When I was pregnant with my first child we took a childbirth education class but still felt very unprepared for birth and parenthood.  We were lucky that I had a short labor and was able to have few interventations and no medication when our son Justin was born in October 1988 - but I still felt like there was more we should have known for the birth and postpartum.  When we were expecting our second child I decided to take a Bradley class, but later discovered our teacher was not affiliated with the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth.  While we were more prepared for Amanda's unmedicated birth in December of 1991, I still felt something was missing.  Since I always had a strong interest in pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding I became a Childbirth Educator in the Bradley Method and I am currently affilated with the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth (the Bradley Method www.bradleybirth.com).  So I can teach expectant parents what I wished I had known before my first two births.  During this time I also became a La Leche League Leader to help mothers with their breastfeeding problems and questions.  Shortly after I began selling breast pumps, then added rentals.

After five years of teaching childbirth classes I was finally able to have my wish of a home birth.  Our son Jacob was born in January of 1997 at our home and was quickly followed by our last son Joseph in February of 1999.  Teaching while also being pregnant was a great experience and since it had been so long my wonderful husband, Bruce, sat in the last class series before our son Jacob was born as a refresher.  He was amazed by the amount of information that I covered that we never learned in either of our 2 previous childbirth classes combined.  While I have had these birth experiences I still feel that each woman needs to choose the birth she wants.  I give truthful, balanced information and understand that many women want to use medication and I fully support their choices.  Birth and parenting are hard enough without someone forcing their opinions on you.

After Jacob's birth I began doula training, but since Joseph soon followed I was never able to complete the required births and paper work to be certified as a DONA Labor Doula.  I do offer labor support to my childbirth students, but not as a stand alone option.  After Joseph's birth I began the necessary education and documentation to become a International Board Certified Lacation Consultant (IBCLC, RLC) and acquired that certificiation in 2005.  The certification is only valid for 5 years and I just completed my re-certification so I can continue to use the IBCLC letter after my name for five more years.  All of my Bradley students have 2 lactation consultants included in the class fee, for other students consulting fees will be a separate charge.

Through the many years of teaching childbirth classes and helping mothers with breastfeeding problems I still enjoy this work.  I feel this is a special time in a family's life - the childbearing year - and I love helping parents make that transition to parenthood.  I have been doing this work since 1992 and if I don't know the answers I know exactly where to find them!  Since I love this work so much I also volunteered to teach at the Tenderlife Maternity home and still feel the same excitement when a new class is about to start.  The more that is discovered about pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding the more we find that the body works and knows what it is doing and the best ways to use the technology we have.

To take advantage of my years of training and experience just e-mail me at the address below to join my in-depth childbirth classes that will be geared to your needs and will help ease your transition to parenthood.  You have the option of the full Bradley Method course, a weekend Bradley method course, the quick, mini course of birthing classes (done in one day or over a few weeks), or a private childbirth class.  If you need lactation help, we can schedule an appointment by e-mail, text messaging, or by phone.