'Apple Pie' for Breakfast

This is a recipe from my dad, who teaches a course called Aging Reversal: An Ayurvedic Approach.

My daughter calls it apple pie, and the taste is similar, with absolutely no sugar!  It is intended as a first course to stimulate the appetite and help digestion, to be followed by oatmeal or something similarly hearty.

1-2 cups of water
2-4 cloves
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
1/2 cup - 1 cup of raisins

boil together in a pot on the stove.

Add to boiling water:

2-4 apples or pears (peeled)

cook for about 5 minutes and enjoy.

If there is leftover liquid it can be enjoyed as apple juice.

Healthy Mama Oatmeal Cookies

This recipe is adapted from epicurious.com. They call them lactation cookies and they are excellent for moms (and kids), whether or not they are breastfeeding.

This is a double recipe.  You can cook and freeze them.

Ingredients

8 Tbsp water
4 Tbsp flaxseed meal 

1 1/4 cups butter

3/4 cup peanut butter
1 cup agave (or 1 1/2 cups brown sugar)
1/2 cup honey

4 Lg eggs
2 tsp vanilla
4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp salt
6 cups thick cut oats
1 cup chocolate chips

2 cups raisins
4 tbsp Brewers Yeast (no substitutions)


Preheat oven to 375.

Mix flaxseed meal and water, set aside 3-5 minutes.
Cream butter, peanut butter, agave and honey.
Add eggs.
Stir flaxseed mix into butter mix and add vanilla.
Beat until well blended.
Sift: dry ingredients, except oats and choc chips and raisins.
Add butter mix to dry ingredients
Stir in the oats and then the choc chips.
Drop on parchment paper on baking sheet.
Bake 7-9 minutes.

Hungry Mama Bites

I made this for my Birthing from Within and Mom's classes last week and it was a big hit.  You could basically put what ever you want in here as long as you have a good proportion of dry to sticky ingredients.

Hungry Pregnant/New Mama Bites  

(makes 36-40 bites)

2 cups oatmeal

1 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)

1/2 cup honey, agave, maple syrup or cooked dates (or a combination)

3 tablespoons coconut oil

1 cup coconut flakes

1/2 cup ground flaxseed, chia or hemp hearts

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1 cup chocolate chips or raisins

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy!  Freeze balls to help them bind together.

This recipe is adapted from http://smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.ca/2011/08/no-bake-energy-bites-recipe.html

Birthing from Within Open House

Wednesday, January 9, 2013
3:30 - 6:30 p.m. (drop-in)

Birthing from Within Studio
(331 Mt. Sundial Court West - Garage)

A celebration for families, supporters and those who are curious about Birthing from Within

Connect, reconnect and find out more...

DOOR PRIZES & DELICIOUS SNACKS

RSVP on Facebook

Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes...

...are influenced by a variety of factors, but cannot be controlled by planning.

Let me rephrase that.  Parents have an idea (fantasy?) of what it will be like.  Moms and dads get organized, read all the 'right' books, take classes, write their birth plan, hire a doula.  And the reality is nothing like they expect:

Just getting through a contraction blocks out everything mom has learned and read.

 
The parents expect to be at home with their doula in early labour and end up in the hospital for 18 hours instead. 

 
Mom says she will never get an epidural and after 30 hours of labour, gets it and wonders why she didn't get it sooner.

Most of us have a fundamental belief (whether we acknowledge it or not), that if we prepare in a certain way and do all the right things, we will have the 'good' birth.  If the birth we have does not match the fantasy, we make an assumption that we have done something wrong and judge ourselves as failing.

Part of what Birthing from Within is about is acknowledging this belief and shifting the idea of a 'good' birth. External factors (what happens) are not as important for parents feeling good about their birth as internal ones (what parents do in the moment).  Some people have unexpected cesarean births that they feel great about, because they know they did everything they could.  Others have a rapidly progressing vaginal birth with no interventions that they perceive as being completely traumatic.

Birthing from Within is not about laying down a plan to follow to the letter.  It is about preparing by putting out into the universe what we would like for ourselves, without being attached to what actually happens.  We are prepared to accept what is happening in the moment and do the next best thing, when necessary.

This is a huge departure from most of what is out there about birth preparation.  It can be scary to let go of the busy work that we do to get the 'right' plan.  And it is good to be a little bit scared, especially when we are stepping into the unknown.

Please check out www.birthingfromwithin.com and www.elliedoula.com for more about this unique birth preparation.

Quinoa Salad

Quinoa is basically superfood. It is a complete protein by itself, tastes amazing and is gluten free.

It can be used in place of rice, in salads, in stir-fries and as hot cereal.

It cooks in 15 minutes on the stove, or you can sprout it first by putting it in a glass jar and covering with water. Put cheesecloth over the top and secure with a rubber band. Soak it overnight or for at least 8 - 12 hours. In the morning, rinse and drain the jar well. There should not be water left sitting in the jar.

Leave the jar in a cool, dark place while the quinoa sprouts. Make sure to rinse and drain the quinoa every 6 - 8 hours. The quinoa will be done sprouting in about 48 hours.

They have large bags of organic quinoa for about $10 at Costco.
My quinoa salads are often a combination of quinoa and whatever I have in my fridge/garden for veggies.  Below is an example, and I hope that you will experiment.  Everything is optional with the exception of the quinoa (although you can substitute bulgur, brown rice or couscous) and some kind of acid - lemon or vinegar usually.

In a large bowl mix:

1-2 cups of Quinoa - either sprouted or cooked.
1-2 cups of black or kidney beans (1 can)1-2 carrots grated
1 pepper - finely chopped
2-3 cups of spinach, lettuce and other greens - raw and chopped
2-3 green onions
Fresh herbs - cilantro, oregano, chives, mint, thyme, cilantro, parsley. (1 or 2)
Lemon juice to taste
Olive or sesame oil (or whatever oil you like)
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Hot sauce
Feta Cheese

It tastes the best if you make it and let it sit for an hour or two and marinate.  Lasts 3-4 days in the fridge.

I like to get a variety of colours with the vegetables.  Red lettuce, different coloured peppers.  You can also use peas, corn, green beans, cucumbers or whatever you have.

Fathers and Partners Help Best as Birth Guardians...

...and/or loving partners, not as coaches; they also need support.

In honour of Father's Day, I decided to write about this Birthing from Within principle.

In our birth culture, we have moved from dads not even being in the room, to an expectation that they are responsible for supporting the mother in every aspect of pregnancy and birth.  This is not fair to either parent.

Birthing from Within Classes and doula support recognizes that fathers are also going through a rite of passage and major life change that is parallel to, and different from, the mother's experience.  Birthing from Within Classes provide a special class for fathers,that address their different needs. Read more about how Birthing from Within helps fathers...

The main role of the father during birth is to simply be present for the mother, to focus all of his attention and love on her.  Many dads learn that their role at the birth is to 'do something', whether that means negotiating with hospital staff, getting ice chips or doing a certain kind of massage for the mom.  While there are times during the birth that specific tasks may be required, the thing that moms remember most is a sense of their partner being present emotionally.  The father's preparation is sometimes about unlearning -- letting go of the instinct to solve a problem or fix something and instead learn to let the mother experience the intensity of labour, simply being there for her and recognizing the birth as the transformative experience it is.

Birthing from Within pain-coping practices (learned in a class) can help the parents stay connected to each other and gives the father something 'useful' to do that maintains and intensifies their emotional connection.

Having a doula or other female support person present is an excellent way to allow the parents to focus inward on the birth, while the doula gets the ice chips!  Doulas can also help direct dad if he is uncertain about what might help the mother and give him a break if he needs to leave for a few minutes to centre himself. Read this article about how doulas help...

The Purpose of Childbirth Preparation...

...is to prepare mothers to give birth in awareness, not to achieve a specific birth outcome.

This Birthing from Within guiding principle was a real shift for me.  Before I became a Birthing from Within Mentor and Doula in June 2011, I was promising my clients a natural birth in the hospital. I had an intervention free hospital birth and at that time most of my doula clients where having the same type of birth. I was selling pregnant couples a 'good' hospital experience.  And of course couples were buying it.

My realization through my Birthing from Within training and experiences over the last year have helped me realize that truly birthing 'from within', has nothing to do with the type of birth you have and everything to do with where your head is at. Preparation is incredibly valuable, and it does not guarantee a certain outcome.

Research shows parents who receive support:

• Feel more secure and cared for
• Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
• Have greater success with breastfeeding
• Have greater self-confidence

These things are true for most parents who use doulas, regardless of the birth outcomes.  This is what I am now offering pregnant couples.  It is not a 'magic bullet', and sometimes it is hard for first time parents to understand how valuable building confidence and feeling good about the birth really is.

The DONA Website also mentions less interventions and cesareans.  While these statistics are valid over a large number of births, parents sometimes interpret this as: "If I hire you as my doula, I will not have an epidural or a cesarean." Promising this (even unintentionally) is doing a disservice to the parents and the doula. Doulas burn out because we take on responsibility for birth outcomes and then when it does not go the way we expect (and parents expect), we take it personally and it is emotionally draining.

Birthing from Within preparation and support includes preparing for every possible outcome and helps parents learn to be present in the moment and recognize their birth as a major rite of passage, whatever kind of birth they have.

Please take a look at my new website for more about what I can offer you.

Guacamole and Simple Quesadillas

Avocadoes are full of healthy fat that is so necessary for building a healthy baby and breastfeeding.  Toddlers generally love them too.

Guacamole
2-3 ripe avocadoes (cut them open and scrape the flesh out with a fork)
juice of one lemon
2 cloves of garlic (optional) - minced or pressed
1 teaspoon of cumin
Sea salt and pepper to taste

Mix ingredients in a bowl with a fork or potato masher.  You can use a blender too, but I prefer the chunky consistency from the fork. Serve on top of quesadillas or with veggies, tortilla chips or on sandwiches.

Quesadillas
4 tortillas
1 cup of cheese- mozzarella, feta, cheddar or a combination
1-2 cups of well chopped veggies - peppers, spinach and green onions are some favourites
1 cup of protein - precooked beans, chicken, shrimp or ground beef.
Hot sauce to taste

Fill tortillas with ingredients, fold over and bake in toaster oven or oven for 10 mins.  Smother with guacamole.

Hummus Recipe

I am going to post some recipes on my blog, as requested by my doula clients, Birthing from Within class participants and friends.  

Hummus

Hummus is so easy to make.  It keeps for about a week and is great to have in the fridge to give you the healthy calories you need when pregnant and breastfeeding.. It is one of the best foods for calcium absorption and is an excellent source of protein and fibre. Best of all it is easy to make and tastes great. Serve with pita, flat bread, crackers or raw vegetables or use it as a sandwich spread.

Ingredients:

1 large can of chickpeas, drained

¼ cup tahini (sesame paste)

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

Juice of 1 lemon

Sea salt to taste (pregnant women need more salt, to build amniotic fluid and increase their blood volume)

2-3 tsp zatar spice (mix of thyme, sesame and sea salt)

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp sesame oil

Directions:
• Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and mix until smooth.

• Add additional olive oil if needed to achieve the right consistency.

• Taste and adjust the seasonings as desired.

adapted from www.cookbooksandrecipes.com

Mothers

Julie and Ellie - Early Days

Happy Mother's Day.  What a lovely opportunity to take a few minutes to reflect on ourselves as mothers or mothers-to-be.

How do we let go of the judgement that we feel from the world around us, and more importantly the self-judgement?

Learning to say: "I am doing the best I can with the resources and knowledge I have and moving forward."

Learning to let go of the organic quinoa falafel cakes we saw on Pinterest, but never baked. Let go of the parenting book we didn't have time to read.


Let go of feeling guilty about yelling at our 3 year old for digging up the section of the garden we just planted and putting pine needles in the watering can -- eventually even letting go of the yelling (maybe).

Instead, how do we learn to embrace the early morning request for a group hug with mommy, daddy and 6 stuffed animals and hold on tight for an extra minute, instead of rushing off to make breakfast?

How do we give in and relax at the idea that our 3 week old needs to nurse for six hours straight, put up our feet and read a juicy novel, while he lies on our chest?

Julie and Ellie - Today

During pregnancy, how do we prepare for birth and motherhood in ways that nourish us, whether it is preparing a special place in our home for our baby, or in our hearts.

I am off to enjoy my daughter's company.  I hope that everyone has a wonderful day.

Pain and intensity are an inevitable part of birth...

...yet much can be done to ease suffering.

Often during pregnancy, people share stories of their birth experiences.  Sometimes these stories give us a sense of how exciting birth can be, of the amazing accomplishment of bringing a baby into the world. 

Unfortunately, sometimes people who tell these stories had a birth that was scary for them, where they suffered.  Hearing these scary experiences, the pregnant parents naturally look for a way to avoid something similar for themselves. 

One Birthing from Within principle is to help parents recognize that pain and intensity are inevitable during birth, and to focus on what we can do to ease suffering, which is the story that we tell ourselves about the pain.

Learning ways to cope can change a scary experience into an awesome one.  It is not about removing the pain, but about seeing it differently and being able to handle it. Some of the pain-coping methods we practice in class are extensions of what women will naturally do when in labour.  The reason I teach them is allow both parents a chance to understand how they work and to practice them, so that they come naturally, even in difficult situations.

Tips on pain-coping during labour:

·         Sometimes mothers are exhausted and might find it helpful to be ‘talked through’ a couple of contractions.

·         Partners - DO NOT tell her to ‘breathe’ or ‘relax’.  Birth is not relaxing.  Encourage her to rest in between contractions.

·         Parents practice together before the birth and find out what works for her.

·         If nothing is working, do something completely different!

What about epidurals?  Many women get epidurals and some will tell about how the birth was terrible until they got the epidural.   When epidurals work properly, they provide almost complete pain relief.   However, there are potentially major risks involved.  In my Birthing from Within Class, we discuss the epidural as one pain-coping tool.

Unexpected events happen during birth and the more preparation you do, the better you will cope.   Labour is painful, and getting through may or may not include an epidural.  Sometimes, even if you plan to get it, the epidural is not available or it doesn’t work correctly.  Having a variety of strategies to cope with pain will help you adapt regardless of the situation and to feel more positive about the entire birth experience.

In my classes, we spend at least 5 hours on pain-coping (1/3 of class time).  This article is intended to give some generally help, regardless of whether you take a Birthing from Within Class.  Practice of pain-coping and integration into your daily life will great increase how effectively you are able to use it during labour.  Hiring a doula who understands pain-coping can help too!

This article originally appeared in the Nuturer, Mommy Connections Lethbridge (March 2012)

Lethbridge City and Baby Trade Show

We are sponsoring this trade show, taking place Saturday, March 3.

For more info and to see our blog post on their page click here.

We hope to see you there.

Returning from Birth

This article originally appeared in The Nurturer - a publication of Mommy Connections Lethbridge

Giving birth is a journey.  During pregnancy we prepare.  This preparation might include taking classes, reading books, preparing the baby’s room, having a baby shower and other types of more personal, emotional preparation.

The birth itself is a transition - from the self you were before to the birth of yourself as a mother.  There is a lot of focus in our culture on the well being and experience of the baby. It is equally important that you, as the mother, are nurtured and supported in your new role.  Surround yourself with people who will protect and support you in the first few days and weeks postpartum, while you are learning your new role.

As you learn to recognize yourself as a mom, you may start to wonder what happened to the ‘old you’.  Where is the woman who went to the gym four times a week or who spent an hour a day painting or who cooked gourmet meals? When we have a new baby (or two or three children) sometimes we stop doing other things that give us pleasure and our lives are all consumed by parenthood. This is okay.  For a while.

As time passes many women find that they are starting to return to their old interests, or pick up new ones.  Your world expands again beyond motherhood to include other things.

There was a woman who lived on a farm and had two horses. Before she had kids she rode them every day.  Even well into her pregnancy, she went for rides, spent time with the horses, grooming them and just enjoying their company.  Even though she was happy when her daughter was born, she missed her horses.  So she made a promise to herself that when her daughter was a little older, she would go back to her horses, even if it was only a couple of times a week.  When her daughter was about ten months old, she arranged for a teenage neighbour to come and babysit three times a week so she could go riding.  She saw having that time for herself allowed her to be a better mom.

What I have just described is called the Ceremony of the Return.  Coming out of your birth and early parenting experience and wanting time for yourself is healthy and positive and it helps you come back to your family refreshed. 

You need:           Symbolic object; tags; pot or ground for burial 

·         Think of something you love to do that will be impossible or difficult to do the first year after birth

·         Pick an object that symbolizes/represents that part of your self

·         String and tag the object with a date one year from your baby’s birthday

·         Bury the object in the ground or in a pot.

·         In one year, around baby’s birthday, dig up the object and make a commitment to resume the activity you love.

January Newsletter

Read the Birthing from Within Lethbridge January Newsletter for lots of great info about our classes and doula support, plus community events and discounts for pregnant women and families.

Pregnancy & Birth Information Session

The first step in birthing (and living) in-awareness is to turn your attention inward each day. One of the important tasks of pregnancy is to consciously tune in to, develop, and trust your own, new, maternal intuition. 

www.birthingfromwithin.com

Are you pregnant and interested in learning practical ways to improve your pregnancy and birth experience?

Dr. Amy Heilman, West Lethbridge Family Chiropractic, will offer some practical ideas about easing some of the common discomforts of pregnancy as well as answer any questions about how chiropractic care can help many of these problems.


Ellie Colver, Birthing from Within Mentor and Doula, will begin to help you prepare for emotionally and mentally for your birth and parenting experience. She will also tell you about her classes and doula support.

Saturday, February 4
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
West Lethbridge Family Chiropractic - 888 Heritage Boulevard W

For more information and to RSVP:
Contact Ellie Colver
Birthing from Within Mentor & Doula

elliedoula@gmail.com
403-360-7878



Birthing from Within Lethbridge on Facebook

Good Nutrition is the Number One Thing You Can Do to Ensure a Healthy Baby

Throughout pregnancy, many women receive numerous tests to ensure that their baby is healthy.  While these tests can sometime be helpful in detecting problems, in most cases knowing something is potentially wrong does not actually provide a solution.

The best thing you can do to take care of your baby and yourself is to eat well and stay physically active.  There is no guarantee that if you do all the 'right' things, your baby will be healthy, just as some people do things that research has shown to be harmful and end up with perfectly healthy babies.  Nevertheless, eating well and exercise have been proven by research to improve outcomes for babies overall.  Also, the habits that you form around your diet before and during pregnancy will be passed on to your children.  Babies actually develop a taste for the food that mothers are eating through their amniotic fluid (and later through breast milk) and like those foods themselves.

Here are some specific suggestions (businesses are all Lethbridge-based):

Yoga is great for helping you feel good during pregnancy and preparing your body for birth. Theresa Spencer at Terra Sol Yoga offers classes and workshops for pregnant women and their partners. www.terrasolbodytalk.com

Eat whole, unprocessed food. Avoid processed soy, sugar, corn syrup and artificial sweeteners whenever possible. Many grocery stores have a 15% discount on the first Tuesday of the month, so stock up on healthy, organic food. Look for local produce and meat, as it is often free of pesticides and hormones and it supports local businesses.

Eat as much as you need to of healthy, nutrient rich food and you can expect to gain 28-40 pounds (or more) during your pregnancy. Perfect Fit – Pre & Postnatal Fitness offers classes specifically tailored to pregnant and new moms to help you stay physically active. www.perfectfitness.ca

Taking a DHA (or fish oil) supplement improves your baby’s brain development. Naturistas (424 7 St S) sells prenatal DHA, other prenatal vitamins and many other high quality pregnancy and baby products.

Receiving chiropractic adjustments can be a great way to relieve many of the common discomforts of pregnancy. Many women under chiropractic care report feeling better during the entire pregnancy, better quality of sleep, less morning sickness and a more comfortable labour and delivery. Contact Dr. Amy and Dr Elliott at West Lethbridge Family Chiropractic for more information. 403-327-0070.

Birthing from Within® Childbirth Classes help you prepare for the healthiest, most stress free pregnancy, birth and new parenthood possible. Contact Ellie at elliedoula@gmail.com to learn more about these unique classes.

Take time every day to relax and connect with your baby, even if it is just a few minutes. When you are eating, pay attention to the food, how it tastes and remember that you are nourishing yourself and your new baby.

Join ‘BIRTHING FROM WITHIN LETHBRIDGE’ on facebook for great articles and information to help you in pregnancy, birth and new parenthood and chances to win prizes.

Getting Postpartum Support - A few ideas

Below are some ideas for support with a new baby.  Most of the resources are local to Lethbridge, but the ideas apply to everyone.


When you have the baby, change your voicemail to say:“{NAME} was born {DATE&TIME}, weighing {POUNDS}. We are busy getting to know our baby and we will get in touch when we have all rested a bit.” You can also put a sign on the door if you expect people to stop by.

 Make a list of things that people can help with: Groceries, Meals, Chores, Errands.  This way when they ask what they can do, you can put them to work. Check out www.mealtrain.com to set up an online meal request calendar.

Hire a postpartum doula (if you haven’t already).  A postpartum doula can help you with practical baby care, emotional support, babywearing and anything else you might need.  See www.elliedoula.com for more on postpartum support.

Connect with La Leche League Lethbridge for breastfeeding support.  Meetings are the first Tuesday or Wednesday of each month at the downtown library.  Join the facebook group to get reminders about the meeting or call 403-331-1003 for phone support.  www.lllc.ca.

Find a group of new moms you can connect with.  www.mommyconnections.ca offers postnatal programs for moms in Lethbridge.

If you think you might have postpartum depression, get help.  www.thesmilingmask.com has lots of resources including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.  Alberta Health Services offers in-home counselling for women with postpartum depression, free of charge.  Contact Bree Elliott, Mental Health Therapist at 403-388-6666 for more info.

Get a baby carrier and wear your baby as much as possible.  www.ecobabycanada.com is a local business selling great slings, wraps and soft structured carriers, along with help learning how to wear them.  Also join the facebook group for Bridge City Slingers – Lethbridge Baby Wearers, to get support on babywearing and info about meetings.

DADS: If mom is breastfeeding the baby for hours every day what does dad do:

o   Everything else! – find ways to give mom a break (even a short one)

o   Wear your baby in a carrier around the house or go for a walk

o   Change diapers

o   Give the baby a bath or take a bath together

o   Take a nap with the baby (make sure to follow safe co-sleeping practices)

o   Make a meal, or go out and pick up healthy takeout or nutritious snacks

o   Sweep the floor, do a load of laundry, change the sheets on the bed...

o   Support breastfeeding by caring for your partner, so she can care for the child.

Active, creative self-expression...

... is critical to childbirth preparation.  And it is really beneficial for life in general.

Making art slows down fleeting images, allowing us to really see and know how we see things. People who discount or dismiss the importance of art-making in prenatal preparation are probably people who feel uncomfortable making art themselves. They often argue that millions of women have given birth without ever having made any art during pregnancy. That is true, but it doesn't mean it is "right." Birth Art is a vehicle that brings parents from their outside knowing to their inner knowing. It is an organic and enjoyable form of learning, unsurpassed by any other method. - Birthing from Within

Birthing from Within Classes allow parents to engage in creative self-expression through birth art.  Birth art is a part of the class that people are often either intrigued by or terrified of.  First, let's clarify what we are talking about with birth art.  It is:

• For the purpose of learning about yourself, finding new ways of thinking about yourself and your birth.
• Not art therapy.  The only person who looks at your art is you.
• Different for everyone.
• Not supposed to be pretty.  It is not 'supposed' to be anything.  
• Helpful in preparing for birth and parenthood, because it usually doesn't go the way you planned it in your head, but even more marvelous things happen than you could have imagined.

Even though I am not pregnant, I get to do lots of art in preparation for mentoring my Birthing from Within classes.  The idea is that everything I ask parents to do, I am doing twice as much of.  So if I ask parents in my class to draw their 'Strongest Image of Birth' as the assignment for a class one week, I am drawing that assignment or something similar twice.  

Doing the same assignments several times allows me to let go of some of the associations or 'stories' I am telling myself about certain aspects of pregnancy and birth.  Every time I draw something the images are different and new questions come up.  Sometimes little questions about what to ask parents in my class after a certain art assignment and sometimes big questions that help me to understand and put aside my own judgments and biases.

The Birthing from Within book has some of the art assignments in it, but the best way to experience the art is in a class setting.  Whether you draw and paint on a regular basis, or you haven't picked up a crayon since kindergarten, the birth art process will teach your something about yourself.

This belly cast is not something that we do in a class, but it is something you can experiment with.  It is decorated with henna, which women around the world have used to decorate their bodies in order to celebrate major life events such as birth.

My friend Kim Strom did the henna decoration.  You can find her on facebook under 'Henna by Kimberley'.  She does blessingways, baby showers and plain old henna parties.

Parents' Individual Needs and Differences Determine Class Content

Birthing from Within Classes are designed as gourmet meals, where parents can 'order up' different dishes  depending on their needs and appetites.

In a six week series, each class is a meal, which includes:

• APPETIZER: some type of introduction to whet the appetite
• BREAD BASKET: this is the pain-coping.  1/3 of each class is spent on learning practical skills that parents can use during labour.
• MAIN COURSE: the 'meat and potatoes' or practical information.
• SIDE DISH: enhances the main course.  It can include birth art, role plays or other activities to initiate parents - moving from the known into the unknown of birth and parenthood.
• DESSERT: closing the class by celebrating the pregnancy and upcoming birth.

A weekend class is designed the same way, with three complete meals on the Saturday and three more on the Sunday.

I have at least 50-60 hours of potential content and 15 hours of class time.  So while I follow this menu, and I have a general idea of what types of things might come up, the same class from one series to another can be very different depending on what kinds of questions parents ask.

I always begin the first class by asking:  "What would need to happen during this class to make it worthwhile for you?" and I use that in my preparation and delivery of class content.

The one thing I don't spend too much time on is providing a lot of obstetrical information.  I find that people who are interested in medical information usually have a lot of it by the time they take the class.  I am always happy to recommend books to parents and there are some suggestions on my website and this blog. Birthing from Within is really about learning what birth might be like from the parents point of view and to prepare them for their own birth experience.

Topics covered in a typical Birthing from Within Class:

• How to cope with pain in labour (what it might look like, practical non-medical and medical ways of coping)
• Nutrition and physical health for pregnancy and postpartum, including breastfeeding.
• Labour itself:  early signs, a 'map' of labour, things that help labour progress, what might a 'normal' labour look like.
• Unexpected events: Induction and Cesarean Birth are covered
• Special class for dads:  dad's role as the main support person; special concerns of dads
• Life with Baby: includes expectations, practical information, where to get help
• Ways to celebrate birth and new parenthood
• And lots more....

Please get in touch with me to register for the classes I am offering in Lethbridge and check out www.birthingfromwithin.com to find Birthing from Within Mentors in other parts of the world.

Like my Birthing From Within Lethbridge Facebook page for interesting information and connection to community resources.