ESSENTIAL EDUCATION

Deeply rooted in education theory and mindful pedagogy, Birthsmarter is prenatal education based on our proprietary three-part Birthsmarter Framework that gives parents the freedom and flexibility to choose what’s right for them. Our approach encourages parents to think critically and creatively, which proves to be an essential skill for parenting throughout life.

EXPERT GUIDANCE

Maggie Yount is a Certified Birthsmarter™ Educator, Certified Pre & Postnatal Corrective Exercise Specialist, and mother of two. She was been a trusted coach and teacher in the perinatal field since 2016, and has the knowledge and experience needed to empower you as you prepare for the birth of your baby.

UNBIASED, INCLUSIVE, ACCESSIBLE

Current models of childbirth education are outdated, unregulated, or are based on a one-size-fits-all mindset, which can leave parents riddled with fear, guilt, shame, and overwhelm during the inevitable unexpected experiences. At Birthsmarter, we believe that families should have the highest quality of education and support to meet them where they are. We welcome all individuals and family structures, and offer payment plans and alterntive pricing upon request.

WHAT’S THIS WEEKEND ALL ABOUT?

Section 1: INTRO TO LABOR AND DELIVERY - What’s Covered:

Birthsmarter’s The Three Actions™ of Birth and Five Partner Responsibilities

• Oxytocin and The Positive Feedback Loop of Labor

• Cervical Changes + Cervical Exams: What’s important?

• How to #KeepItMoving Through Birth

• The Stages of Labor

• Timing Contractions

• The Water “Breaking”

• Pre-Labor Signs

• Getting to Your Birth Location

• Hospital Vocabulary + “Birth Planning”: Triage, Monitoring, Pitocin and Pain Management, and Labor Induction

Section 2: COMFORT AND COPING - What’s Covered:

Comfort + Coping complements Intro to Labor + Delivery, giving you the guidance and space to practice what may work best for you during each stage of labor - with or without an epidural. Comfort + Coping also provides the ideal space for partners to experiment with hands-on support strategies and become more confident in their role as a labor support person.

We will focus on: 

• breathing techniques

• birthing positions

• massage and comforting touch

• tools such as the birth ball, peanut ball

• relaxation mantras and affirmations

• aromatherapy

• acupressure points, and more.

Section 3: PUSH PREP - What’s Covered:

Pushing can be the most dramatic phase of childbirth but often comes without instructions – even in long-form childbirth classes. many birth educators, doulas, and labor and delivery nurses don’t truly understand the physiology of the pelvic floor! With an intense focus on alignment, posture, and pelvic health, this capstone to your Birthsmarter Weekend will help you stack the cards in your favor in order to reduce the length of time spent pushing, reduce the risk of tearing during delivery, and prepare you for postpartum pelvic floor recovery. By creating an action plan for at-home practice with long-lasting benefits, this final section is relevant and important for those planning a medicated or unmedicated birth.

• Various pushing positions to help train your body for the main event.

• Breathing techniques so you can understand the physiology of pushing

• The anatomy of and connection between our posture and alignment, including the bony pelvis, pelvic floor muscles and baby’s positions / fetal alignment.

• How to effectively connect to your deep core muscles so you can use them effectively to help push your baby out

• You will practice pelvic floor contractions and relaxation

• Different reasons you might want to “breathe your baby down” or “hold your breath and PUSH”

• Why you don’t need to push harder than your contraction is asking for

• The benefits of and options around prenatal body work.

• … and more!