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1. From In to Out: Understanding Birth

Traveling to the “land of birth” is like parachuting into an unknown universe. It can be magical and the adventure of a lifetime. It can also be overwhelming and strange. Often, it is all of these, and so much more.

Understanding how birth works and baby voyages from “in” to “out” is an important part of working toward a healthy and empowered experience.

Through lecture, experiential exercises and group discussion, discover the key forces impacting your birth. Learn how trusting your sense of safety and the wisdom of your body supports the process of birth and can guide you in key decisions.  Explore the special roles of the baby, birth parent + support person as you learn the stages of the labor journey, and how you can work together to support birth.

Try a class meditation audio recording and listen to the experience of other families, below.  

©Lisa Gendron | Agroterra Birth

SYLLABUS

The Awareness Scan (birth meditation)

Do I Control or Surrender? (exercise)

The Power of LOVE + SAFETY (exercise)

  • Supporting the hormones of Labor
  • Understanding the role of birth support
  • Sense of Safety as a Guide for Decisions

Breathing for Birth

  • Understanding Breath as a Labor Tool
  • Belly Breathing (exercise)

The Transforming Body

  • The Changing Structures of Birth

The Labor Process

  • Pre-labor and Early Labor
  • Active Labor
  • Transition
  • Pushing + Birth
  • Delivery of the Placenta
  • Recognizing Preterm Labor
  • When to call your Practitioner/Go to the Hospital

The Mental + Emotional Journey of Birth (exercise + meditation)

Open Circle offers prenatal massage as well as postpartum massage with baby in Providence, Rhode Island

©Lisa Gendron | Agroterra Birth

Kaeli was an extraordinary guide through our intense journey of pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum period. She worked with us as a a childbirth educator, doula, a prenatal yoga teacher, and a massage therapist. Her support was all encompassing– physical, emotional, and spiritual, really. I can’t imagine having navigated the wild and unpredictable waters of this transition without her and am deeply grateful for her tender presence, loving expertise, warm humor, and compassionate spirit. She is an absolute gem– one who I just can’t recommend highly enough to any woman or couple expecting their first, or fifth, baby.
E + D.

Providence

Family Testimonial & Guided Meditation

Additional Workshops

1. From In to Out: Understanding Birth
2a. Labor of Love: Movement + Partner Support for Birth
2b. Labor of Love (part 2): Massage, Hands on Support, Acupressure
3. Power + Pain: Learning to Work WITH the Sensations of Birth
4a. Informed Choices: Advocating for Our Families
4b. Informed Choices (part 2): Understanding Interventions
5. A Brave New World: 4th Trimester Family Care
6. A Baby Now What?! Understanding Newborns
7. The Nursling: Breastfeeding + Bonding

PRACTITIONER TESTIMONIAL

Kaeli has been a fierce and passionate advocate for the RI birth community as a doula, childbirth educator, massage therapist, yoga instructor, and infant development resource. She has an incredible breadth of knowledge about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum but what most impresses me is her ongoing commitment to families, her ability to be fully present along with the depth of her compassion and thoughtfulness in her interactions. Both as a midwife and a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, I have confidently referred clients and friends to Kaeli for more than 15 years. She has assisted women and families with preparing for birth, overcoming birth trauma, supporting lactation, caring for their bodies, learning how to better understand their babies and so much more. I feel fortunate to have her as a resource in the community. – Laura Chalk, CNM, PCNS