Birthing Gently

Priscilla was a true blessing after the birth of our daughter. Knowing that I had a reliable and truly kind and competent person helping every week gave me peace of mind in those first few months. I would recommend her to anyone. She felt like a member of the family!

When babies are born they’re slippery little things. Birthing Gently will help you catch ‘em.
Providing midwifery and doula services, childbirth education classes, parenthood counseling for abuse survivors and labor assistant training programs, this organization aims to better the birth experience for all.
The idea of labor assistance has been met with controversy from a skeptical medical community. To be clear, the goal here is not to interfere with medical practices more to provide emotional, informational and physical support for the mother.
Ponder these stats for women who’ve had labor support from non-​hospital employees:
26% less likely to have cesarean sections
(who wants their bellies being sliced open? women run 5 – 7 times the risk of death with c-​sections.)
41% less likely to give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
(want the head of a child or your vag subject to these horrors?)
28% less likely to use any analgesia or anesthesia
(want a doped up baby?)
33% less likely to negatively rate their birth experience
If it sounds like I’m advocating the use of doulas it’s because I AM!
Though I have not personally used their services in the delivery room, I have completed a doula workshop towards my certification as a certified labor assistant taught by Tara Powe. She’s an inspiring and honest instructor with a wealth of knowledge to impart and tear wrenching stories to go along with it.
You will learn about:
Detailed anatomy, stages and phases of the labor process and your role in it
Possible Interventions
Medications
Positions for labor
Types of labor
Psychology of labor
Hospital protocol
Breastfeeding 101
My classmates and I (mostly nurses, massage therapists or counselors) were baffled and scared at times, but mostly amazed at the courage and strength it took to be a part of bringing someone into this world. We left with galvanizing purpose.