Sammamish, WA 98075

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Description:

You are registering for a 7 week natural childbirth education course meeting each Thursday beginning April 28th, 2011. Because of schedule conflict this is not 8 weeks and will be a reduced cost of $265. Please submit a $50 deposit that will hold your place in class. The balance will be due at the first class meeting.

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My first professional support experience was incredible! I was able to witness first hand the ability of the body, as it was created, to labor and birth. The birth took place at home with a supporting midwife, the midwife’s assistant, the parents, and myself. Mom and Dad had done an incredible amount of research and preparation to make the most informed and responsible decisions for their family. It was so wonderful to see considering the lack of knowledge many parents have concerning their own birth experience. Mom wanted a natural birth, of course, but beyond this she was believing for a “supernatural” birth. That is, a birth that was pain-free and Dad and I were standing in agreement with her for this…

I got the first call around 6AM one morning that labor had begun.   There was no question that this was it as Mom had to really focus through each one. The contractions were 3-5 minutes apart and lasting 40 seconds. This was it! Mom and Dad did not feel the need for any support at this time so I waited through the morning for updates. Around 10AM Dad called and said they were headed to the chiropractor for an adjustment. I was quite surprised at this especially hearing later how far into labor this couple really was. The chiropractor, also the midwife’s husband, sent them to the birth center where the midwife worked. The next call was just before 11Am. Mom and Dad were at the birth center and were considering staying since Mom was 7 -8 cm dilated! Mom later told me she was so surprised herself at this. She was doing so well and in her own words, she said labor had been “easy”. This is not a word many women can use to describe their labor, but it is something I believe is possible for most. They decided to head home which is where I met them.

I met Mom at her car door where she looked completely peaceful, happy, and absolutely beautiful. Mom walked and leaned on Dad or me through a few contractions while the tub was being filled. The room was dimly lit and we had the sound of ocean waves playing on a CD. Mom could feel the amniotic sac bulging and later told me she was worried that it could be the umbilical cord. This is something she had learned in her childbirth class, which she found difficult because much of what was taught instilled fear for her. This was the only point that she had some fear which was quickly alleviated when the midwife told her it was just the water. I found this a great illustration of the fact that because we are often taught to view birth as an emergency situation, it is so easy for moms to be afraid of what is happening during birth. It is often this fear that increases and causes pain during labor. Mom then labored in the tub for the next couple of hours handling each contraction beautifully, resting and even dreaming briefly in-between. She was very inwardly focused, keeping her eyes closed but always holding Dad’s and My hand to remind her that we were there. She later told me that it was very helpful just knowing we were there with her. Once it was time to push, Mom was still a little uncertain. She said later that deep down, she was waiting for it to get a lot harder and waiting for that point when she felt she might not be able to do it. Because this never came she didn’t really believe it could be time. It was time and after a very short time pushing, their baby girl was born in the water and into her Dad’s hands and then directly onto her Mother’s chest.

Mom had a completely pain-free birth. She would later describe it to me as “intense” but certainly not painful.