More BOLDness

Feb 212013
 

Recently we posted some comments some of our students shared http://blog.alaboroflove.org/2013/02/women-are-becoming-bold-about-their-births/ but today we got another great letter that we felt we had to share!

“Thank you so much for offering these trans-formative classes.  I truly believe the work you are doing is making a difference.  I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I walked in on the first day but I can tell you I got what I needed even though I had no idea I needed it!  It was the missing link to fully preparing my mind and body for birth.

For any women who are looking for a great way to prepare for their upcoming birth, the BOLD method as I experienced IS:

  • IT IS the exploration of your feelings, beliefs, and attitudes towards birth.
  • IT IS the release of any fears, worries and judgments that may hold you back in labor.
  • IT IS building a vision for your birth.
  • IT IS practical hands-on preparation including pain coping techniques, optimal labor positions and guidance for partners.
  • IT IS creative and fun while providing a deeper, connected understanding and confidence in your body.
  • IT IS about trusting your intuition, being your ultimate guide, and taking responsibility for your birth.
  • IT IS empowerment at its core.

Both Charlotte and Teresa are inspiring women to learn from.  They get down to the nitty gritty, are passionate about birth and give you a safe space to unleash, get clear, re-build and create the birth of your dreams.  My favorite analogy of the weekend was that labor is a lot like running a marathon.  If you don’t train for it how can you expect to be allowed to compete?  Marathons are not just physical training but mental as well.  Being a runner, I can relate to “Hitting the wall” when you physically can’t go on, it’s your mind that pushes you through.

 

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I feel prepared, confident and excited about my upcoming birth.  I am so grateful to you both for all that you have shared!

Thank you!”

Rebecca

 

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Valentines Day 2 Years Ago

Feb 142013
 

I received this note today:

Dear Teresa,
Happy Valentine’s Day!! I hope you are having a lovely day (off) and hopefully enjoying time with your Valentine. I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the help and support you gave me during Sophia’s birth… 2 years ago today! It truly was exactly the experience I wanted… and I often think about how well it went and am positive that one (HUGE) reason it went so well was that you were there. That was such a wonderful experience… and the elation I had that evening after she arrived (and I really was so thrilled), continues two years later. Thank you so much for doing what you do and touching my life in such positive and indelible way. Your spirit is so happy and strong… it is such a blessing that you share that with women… and that you shared it with me. Thank you!!
Love, Mindy

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I loved that she thought of me on her daughter’s birthday. I loved that I have great memories of her birth. I think I have spent at least every holiday with a family in a birth over the last twenty years. I do love my job and love notes like this that remind me that my work is helping to bring about great experiences and memories both!


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We Love Renea Jones

Feb 142013
 

This is basically the resounding message in the shared quotes from her clients! We are delighted she is with our company!

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Renea was a supportive and calming presence throughout our time together. I appreciated her immensely! I relied on her to remind me of my goals for the birthing experience–goals which easily can be dismissed in the intensity of contractions and diminished by the persistence of well intending hospital staff. She was a source of great comfort and strength and provided me with wealth of information about my options for childbirth. Knowing I had someone keeping vigil for me gave me courage to pursue my birth plan. We were so blessed to work with Renea and have her as our doula for the arrival of our precious Lucia! We really appreciate everything you did. Every pregnant woman should have a doula.

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Having Renea present for my birth experience was like a sigh of relief. Knowing that she has been with many first time moms during their births made me feel like I could relax about all of the unknowns I was about to experience. Her calm yet confident presence rubs off while in labor, which was both comforting and encouraging. It gave me extra relief to know that my husband felt very supported by having her present to help guide while still being involved in the whole process.

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We chose Renea as our doula because we feel we can trust her and that she will be a calm, caring advocate for the safe birth of our son.

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Women Are Becoming BOLD About Their Births!

Feb 112013
 

I wanted to share the comments that we are getting from the women who attended our BOLD Women’s Weekend and Couples Series. I have been amazed at how so many women have been hungry for the wisdom that they had within them and never knew how to tap into before. Here are some of the comments we have heard so far:

Thank you Charlotte and Teresa for an amazing weekend. If you are a pregnant lady, regardless of your birth plan or whether or not you have one, you MUST take the Women’s Circle BOLD class. It was the most trans-formative and empowering weekend I’ve ever had. I came in with many fears about birth, and now I feel strong and confident that I can manage those fears and have the birth experience I want. THANK YOU!!!

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I feel so bold after being with you guys for those two weekends!! Thank you for giving so much energy to us to help us carve out our paths!

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This should be a REQUIRED class for anyone having a baby. This class is poetry! I thought that all I needed was facts to be prepared….Little did I realize that birth is so much more than just knowing how to pronounce Erythromycin! And just when you have faced your fears in weekend 1, Teresa and Charlotte bring in your partners for weekend 2 to explore your relationship, create intimacy and make sure the dads learn the basics and the facts right alongside the moms. Charlotte and Teresa are like bread and butter – the perfect combination of instructors who love what they do like no one I’ve ever seen. I’m so glad I found this class. I have no more fears…only anticipation for my big day!!
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A true delight for right-brainers, and an absolute necessity for left brains. I will admit that there was some mystery to exactly what would be covered when I signed up, but those of you brave enough to welcome a challenge will not regret it.

The woman’s weekend is a true bonding experience, with yourself and the fellow moms embarking on a similar journey. The classes will go beyond your comfort zone, into your true, raw self, but the reward is an awesome understanding! The couple’s class was a great way for me to connect with my husband on such a deep and intimate level that our relationship is likely changed permanently. Technique, positioning, and coping mechanisms are also taught, and much more thoroughly than you would find in a hospital class!

Both Teresa and Charlotte have such an obvious love for women, the birthing process, and the motherly spirits. They are like old friends I wish I had known a lot longer! The fluidity with which they teach is perfect, sometimes hilarious, and always informative. I felt prepared going in, but now I feel as if the perfect birth is truly awaiting me! Thank you both!! xoxo

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Thank you and Charlotte for an educational, emotional and empowering weekend! I got even more from the class than I was expecting and truly believe it will have a tremendously positive impact on our birth experience!

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I can’t wait to hear how their births unfold with BOLDness!

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Our Great Experience With Charlotte

Feb 072013
 

I wanted to share how great our experience with Charlotte was. Being committed to having a natural birth experience, I loved having Charlotte to support me on that journey. When I went into labor, Charlotte supported me over the phone and then came to our house when I felt I was ready and needed to have her there. During her time with me, she was constantly encouraging me to keep moving and do things to further my labor progress. Charlotte was very good about helping me work through the discomfort of contractions, and being a first time mom, she really helped me stay calm. When I started to get anxious, she talked with me about how I was feeling which I was feel was invaluable at helping me keep my anxiety level low and allowing me to stay focused on my baby and not my fear. Without her support, I am not sure I would have been able to maintain such control over my emotions.

When we arrived at the hospital, Charlotte continued to help me move through my contractions, and even though I was only dilated to a 4 when we arrived, it only took 4 hours from that point until I delivered which I give so much credit to Charlotte for. She encouraged me to get in certain positions that I would have never known to do on my own, especially not in the midst of active labor, that really helped my body open up and progress. Charlotte’s confidence in me allowed me to have so much more confidence in myself when I reached the point where I felt I couldn’t go on. With the support of Charlotte and my husband, I got through that brief moment and continued on to have the perfect birth experience I had been dreaming of. Even though I was nervous about how well my husband and Charlotte would work together since my husband was a little skeptical about needing a doula, it ended up being such a blessing for my husband as well. Afterwards, he told me that having Charlotte at our birth was the best decision we could have made. She really helped ease both our nerves throughout the entire process.

I would recommend Charlotte to anyone, she was invaluable to us. If we decide to have another child, we will definitely be using her!

Elizabeth Martin

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I Ate My Placenta and Loved It!

Feb 052013
 

Well sorta.. actually these are referrals from folks who used our placenta encapsulation services with Melanie Nasmyth! Melanie has a biology degree  and is also the mom to four and a labor doula- although she rarely doulas much any more. She recently realized she had encapsulated over 100 placentas! She loves her work and here are some words from those who have benefited from that work! Here is a link to a previous client’s blog you may enjoy as well- L&MBLOG

melanie nasmyth

I used the placental encapsulation services for my third child.  I was petrified of having postpartum depression and anxiety … with two big kids in the house I could ill-afford to be blue.  My pills lasted for about two months and I don’t regret taking them one bit.  I do feel my energy was stronger and my mood was steadier than after my previous two births.  If I were having another baby, I wouldn’t hesitate to take the pills again.

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I decided to give placenta encapsulation a shot after doing much research on the benefits of it (decrease in baby blue and depression, increase in energy, increase of breast milk, and provides natural iron just being a few of them). I figured let me give it a try, it defiantly can’t hurt. As per Melanie’s instructions I got my cooler and bag ready to take to the hospital. She was great as soon as my husband called her she was there to pick up the “goods” and the next day she already delivered them to me and I was already taking the pills. I really believe these pills helped me with the baby blues. Since the start of me taking the pills I felt like I stayed positive and energetic. Placenta Pills defiantly aid in healing a mother’s body!!!

placenta print

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