Through the Labyrinth Blog
Birthing from Within and Midwives
As a midwife, I feel lucky that my training included an extra special element from the very beginning. I had the good fortune to take a Birthing from Within class as a pregnant parent, just before starting midwifery training, and to begin my apprenticeship years in the homebirth practice of a certified BFW childbirth educator…
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BFW Dictionary: Validate, Motivate, Educate, Initiate, Celebrate
There are so many words that are special to Birthing From Within, words that we use in very specific ways that are important and meaningful — but not always entirely self-explanatory. The purpose of the BFW Dictionary posts is to shine a clarifying light on the language used by BFW and its practitioners and to…
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5 Ways Birth Professionals Can Prepare Parents for Cesarean Birth
April is Cesarean Awareness Month, a time when parents and birth professionals worldwide acknowledge those who have given birth by cesarean and create space to validate their experiences, while also challenging the system that has created a bloated cesarean birth rate. As a birth professional and as a parent who has given birth by cesarean,…
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Touch From Within: Birthing From Within and Bodywork
Join Jamie Mossay’s inspiring new workshop, Touch From Within! I am a bodyworker/massage therapist and educator. While I think I’m pretty good at the practical aspects of a bodywork session — do anything for a few decades and you probably get pretty good at it! — there’s something more to the work I do, something…
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The Power of Words in Birth Work
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me! When we were children, this phrase was meant to comfort and strengthen us, to be a shield against bullies and meanness. And yet even then we knew that words had incredible power. They could make us feel pain, joy, sorrow, fear, and…
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An Introduction to Our New BFW Owners
Dear Friends, In the northern hemisphere, where both of us are located, although in separate regions, spring is blooming. Perhaps you are finding, as we are, that you are even more captivated by the peeking crocus, even more enchanted by the later sunset, and even more energized by the warming sun. This has been…
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Intentional Creativity and Birthing From Within
One of the guiding principles of Birthing From Within is that the essence of childbirth preparation is self-discovery, and that active, creative self-expression is critical to the birthing journey. The Birthing From Within mentor guides parents through self-discovery by listening to them mindfully, engaging them in solution-focused dialogue, and bringing their awareness to the stories…
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Meet the Mentor: Lauren Vallone
In our ongoing Meet the Mentor series, you’ll get a chance to meet some of our amazing Birthing From Within Childbirth Educators and Doulas. You’ll learn a little bit about their Birthing From Within work – and, just for fun, get a glimpse into their personal lives and opinions! Today, let’s meet… Lauren Vallone Lauren…
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Meet the Mentor: Maeve Sundstrom
In our ongoing Meet the Mentor series, you’ll get a chance to meet some of our amazing Birthing From Within Childbirth Educators and Doulas. You’ll learn a little bit about their Birthing From Within work – and, just for fun, get a glimpse into their personal lives and opinions! Today, let’s meet… Maeve Sundstrom Maeve…
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Monthly Letter || Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
Every month, Birthing From Within sends a letter to our membership and the public, containing our reflections on happenings in birth, in the world at large, and in our organization. See a collection of our monthly letters on the blog here; sign up to receive our newsletters directly in your inbox. Dear Friends, Most people would agree that the…
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BFW Dictionary: Archetypes
There are so many words that are special to Birthing From Within, words that we use in very specific ways that are important and meaningful — but not always entirely self-explanatory. The purpose of the BFW Dictionary posts is to shine a clarifying light on the language used by BFW and its practitioners and to…
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Between the Shades of Gray in Childbirth Education
Childbirth educator Nicole Green remembers the first time she faced a class of pregnant parents preparing for birth. She recalls feeling pressure to “know all the answers,” since couples searched online, read reviews, and selected her to help them to learn what they needed to know to “get this right.” In the seeking stage, often…
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