It's Time To Change The Narrative Around Birth - Advanced Sports & Family Chiropractic & Acupuncture

In our quest for natural, physiological, conscious, and empowered birth experiences, we often find ourselves feeling lost. Despite our best intentions, we may end up disappointed with the outcome, feeling shame, and questioning why we couldn’t birth the way others seem to. Too often, we assume that if we are just “conscious” enough, “natural” enough, or simply “let it happen,” we’ll achieve the perfect natural birth. This unrealistic expectation leaves many feeling as though they’ve failed.

Who doesn’t yearn for a better birth experience? I wholeheartedly believe that you and your baby deserve a journey where you feel empowered, free from fear, and equipped with the skills for an amazing birth. We should consider saying no to navigating labor and delivery blindly. Instead, we need to open our eyes to the potential of a truly transformative birth through “skills-based” labor and delivery methods. Approaches that go beyond conventional techniques by embracing conscious birthing while empowering you with knowledge, choices, and the physical and mental strategies required for each step of this miraculous process.

I believe in the power of knowledge and preparation. Knowledge is key, and practice of that knowledge is power! When we think about labor and delivery, preparing for childbirth is like gearing up for a marathon; you wouldn’t just wing it on the big day. We should embark on the journey of our baby’s birth with confidence and skill, equipped with the tools to navigate this incredible experience. By reducing fear, understanding the birth process, and practicing skills-based birthing methods, we can reduce fear and build a sense of control and confidence, resulting in a more positive and empowered birth.

Over my years of teaching birth skills, I have found that one of the most powerful deterrents to a beautiful birth experience is fear and its effect on the vagus nerve. When women approach their impending labor from a place of fear, their bodies remain in a heightened state of fight or flight, and the vagus nerve cannot engage the “brakes” on the sympathetic nervous system. Fear inhibits the emergence of the “rest and dilate” state that is essential for a smooth birth. I have had the pleasure of witnessing the difference in women who enter labor confidently, with a solid understanding of each stage of labor, knowing what to expect and what to do, and who have partners who know how to skillfully help during the process.

The Skillful Birthing program was born out of a desire to help women navigate labor with greater ease and less fear. I observed that too many women had lost confidence in their ability to birth naturally, despite their strong desire for natural and conscious birthing experiences. Over 20 years ago, after experiencing childbirth myself and drawing from my background as an athlete, I recognized the need to help women and their partners prepare for labor and delivery with the same mental, physical, and emotional skills and focus used to prepare for any other physically intense event. It became clear to me that there was an incredible gap in training for labor and delivery.

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