Power of Pregnancy

Birth can be a most empowering experience for a woman.

An enormous sense of satisfaction and achievement can result from weathering the power of birth, using your own resources, instincts and intuition to go deep within and spontaneously discover the natural strength and power you have inside.

The whole experience of pregnancy from the time of conception is a time of huge growth, physically, emotionally and spiritually. It can be a time of enormous learning. The whole adventure of being pregnant, the mystery of the baby growing inside, the intensity of the emotions and the wonderment of it all combine to arouse intense curiosity. This is your own unique experience and no-one else could ever experience exactly what you are at this time. As a Doula and Childbirth Educator, my role is to be there with you during this time, a bit like standing by as a child is learning to take its first steps. Instruction or advice here have very little impact, all I can do is be ready to catch, encourage and reassure. Only you can grow your baby and my role is to support, nurture and encourage you all of the way.

I am here to answer questions, provide you with information and other resources, and to listen as you explore your feelings and your fears. Above all I would like to teach you to trust yourself, to listen to your body, your intuition and your own wisdom. You and only you know how to mother this baby. You have all the skills to grow, birth and love it.

The physical process of birth is a very practical one and it is impossible to describe it with knowledge and information. It would be like trying to teach a woman before hand using words and information how to make love or how to behave during an orgasm. These reproductive behaviours come naturally, driven by innate instincts in all women. For me a more realistic approach to prenatal education is to place the emphasis on the acquisition and development of useful skills rather than to remember a whole lot of facts. These facts might be important to know but it is more useful to teach the parents where they can find the necessary information if they have specific needs later on. A basic brief explanation of the anatomy and process of labour is useful to know as it reduces anxiety and fear and in a small way prepares the parents for what is to come.

It is thus more important for me to focus on skills that will enable parents to feel better equipped to face any situation they may encounter calmly and with confidence. Classes will not be conducted as a series of lectures but rather as an intimate space to share and grow, promoting a sense of community and mutual experience between participants. An emphasis will be placed on the needs of the individual couple and helping them fulfil their desired outcome.