|
 | |
I started teaching classes back in 1977 when parents-to-be were expected to choose a "method" ahead of time and sign up for Bradley or Lamaze classes. The fear, of course, was "What if I choose the wrong method for me and it doesn't 'work'?".
Now, in the Bay Area anyway, most classes are eclectic. Rather than choosing a method, expectant parents are encouraged to explore their own individual responses to pain and the 'unknown', drawing on various coping techniques and practicing relaxation under stress. The spiritual and emotional aspects of labor and parenting are addressed as well as the physical.
My focus is primarily on the extraordinary mix of excitement and anxiety which marks the last few months of pregnancy. This is a challenging time of transition and I encourage expectant parents to slow down and listen. The birth of a child is a transforming experience for everyone involved. Mothers are so often empowered and partners' hearts open wide as families are formed.
So, in class, we explore all the questions, e.g.
- What can you really expect from yourself, the hospital, your doctor or midwife?
- Is it possible to switch care to a homebirth midwife at 7 months?
- What is a doula and do you need one?
- Can you swim or have massage in your last month?
- Is it really possible to labor without pain medication?
- Why might you need to take a breastfeeding class or join a new mom support group?
- How would you like to parent differently than you were parented?
These discussions and experiential exercises can be quite lively and fun for all, especially partners.
My current teaching schedule includes:
- A one day intensive class for first time parents every month at Summit Medical Center in Oakland
- A small group refresher class every month at my office in Berkeley
- A quarterly series of classes for lesbian women at Maia Midwifery in Orinda
- Private classes for individual women and couples as needed
"I liked .....Bridget's way of holding the space, great reflective listening, good containing and moving the class forward. This material is so intense, yet she keeps a good pace. Her educational, teaching style is easy to understand and very respectful. Good group dynamic"
"I kept thinking...'oh, this part is going to be boring' but it never was!"
"My favorite stuff was your stories and your modeling of contractions and generally your warmth and openness towards our process. I loved the class...!"
"I loved...the emphasis on the 'natural' process of childbirth, the reminders that the woman's body knows what to do, that relaxation is so important...and especially for me the emphasis on what the partner can contribute to the experience."
|
|
