss of modesty, the time warp, the inability to make a decision, or the fact that, in the thick of labor, you won't even remember this is all for a baby!  Talking about these things but not having had experienced them does not carry the same weight.  This carries over into so many areas of our lives:  Would you learn to play piano from someone who loved music but didn't play?  Would you go to a marriage counselor who had never been married?

I know things happen in labor.  I've had my fair share of epidurals and c-sections from class. They are usually necessary, sometimes even life-saving.  Couples that sat through my class were able to make informed decisions in their labor.  My heart goes out to those women who wanted a natural birth and didn't have one.  I know there are women who have not been able to have children, but if they did, they'd want a natural birth.

As for the breastfeeding requirement, we have actually accepted a few trainees who have not been able to breastfeed for the required one-year minimum.  We have a fabulous lactation consultant, Mellanie Sheppard, on our Advisory Board that we took these special cases to in order to help us understand what was possibly going on.   Again, my heart goes out to these women who tried and tried to breastfeed, but had true physical reasons that they were not able to.  With this requirement, we are trying to avoid are the "I had to go back to work" or "He just wasn't interested at 6 months anymore and we quit."  Sometimes breastfeeding, like birth, is hard.  It is so worth it to push through those challenges.  We want our instructors to be a support and example to the couples in their classes.  The recommended amount of time to breastfeed, according to the AAP, is at least one year, and according to the World Health Organization, 2 years and beyond is recommended.  We want to be the childbirth education program that is encouraging these standards not only on paper, but in practice and example.

Birth Boot Camp Advisory Board

Ultimately, Birth Boot Camp is about teaching couples to have a natural birth.  That is the Instructor's responsibility, and she goes through a thorough training process to be sure she is ready to do that.  Each couple that takes a Birth Boot Camp class - online or in-person - receives the Breastfeeding Class, The Ultimate MRE, on DVD.  They get a complete course taught by Mellanie, our lactation consultant, and the instructor will lead some discussion on breastfeeding in class, but they are not responsible for teaching the full breastfeeding course.  Thus, there is some leniency with this requirement.

We are not the "judge and jury" on a woman's birth or breastfeeding experience.  That is entirely up to her. We are not passing judgement or saying there is a right way or a wrong way.  These are simply our guidelines for our instructors and we feel they are important in order to help a couple achieve their desire for a natural birth.

Dani Long, BBCI

If you are interested in how the instructors feel about the requirements to become a Birth Boot Camp Instructor, you might enjoy this post from Dani Long, who recently completed her training all the way from Spokane, WA.  There is pride in completing an intense program and our instructors are ready to teach!

P.S.  I didn't write this post to start a fight.  I've had a couple of people sincerely ask for explanation and I thought others would probably like to hear it as well.  I'm a nice person.  This isn't personal. I love you guys. Peace out.

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Why Become a Birth Boot Camp Instructor?

As our first workshop approaches, we are getting so excited!  The Birth Boot Camp materials are amazing, easy to use and understand, and all original.  Indulge me as I tell you a bit more about what sets Birth Boot Camp apart from other childbirth education programs.

The Birth Boot Camp Instructor training workshops will be hands-on.  Most of the book-learning will be done before coming to the workshop and the Study Guide will be completed.  That will give us a chance to focus on learning the curriculum, how to run a class, take them through relaxation exercises, and ultimately, how to become a great Instructor. 

Just a reminder:  If you have given birth without medication and breastfed your baby for at least one year, you are invited to become a Birth Boot Camp Instructor.  Check out the requirements here.

The response towards the Student Field Manual has been awesome.   The Field Manual is laid out to supplement the weekly classes -- additional information and things to discuss between partners and care providers.  There are lots of reminders for partners, so they have a quick reference during labor. Each couple that takes a Birth Boot Camp class also receives the Breastfeeding Class:  The Ultimate MRE on DVD, taught by lactation consultant, Mellanie Sheppard. 

Sarah Clark (aka Mama Birth) and I wrote the Instructor's Manual and we are so proud of it!  It is so functional, providing Instructors with a detailed outline of the curriculum and games.   We have made teaching so easy!

Birth Boot Camp utilizes the technology available to us by using video and online classes. These are available to Instructors and students alike.  As part of their workshop fee, Instructors are given several supplemental video resources to use in their classes.  I've always enjoyed inviting visitors to class (doulas, chiropractors, etc.), so Birth Boot Camp created videos with various professionals answering a number of questions about their profession and how their services can help achieve a natural birth.  Instructors are encouraged to bring in local resources or use the Birth Boot Camp videos.  Other interesting topics include Babywearing and Cloth Diapering 101.  Instructors should use their discretion as to what videos/visitors their class would benefit.  Use just one video or use them all.

Instructors will also receive all the Birth Boot Camp birth videos with their workshop fee.  We anticipate updating videos periodically.

Birth Boot Camp created a website especially for Instructors. This is where they buy their Student Field Manuals, breastfeeding DVDs, and supplies to run their business.  It also provides links to stay current on the research and evidence as well as printables for the games.  We want Instructors to feel supported on their journey in helping other couples achieve a natural birth, and will foster that community through the Birth Boot Camp forums on the Instructor website. 

The workshops are filling up for September and November.  If you are interested, you do need to allow yourself plenty of time to complete the reading and the Study Guide.  You are encouraged to take notes as you do your reading, as the Final Exam (taken at the Workshop) is open note.  We recommend allowing 6-9 months to complete your reading and Study Guide.

We just posted the location of the workshops through 2013 on the website.  There has been interest in the workshops being held across the country, but we are not in a position to do that at this time.  We have a whole team of people involved in the training workshops and are not able to shuttle them across the country just yet.  Maybe one day.  In the meantime, Dallas-Ft. Worth is very easy to travel to, and we've tried to make it as affordable as possible. 

The application process is super easy.  Simply fill out your application.   After approval, pay your deposit (or full price for a discount), get your login for the Instructor website, download your Study Guide, and get to work!  Our certification team is awesome and is available for questions at contact@birthbootcamp.com.

See you at the Workshop!

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Confessions of a Former Babywise Advocate

 A few years ago I had a mom in class that asked a lot of questions about Baby Wise vs. Attachment Parenting and it spurred me to write a blog post on the topic.  Fast forward 2 1/2 years and this same mom wants to become a Birth Boot Camp Instructor.  I knew she had "done" Baby Wise with her baby and that is not what Birth Boot Camp teaches.  She came clean and told me her story of scheduling her 1st baby and practicing Attachment Parenting with baby #2.   Thank you, Rachel, for sharing your story here.

"I am writing this post in hopes that I can encourage mothers in the art of mothering. I prepared for my first birth like many moms. Regular prenatal care, vitamin supplementation, proper protein, reading birth books, taking natural childbirth classes, and making a birth plan were all a part of the wonderful anticipation of being a mother for the first time.

We all receive tons of unsolicited advice when expecting, don't we? It may come from family and friends, but some times complete strangers at the check out, checking you out, nodding their head) saying, "So.... when are you due; pretty soon, huh?" I first heard of "Baby Wise" in line at a check out, then from a friend who it to me. I put it on my list to read along with all the other books Donna had us reading for class. 

One thing about me is, my personality lends itself to a schedule.  I like having a game plan and being in control. My mother always motivated me with check lists and it actually worked. I used to put things on the list I had already done, just so I could check them off and see the accomplishments. Yes, I am one of those "A-type" people. This may have been because I was a first born, or because of the influence of my mother who was a first born, or just because that's my God given organized personality. Any how, when seeking a plan for my firstborn, I went ahead and read "Baby Wise" because I had heard a baby needed to be on a schedule.

Our first born daughter was born at home! So, we got the unmedicated, natural birth we had planned for and loved the experience. I remember saying to my husband, directly after birth, "If that is how birth is, than we can have lots more kids!" I had my husband, midwives, their assistants, my doula, and our new baby all in my master bathroom at the time of her birth. I believe there were nine in all.

She latched on to nurse like a pro just after birth. She loved her sling, "The Over the Shoulder Baby Holder". After much research, we decided not to vaccinate at all. My two main goals were to exclusively breastfeed our baby for the first year and to have her sleeping through the night by at least 10 weeks. What was I thinking!!! What I did not know at first was that my two goals were diametrically opposed. I went on believing that if I scheduled her and followed the eat, wake, sleep pattern like what the "Baby Wise" book said, I could have the best of both worlds. "Baby Wise" made us think that if I we were going to be wise parents, we would follow a written schedule.

I live my born-again life with integrity towards God. 1 Corinthians 15:3b-4 "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." I believe a life worth living is found only in knowing and serving Jesus Christ. I love my husband and we both wanted to give our daughter the very best. Unfortunately, we were misinformed. 

It is true that a baby can sleep through the night at 8 weeks, can move to a crib in his/her own room at 6 weeks, can be a happy baby, and can nurse well for a while. I know because mine did. If there was ever a "just like the book baby" it was Alayna. Her patterns of eat/wake/sleep were exactly as the book said they would be. When she went "off her schedule," this is what we call now going through growth spurts, teething, or crying. Sadly, we looked in the book to see what to do for her, as if it were an all purpose magical baby users manuel. I hate to say it, but it's true. People stopped me all the time to tell me what a sweet, happy baby she was. They told me she was an easy baby and I was "lucky" to have her sleeping through the night so soon. She was very contented and seemed to be thriving in every way we knew of at that time until she was 7 months old.

I began seeing her demand for more milk and I was not producing enough to satisfy her. Up till then, nursing had been wonderful for us, but I soon realized that her metabolism was geared for large amounts of food at set intervals and that my milk supply was hindered by scheduling. It made my body so rhythmic that it would not let down until a certain time had lapsed. Unlike demand feeding, where a child communicates hunger and mother's milk is always there ready to flow! We were both getting so frustrated. She was hungry and unhappy and I was worried my dreams were vanishing. I went out and bought the best pump I could find. I had never tried a pump before until she was 8 months old. While this did help my supply a little, it turned out to be a big pain. I was nursing my daughter on schedule and tied down to a pump the rest of the time. I began realizing that my 2 goals were not compatible. I wish I had known that exclusive demand feedings at the breast were the most healthy and natural way to go. Sure I was told, but I had not experienced the freedom from a schedule yet.

I shared my frustrations with a close friend who recommended us visit her "Natural Doctor" in Houston, TX. My husband and I prayed about it and decided to get some professional help. We had never been to a Wellness Doctor before. Dr. Hopkins at CWA taught us many things about wellness, healthy eating, nursing, and how our bodies work best eating foods designed for us specifically. I was given whole food supplements to strengthen and richen my milk supply. He taught us and challenged us not to schedule our daughter anymore. In time a demand nursed baby will find his/her own routine that promotes his/her individual health. We prayed some more and chose to put a fresh priority on our baby's optimum health. We quit "Baby Wise" thinking and stepped out in faith to the unknown world of possibilities available through what the book calls, "Attachment Parenting!" My husband and I tried to un-schedule our 10 month old. The most surprising thing happened. I could not, try as I might, to un-schedule her. It was the hardest thing in the world, but I was able to get off the breast pump and go back to just nursing her for another 4 months. Proverbs 13:20 "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise:" I am so thankful for the true wisdom of our Christian Doctor.

It was so impossible to unschedule our scheduled baby. For 8 months out of 10, that schedule had become such a part of her we could not separate the two. I am sad to say, she only knew life through the "glasses" of a schedule. She was quite addicted to it. I mean, if she did not have meals at set times her sugar levels would plummet. With it, came crashing down tears and unrest. If we were away from home during "nap time" she would have a melt down. She seemed to "need" her schedule for weeks and months after we took it away. The regular ups and downs of daily living without a schedule were hard on her at first. It was not until she weaned herself at 14 months (too early for me) that we really saw full improvement in her ability to enjoy life to it's fullest. Who knows how long she may have nursed if we had never introduced a schedule?  Her mood swings went away and her over all health improved by 94% from her first check up with Dr. Hopkins at 10 months old.

I always felt very attached to my baby, but compared to my second born, she was actually too independent.  I would even say, she was unattached emotionally and we didn't even know what we were missing.  I am grateful our 3-year-old has recovered, but we will never have those early years to do over again.

After our second home birth, we talked about how, in some ways, it would be like parenting for the first time all over again. I was looking forward to guilt-free co-sleeping! I loved it and we got better rest than we did following "Baby Wise".  My husband cherished more time with our baby in our bed than I had ever dreamed possible. And because we were doing many things more naturally like demand-feeding, it was easy to go on dates. We were not on a time schedule dependent on when the baby would need to be in bed . 

Hannah nursed exclusively for 12 months and 1 week. Around 13 months we bought a king size bed to accommodate for needed space. I did not want space to be the reason to move her out of our bed before she was ready. She still nurses on demand and loves snuggling in her sling at 18 months old. I had never allowed myself the privilege of napping with my first baby in my bed, so I made up for it with our second. She stayed in our bed at night for over a year and then occasionally on an as-needed basis. She was still in our room in a pack-and-play until one particular night when she motioned "up, up" to the old out-of-use crib in her sister's room. Now that Hannah is 18 months old she sleeps in her own bed in her big sister's room because she wants to do things just liked Alayna. If she is sick and needs to nurse more frequently she knows she is always welcome back with us.

Recognizing that God has called me to function as His agent defines my task as a mother. Ibelieve our culture and "Baby Wise" have reduced parenting to providing care. Parents often see the task in these narrow terms. The child must have food, clothes, a bed and some quality time. In sharp contrast to such a weak view, God has called me to a more profound task than being a care-provider.

Mothering is a pervasive task. It does not end even when we are sleeping. In our homes we need to parent our children in God's behalf. Whether waking, walking, talking, singing, resting, or nursing, I must be involved in helping my children to understand life, herself and her needs from a biblical perspective. The best advice I can leave with you for mothering comes from Deuteronomy 6:5-7 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." 

The task God has given me is NOT one that can be conveniently SCHEDULED."

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What's in a Name?

It's a tough thing to name a baby.  Their identity is wrapped up in his/her name forever.  The responsibility is huge.  If you missed the post from last week, I've given birth!  Our baby's name is Birth Boot Camp!

A brief recap:  Birth Boot Camp is a 10-week online childbirth education course and we'll also be training instructors to teach live classes.  The curriculum is modern and relevant, no matter where you are planning to give birth.

There have been a lot of questions this week about where the name came from.

First, we wanted a name that let people know this is not a fluffed up class.  It will be hard work and you'll come out stronger on the other side of it. 

Second, we wanted dads to know this class is for them too. Our branding and color schemes were created with him in mind.  He plays a crucial role in the pregnancy, labor, and birth -- even if he doesn't know it yet!

And third, this course is about natural birth.  In fact, after many hours of debate, the Birth Boot Camp Board established the importance of an instructor having had a natural birth in order to teach others how to have a natural birth. 

Rest assured, there are no whistles or push-ups involved, although we did run with the military theme for the names of the classes:

Defining the Mission:  Why Natural Birth?

P.T. & Chow:  Physical Training and Nutrition

Setting Up Camp: Choosing Where to Birth

 Chain of Command:  Who is in Charge of Your Birth?

Countdown to "D" Day

Deployment:  Baby on the Move

Supporting Arms:  Mom's Most Important Ally

Cadence:  The Sights and Sounds of Natural Childbirth

The Fog of War:  Keeping a Clear Head in Labor

The Plan of Attack:  Establishing Your Priorities and Making a Plan

Mission Accomplished!   The Immediate Postpartum Period

Life With a New Recruit

Check out more about the classes here.  While we like to think the names are catchy, there is so much more behind them besides being wickedly clever.  

If you want a natural birth, we will help you get there.  We'll do our part and you do yours!  Welcome to BIRTH BOOT CAMP!

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Bye-Bye Bradley (TM)! Hello BIRTH BOOT CAMP!

I've been writing this post in my head for weeks, deciding how I want to share this exciting news.

 If you read my blog, you probably know that I have taught Bradley (TM) classes for nearly a decade.  It's given me a great foundation and I am so grateful for the opportunities I've had to teach hundreds of couples over the years about natural childbirth.  It is well known that I had my classes on DVD and had couples all over the world participate in my extensive class.  In my humble opinion, the class was thorough, but not professionally filmed or edited.  The information got out there and met a very real need for couples around the world.  Each year, my DVDs have gotten more popular.  I've been to the post office nearly every day for the last couple of years.   It was time to move on and make classes more accessible.

I have no interest in tearing down The Bradley Method (TM), but simply, things need to be updated.   I must admit, I longed for updated videos, workbooks, and handouts, just like my students.  My class evolved over the years into something that was uniquely my own.   Frankly, it was time to leave and write my own curriculum.

I am incredibly blessed with a team of women to work with, each having a unique skill-set and having an appreciation for each others' strengths.  We have created a new childbirth education program called Birth Boot Camp.  It includes online classes and also live, instructor-led classes.  I'm dying to tell you all about it:

First, the online classes are what inspired the program in the beginning.  I hired a professional videographer, Ceci of Ceci-Jane Photography (you've all seen her birth videos) to record and edit my newly written curriculum.  My live classes are peppered with birth stories that illustrate my points on various topics.  Instead of me telling the stories, you'll hear from the couples themselves, as it's all edited into the classes.  We also interviewed several professionals on various topics, including chiropractic care, doulas, massage therapy, fitness, and you'll hear from several midwives throughout the 10-week series.  It's childbirth education -- documentary-style!  These professionals, and many more, have contributed to the completeness of the Birth Boot Camp curriculum.

As I shared the curriculum with select individuals, there was excitement.  Some of these women had been searching for a good, solid curriculum and organization to certify with, but for numerous reasons, they didn't feel like a good fit.  Until Birth Boot Camp.   Sparing you all the details, we decided to give women the opportunity to certify with Birth Boot Camp and become natural childbirth educators themselves.   The response has been overwhelming and we are humbled -- and excited!  If you would like to bring Birth Boot Camp to your community, the above link will tell you everything you need to know.

I roped in some pretty great people to help me, including someone you might recognize.  Sarah Clark, author of Mama Birth, has been an integral part of the program.  In fact, she even wrote all the relaxation exercises!   She will be at the workshops, teaching new instructors tips and games for their classes.  Our Board is diverse and well- rounded.

Together, we created a 130-page Field Manual that comes with each class. In addition, every couple that takes a Birth Boot Camp class -- live or online -- will receive a Breastfeeding DVD, recorded by lactation consultant, Mellanie Sheppard, entitled "Breastfeeding:  The Ultimate MRE". 

Oh yeah!  And we have current birth videos! 

For more information, check out the Class Descriptions to find out more about what Birth Boot Camp teaches.  We are running an introductory offer until May 1 (Tim McGraw's birthday) of $200 for the online classes.

Currently, live classes are being booked in CA, OK, and TX.  Check with your instructor on her prices.

Keep up with what we are doing at the Birth Boot Camp Facebook page.  If you would like more info about Birth Boot Camp, visit our website or contact us here. 

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Why NOTJust a Hospital Childbirth Class?

After the home water birth of our third child, it was becoming evident that I was going to have to teach childbirth classes. I was bombarding every pregnant woman I encountered with information about why natural birth was the best (remember, I have done it both ways) and she shouldn't even consider the epidural. I found myself warning moms-to-be about the interventions in the hospital she was certain to encounter. I loved playgroups and baby showers, as they were places that these topics were certain to arise.

Abby was nearing her 2nd birthday when I finally decided to send in my application to be a Bradley instructor. I was consumed with information on natural birth for the next several months. I lived and breathed it. I had some anxiety about how I would get students in my class. The internet, even in the last 6 years, has come a long way. The Bradley website was in its infant stages, for sure.

I remember calling one of the local hospitals and talking to them about teaching natural childbirth classes there. She laughed and told me, first of all, that no one wants a birth without medication; and second, I would not be allowed to teach Bradley in a hospital. The curriculum was set. I would not be allowed to teach why an IV is not necessary, or why intermittent monitoring is safer for mom and baby than continuous fetal monitoring. The list goes on and on.

Yes, I would have more people in my classes, but I would be working for the hospital. Not for my couples. I could not teach them about evidence-based care. I knew immediately I couldn't teach in a hospital. Women deserve to be informed. I, as an Independent Natural Childbirth Educator, do not work for any doctor, hospital, or even a midwife. I work for the couples I teach. I am not restricted on the information I can teach. Most childbirth educators in the hospitals are extremely frustrated by this, and yet, their hands are tied.

Here is a rare-known fact: A hospital needs to maintain an 80% epidural rate in order to keep an anesthesiologist on the clock 24 hours a day. It's big money. Every intervention racks up a bigger bill. The hospital wants you to have the epidural! They don't want you to have information that will empower you to make better choices that will cost them money. This is absolutely true. U.S. hospital policies are based on financial considerations. They are not based on evidence, research, or good medical care. Birth is the largest source of income for American hospitals totaling more than $50 billion dollars on childbirth, more than any other country in the world, and yet with some of the worst outcomes in infant and maternal mortality.

Don't you see the irony? It's a natural process, that, if allowed, doesn't need intervention. But what a money-maker. It reminds me of "A Bug's Life," where the ants do whatever the grasshoppers say because they are afraid of what might happen if they don't. The grasshoppers know that the ants could overpower them in numbers, but they do everything they can to intimidate the ants to "keep them in their place." The grasshoppers even convince the ants that there are bigger bugs that they will protect them from, but in reality, the only ones they need protecting from is the grasshoppers. Don't you love the end of the movie when Flik sees the fear in Hopper's eyes and he realizes that they are stronger than the grasshoppers, that it is the grasshoppers that need them -- not the other way around?

And so it is with the doctors. They create fear. Childbirth classes in the hospital prepare you to be a good patient, not a good consumer. You are told what to expect when you get to the hospital. There is no preparation for natural birth. It's not "if" you have an epidural, but "when" you have an epidural. Notice the way it is phrased, also. The epidural is given ownership. Women say "my epidural," not "an epidural." The nurses say things like, "Honey, you better get your epidural now while you still can."

If you are giving birth in a hospital, I actually do encourage you to take your hospital's childbirth class so that you know what they expect of you. Learn their policies. I've been told by people who have done this that the hospital is like "training wheels" for my class!

People are reading this blog all over the country. If you are interested in doing my class by DVD, great. I'll get you all set up. Regardless of whether you are able to take my class, you need to be in an independent class, outside the hospital. Be sure your instructor works for you and no one else. You'll get the evidence-based information you need and deserve.

Women don't need all this craziness surrounding birth. We certainly don't need to be spending the kind of money that we do in order to get our babies out of our bodies. Your body will do that all by itself, for free.

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