Quetzal Community Birth Work

Birthing From Within differs from other certifying organizations in that our work is centered on helping professionals and parents turn inward to better understand their own motivations and fears, and to simultaneously discover their own inner resources and guiding forces.

Birthing From Within-trained childbirth educators and doulas bring a depth of inquiry to parents in a variety of ways, including art, mindfulness, visualizations, storytelling, ritual, and ceremony. In all situations, our members are mentors, guiding parents through the unknown so that they can fully experience the transformation that birthing a baby brings. Birthing From Within mentors also bring current research into their work, building the bridges between ancient and modern knowing, myth and science, grit and grace.

Find out more about how to take the first step toward becoming a Birthing From Within Doula or Childbirth educator at https://birthingfromwithin.com/crossing-the-threshold-workshop/

Coming to Pittsburgh this April!

Crossing the Threshold: Powerful and Soul-Enriching | Birthing from Within Our Crossing the Threshold workshop has been receiving wonderful feedback from new and experienced birth workers alike. Join us at one soon!

In a zoo in Ohio, a female gorilla was born and raised in captivity, got pregnant and had a baby gorilla. On the day she had her baby, she didn't know what to do. She had never seen another gorilla nurse, and she had no concept of breastfeeding. Sadly, the baby gorilla died.

When she became pregnant again the gorilla's keeper called La Leche League and volunteer nursing mums went to the zoo to nurse their babies in front of the pregnant gorilla. At first the gorilla ignored them, but as her delivery date grew closer she became very interested. When the baby gorilla was born the mother gorilla forgot all that she'd learned and started to freak out. The keeper quickly called the La Leche League and another volunteer rushed over and slowly showed the momma gorilla what to do. The gorilla watched, mimicking the moves step by step until, with a nearly audible sigh of relief, the gorilla looked down at her chest and saw her baby feeding happily for the first time.

We are no different - breastfeeding is a skill, and sometimes it just helps to watch another mom breastfeed. Thank you to LLLN.I. for this post.

I started offering this workshop because I heard doulas saying that, while they were very comfortable and skilled in the labor room, they didn't know what to say at prenatals. Doulas would bring different issues to our monthly meetings and wonder, "What do I say other than commiserating with her, or telling her it will be all right?"

A great article by Birthing From Within mentor Koyuki Smith.

How We Use the Word "Gate" | Birthing From Within Dictionary GATE...The BFW dictionary shines a clarifying light on the specialized language used by Birthing From Within and its practitioners.

Quetzal Birth has moved to Pittsburgh! Announcing my first workshop for birth professionals at Shining Light in Millvale!

Works by Christine Bush Roman explore mental illness, postpartum depression, and a life out of balance Disconnected

Pin by Berlino on Street Art | Pinterest | Street art This Pin was discovered by Berlino. Discover (and save!) your own Pins on Pinterest.

https://www.bmhvt.org/labor-nurse-wish-knew-inductions/

What Your Labor Nurse Wish You Knew About Inductions One of my most memorable evenings at Lamaze class went like this. It was the fifth night of a six week series – so everyone was very pregnant. We were discussing Interventions – everything from IV …