Welcome to the personal web site of
MINA & JOE COLEMAN AAHCC

About us:

My name is Mina and my husband’s name is Joe. We have a little boy and a little girl named Sophia and Joe. Sophia was born in January 2006, at Loudoun hospital, and Joey came in March 2008 in a free standing birth center. Both of our chilren were born naturally,using the Bradley Method ®, and if I had to go back and do it again, I would not change a thing. We had a great birth team to work with, but it was my husband and I who delivered our babies. It was our job to finish, since we started it all in the first place.

Why we chose the Bradley Method ®:

When I became pregnant with my daughter I was excited and not quite sure what to expect. I liked the fact that over 80% of the Bradley trained couples do achieve natural childbirth and that it would give me an opportunity to meet other moms in the neighborhood, and get my husband more involved by bringing him along to classes!

The more we learned, the more we realized how little we knew about the different options during pregnancy and childbirth; the risks and benefits of all the "standard" procedures; the importance of an open dialogue with our healthcare provider; about the way my own body works while in labor. Our prenatal visits became longer and our questions more educated.

My first labor:

When I went into labor, my husband and I knew the stages I was about to go through. We knew what to expect, but more importantly - we felt confident and prepared to handle the birth of our first child. We worked together for 16 hours, side by side. Every step of the labor brought us closer to our baby, closer to parenthood, and closer to each other. I knew how to relax during the contractions and embrace the energy and power in my body. My husband was there for me, to guide me and coach me through these new and at time overwhelming sensations. After 16 hours of labor our daughter was born healthy, alert and ready to take all of our time and love. After 16 hours of labor, Joe and I were born as a mother and father and we were ready to give it all to our new baby girl. A few months later I decided to become a Bradley teacher and share the knowledge I had acquired with other moms and dads.

My second labor:

During my second pregnancy, Joe and I decided to have an out-of-hospital birth. My second labor was very different from the first one, it lasted only about 6 hours, but it was much more intense. My needs during this labor were very different from the first time around, it was exciting and a bit scary, because it felt so unfamiliar. Again, I tuned into myself and simply followed what my body wanted me to do. Again, Joe tuned into me and read my labor language perfectly - we were walking together, looking into each other's eyes and getting ready to meet our new baby. We spent the hardest moments of my labor holding hands and pacing back and forth a small corridor - it was the walk of my life! Our son was born after 5min of pushing, on that same floor we walked on - what a great way to join the family!

My third labor:

We are expecting our third child around the end of May 2010, and we pray for another natural out-of-hospital birth, using the Bradley Method ®.

The way I see it:

You must be wondering if childbirth hurts, if it is hard to do, if it is doable at all. It is doable, it is hard and it can hurt. Yet, if you learn how to let your body do its job, you will be surprised to find out just how strong you are!

With the help of The Bradley Method® I will teach you and your partner how to work together, as a team, in order to achieve natural childbirth.