I’ve been teaching The Bradley
Method since 2008 and have been supporting moms and dads birthing in hospitals
as a doula since 2009. I’ve
been assisting families birthing at home and in birth centers as a birth
assistant since 2015. I
have four kids whose four labors have taught me many lessons!
I’ve found that
preparing for birth is a little bit like preparing to climb a mountain. Anticipating
the climb, you might not even know what trail you’ll be on, what the weather
will be like, or what challenges you’ll meet on the way.
Some people's births might be like an American Ninja Warrior obstacle course
superimposed on the mountain. Even though we don't know in advance what mountain
or birth conditions will be like, your experience for either one will be
improved when you prepare physically, mentally, and emotionally for the
universal basics, as well as the unexpected aspects! Birth
is unpredictable, and excellent preparation helps parents be ready for any challenge that comes their way!
Preparation for climbing
a mountain would include how to prevent blisters, how to recognize the early
signs of a blister, and the knowledge that a blister needs immediate treatment! There
are many aspects of labor that are just like that blister! If
you’ve had a blister on a hiking trip, you know that a blister can make the
experience miserable, but it doesn’t mean that mountain climbing is miserable. This
is why I do childbirth education—to help parents avoid the “blisters.” I
do childbirth education so that dads have the knowledge and confidence to be a
firm foundation for mom to lean on when the going gets rough in labor.