Childbirth can be one of the most empowering, life-changing experiences in a woman's life. It is also a time filled with questions and concerns.

Join independent childbirth educator, doula and mother of 6, Brandy Astwood for this informative 6 week class for mothers and their birth partners.

During this 12 hr course we will explore...

• Beliefs and practices of pregnancy and childbirth
  

• The best place for YOU to birth ..Home, Birth Center, Hospital ?
  

• Emotions pregnancy and labor
  

• Physiology of birth
  

• Informed choice and interventions
  

• The role of pain in labor
  

• Comfort measures for labor
  

• Relaxation techniques
  

• Early neworn care
  

• Breastfeeding and the early postpartum period
  

This six week course is based on the Lamaze Philosophy of Birth:

• Birth is normal, natural and healthy.
  

• The experience of birth profoundly affects women and their families.
  

• Women's inner wisdom guides them through birth.
  

• Women's confidence and ability to give birth is either enhanced or diminished by the care provider and place of birth.
  

• Women have the right to give birth free from routine medical interventions.
  

• Birth can safely take place in homes, birth centers and hospitals.
  

• Childbirth education empowers women to make informed choices in health care, to assume responsibility for their health and to trust their inner wisdom.
  

Lamaze Philosophy of Pregnancy

• Pregnancy is a normal, natural life event.
  

• Women’s bodies are perfectly designed to nourish and nurture their babies through pregnancy.
  

• The months of pregnancy are necessary for babies to develop and grow, for women's bodies to prepare for birth and for women to become mothers.
  

• Pregnancy provides an opportunity for mothers and fathers to begin forming lifelong bonds with their babies.
  

• A good support system, a healthy lifestyle and the ability to cope with the stresses of life promote a healthy pregnancy, a healthy birth and a healthy baby.
  

• The health-care system and care provider can increase or decrease a woman’s confidence in the normality of pregnancy and in her ability to have a healthy baby.
  

• Education empowers women to gain confidence in their bodies, trust their inner wisdom and to make informed decisions about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenting.
  

While this class is created around the Lamaze philosophy, as an independent, childbirth educator I also draw from other childbirth methods such as HypnoBirthing, Calm Birth and Bradly to offer you a truly holistic model of childbirth education.

An informational binder will be provided for the length of the class filled with local resources, Web resources, diagrams, drawings and articles, as well as a special reduced rate for doula services.

To Register call:

Brandy Astwood

209-304-8495

Holistic Childbirth Education

Cost: $125 per couple

        $99 for Mothers Club of Amador members

$50 non-refundable deposit to reserve your space in class

Space limited to 3 couples

Next class series begins Wednesday, Febuary 2nd, 2011

6 -8pm

To Register call: Brandy Astwood

209-304-8495