Supported Birth offers three courses:

• Birth preparation for expectant parents
• Doula training
• Teacher training

Our Birthing Classes are based on:

• Educating couples to make conscious choices about the birth of their baby, based on a combination of technical knowledge, confidence in the natural biological process of birth, rediscovering and trusting their instincts, and choosing from many different pain-coping tools and techniques.

• "Unlearning" many concepts our society has taught you about the birth process!

• Recognizing the importance of a woman's need to feel safe & nurtured in her birthing environment. Paving the way for as much privacy and freedom in labor as possible.

• Suggesting the significant benefit of the continual presence of a woman who is experienced in labor support. Not a requirement! Just an added environmental factor proven to be helpful for creating conditions of security, privacy and comfort during labor.

Background

Supported Birth was created by Jana Wernor in 1995. Beginning her training with certification from AAHCC (Bradley Method), she continued on to study academic Midwifery with ACHI (Association for Childbirth at Home Intl.), Advanced Labor Support with Penny Simkin, RPT, Birthing   From Within Level One Childbirth Preparation with Pam England, CNM, and many other nursing and midwifery technical courses. She believes that the credibility of the “natural” approach to birthing must be backed by accurate technical knowledge, and that couples do best with a combination of objective information plus positive images and attitudes about a woman's capacity to give birth. No one birth outcome is expected, no one “method” is proclaimed.

Supported Birth draws from multiple resources, believing that birth education must adapt to different women's personalities and desires. Couples and women will find themselves “rethinking” birth and being exposed to a variety of birth scenes. We explore what women need in labor, different types of labors, judicious use of medical intervention, birth trends, staying open-minded, what partners feel, and the entire journey to parenthood. “Prepare Your Mind; Trust Your Body” is a nice summation of Supported Birth.

Responses from Supported Birth couples:

• "I can look forward to childbirth instead of being fearful of it. I feel prepared for something that was previously a total unknown to me. I feel ready and even excited by it.”
  
• "[The classes] have eased my mind and calmed my fears. I liked that she was not full of judgments about the right way to labor, but rather offered incredibly useful information and choices.”
  
• “I feel prepared and confident to go and have our baby. .. knowledgeable, empowered. Every question I had was answered. There was a comfortable environment open for discussions. I can't imagine not knowing what I know now.”
  
• “By informing us intelligently these classes were everything I hoped they would be.”
  
• “The knowledge we received is invaluable. I have definitely changed my views on birthing and parenting.”
  
• “The thing I appreciated the most was that she did not try to indoctrinate us with dogma. She presented the material in a balanced & reasonable way....[Classes] were very relaxing and enjoyable to come to....Everything was extremely interesting... “
  
• “Very positive about birthing process. The class was great....To be honest, I couldn't think of a way to improve it!”