Welcome to Calm Confident Childbirth!

I have been serving the St. Louis Metropolitan Area from Chesterfield, Missouri to Collinsville, Illinois and all of the cities and towns in between including Creve Coeur, Ladue, Clayton, Rock Hill, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Brentwood, Richmond Heights, Tower Grove… since 1998 as a Childbirth Educator, Birth & Postpartum Doula, and Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Coach.

The birthing years are a time of significant transformation for women, their partners and their families. I created the phrase Newborn Family, back in 2003, to more aptly describe this dynamic phase of family life.  A Newborn Family describes any family that is adding to its’ numbers.

I am proud to offer this trauma informed, comprehensive childbirth education series to all newborn families.  Back when I was pregnant with my first the overwhelm and uncertainty threatened my ability to be present and content.  I worried, wondered, hoped and ultimately found calm and confidence during the mutli-week childbirth education class we took.  It is my deepest desire to provide you with that calm and confidence that I experienced after my childbirth class. My mission is to lessen the inherently overwhelming nature of this new stage called newborn family life.

Calm Confident Childbirth

I believe childbirth education is at the heart of your parenting journey. I approach childbirth from a wellness perspective, teaching about the physiology of birth with evidence-based information and practical strategies. Preparing for the kind of birth you envision, exploring your needs and wants, choosing who will support you and how, and understanding which medical interventions you do or do not want is extremely important for both you and your baby. My specific brand of childbirth education is geared to help you arrive at your answers.

What is childbirth education?

My childbirth education services are designed to empower and prepare expectant parents for hospital, birth center, or home birth experience through informative, trauma informed, evidence-based, and interactive classes. Class topics include everything you need to know about nutrition, exercise, sex, relaxation, labor, partner support, birth, breastfeeding,  strategies for the first six weeks postpartum, and postpartum mood/anxiety awareness. Also, due to the times we are living in, we will be discussing what to expect in relation to COVID-19 hospital practices, and how to advocate for your birthing needs and for your newborn's care. Classes include just the right mix of entertaining discussions, activities, and videos to keep things lively and fun.

Some topics that will be covered:

Pregnancy & newborn nutrition

Wellness vs. Abnormality

Pregnancy sex education

Stages and Phases of labor

Breastfeeding

Parenting foundations

Common challenges and interventions in labor and birth

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Section (VBAC) & Trial of Labor After Cesarean Section (TOLAC) strategies

Anatomy & Physiology of birth

Comfort measures in labor

Partner support

Decision-making during labor

What to expect after baby is born and for the first 6 weeks postpartum

Postpartum preparations for the entire family/Perinatal Mood and Anxiety awareness

Medical options including medications and the choices available for epidurals and Cesarean Sections

What makes Calm Confident Childbirth unique?

There is a plethora of pregnancy, labor, and birth information out there. By weeding out the fluff, I’m able to provide you with the essential information to make your own well-informed birth choices. Together, we explore the entire birth process from a wellness perspective.

Classes are delivered in a supportive and accepting setting. This unbiased approach fosters a welcoming environment that better supports your unique journey. In addition, I have years of extensive labor doula, birth education, perinatal mental health and postpartum experience to bring to the classroom. You will walk away with plenty of knowledge and easy-to-apply strategies for a calm and confident birth and postpartum experience.

Childbirth Classes are...

Empowering
Reassuring
Informative
Normalizing
Relationship Enhancing
Grounding
Fun

Who can benefit from childbirth education?

While classes are open to all parents and parents-to-be, they are ideal for:

First time expectant parents

Preparing for a VBAC

Preparing for a more natural/unmedicated experience after a medicated/medical birth

Mental health wellbeing and postpartum preparation

Why Calm Confident Childbirth?

Impending parenthood comes with questions—and anxieties. Where should I have my baby? How should I have my baby? When is the best time to adopt? How will the baby integrate with my family unit? What should I do about breastfeeding? Where can I go for help? What kind of support should I be seeking? Please know if you are pondering these questions, you are not alone -I am here for you.

My Calm Confident Childbirth classes are unique in 4 main ways.

Collaboration

I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with physicians, nurses, midwives, psychiatrists, chiropractors, physical therapist, and other healthcare professionals to provide a consultative continuum of care for you, my client.

Respect

I respect your right to choose—whether that means helping you navigate finding an OB or Midwife, planning for an epidural at a hospital, getting ready for a Cesarean section, or preparing you for an unmedicated birth in a hospital, at home, or at a birth center.

Acceptance

I don’t categorize, stereotype, or try to sway your decisions. I believe you are complete, whole, and perfect. I know you are the expert of your body, your family, and your baby (even when you are unsure). I will listen to you and provide options. I will support however you choose to birth your baby, feed your baby, diaper your baby, sleep your baby, etc.

Experience

I have significant experience in all birthing environments and conditions. You benefit from my expertise and decades of experience in childbirth education, labor, lactation, and postpartum mood and anxiety support.

Childbirth Education Options & Pricing

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