Dr Stu and Brian are joined by Stephanie and Celeste to discuss some of the major problems with our legal system when it comes to birthing and midwives and the case of Rowan Bailey.
Sometimes, women know they have fears regarding childbirth,
but they won’t let themselves truly come to terms with those fears.
Sometimes, women allow others fears to permeate them and they take on additional fears.
We have come to believe that if we speak them or acknowledge them, it gives the
fear more power. Indeed, I do not think this is true. I think as long as we do
not face the fear, it is more powerful and can ,in fact, grow larger and darker.
Sometimes, women want to dream about their perfect birth
vision.
Sometimes, we are afraid to write it down or even speak it as to jinx
it from happening.
Sometimes, when we do begin to speak about it, others
quash it, immediately, by telling us it is unrealistic.
Sometimes, we are aware
that others did not have the birth they desired and it intimidates us to speak
of what we want, for fear that it may make them feel bad.
Sometimes, women have great births but are afraid to speak of
how empowered they were, for fear of making others feel bad.
Thus, many great birth stories are not being told.
I have been a childbirth educator and doula for two decades.
I have attended over 570 births.
What I know is, if you do not allow
yourself to dream big, get your fears out, have tools to resolve the fears and
full address them, you will not achieve the birth you desire and there is not much hope of you having that birth vision at all.
The method of childbirth I teach is the BOLD Method of
Childbirth. It is based on the journey that Karen Brody has been on since first
writing the play BIRTH.
In BOLD classes, we sit with
women, over a weekend, and discuss the vision they have and help them formulate the
vision that lives with them. We look at the underlying issues that may stand in
their way of achieving that vision. Then, they come up with a strategy to move those
obstacles out of their way and devise tactics to implement that strategy.
We move in our class. We dance, we learn some yoga and do some
roll playing and embrace great ways to help our bodies have an easier birth. We
sing in our class and begin to have a voice within us that has great guidance
if we listen. We learn about the power that is within each of us. The women
leave with a real sense of what kind of birth they desire and a plan to help
them get that birth. Developing a mantra that will help them own their birth is
also part of the class.
We incorporate BODY, VOICE and ACTION in the BOLD Method. We
hope that women will take responsibility for their bodies and no longer let
their voices be silenced, but will take back their births fully! We have been
amazed at how empowered women feel when they leave our classes. We have been even more
equally amazed at the births of our students. They are fully involved in their
birth choices and have felt very prepared.
Teresa Howard, CLD, CLE (CAPPA), CHBE, DFB, BOLD
I am a birth guide- someone to help you along your mysterious journey- guiding you when you need it, helping you back on the path if you step off, watching in wonder when you don't, and always supporting you.
I am the owner and founder of Labor of Love Doula and Childbirth Services, Inc. I began assisting in births in 1992. I've worked with water births, natural births, multiples, high-risk births & VBACs. I have doulaed for both home and hospital births. I've enjoyed working with both single moms & couples ranging in age from 17 to 46. In early November 2011 I was delighted to have doulaed for my 500thbaby!. I serve women in the metro area of Atlanta and Athens. This is not only my profession, but my calling!
For more information on Teresa, her classes and doula services in the Atlanta metro area, please check out
