Birth Class Online

This account is going to be inactive for a while, but you can still sign up for my excellent online birth classes at the link in my bio!
I hope to be back here on social media after I finish grad school.

Z is for ZZZZZZZ Stay as well rested as possible before labor begins (yes, I know that is no easy task!) and sleep as much as possible in early labor, especially if it begins during the night. Swipe to see people sleeping in labor!

Y is for Yoga! My clients who have regularly practiced yoga in their pregnancy have done really well in birth. They learn the use of breath, how to find calm, and holding their body in positions that are useful for labor.

X is for Xenagogy (Yes, I had to did deep for this one!) Xenaogy means guidance. You can use all kinds of things for guidance during labor. The best is hiring a doula, a living and breathing guide to shepherd you through. You can also use books, web site, and your birth plan to keep you on track.

W is for Walking - it's the best known of the upright and active things to do in birth, and it's cheap and usually easy. You can walk around your birth room, in the halls, or around the block!

V is for Visualization! Using the mind to imagine can be helpful in labor. Some like to imagine a peaceful vacation spot, some imagine themselves conquering hard things, and some visualize opening and softening.

U is for Upright positions! At any time in labor, but especially during pushing, it is helpful to have gravity work WITH your body's efforts. Swipe to see what that means!

T is for Tub The tub is often called "Mother Nature's Epidural" and that description is not far off! You can birth in the water, or just labor there and deliver somewhere else!

S is for Squat - this can be a really helpful and comfortable position for later in labor. The lower the baby is, the more comfortable a squat can be. Keep the soles of your feet flat, hang and be supported, and only squat as deeply as is comfortable!

R is for Rebozo! This traditional Mexican shawl can be a useful tool for labor. I use it all the time to provide a mobile double hip squeeze and/or counterpressure on the back.

Q is for Quiet Some people just want silence while they labor. It can be hard to be there and sit in silence, because it feels like you should be DOING something. Silence really can be golden! Also silence any alarms or monitors you can if they're annoying.

P is for Peanut Ball A great tool for helping babies rotate and descend, and particularly useful when used with an epidural.