About Kristine
When I gave birth to my first child in 2016, I had such a profoundly positive experience that I said shortly after my daughter’s birth, “I wish every woman could feel this way!” I felt powerful, capable, accomplished, and wise. Throughout the first postpartum weeks of sleep deprivation, breastfeeding challenges, and distressing emotions, I drew strength from the memory of that birth experience.
I later told my childbirth teacher at our class reunion that her classes had made me feel confident and prepared to give birth. I had been taught how to remain low-risk, how to cope with contractions, and how to make informed choices. These three things in particular helped make my daughter’s birth feel like an amazing, transformative experience.
Even the most challenging circumstances can produce a powerfully positive experience when parents are prepared, informed and respectfully supported during birth. I teach childbirth classes because I want to contribute to improving birth experiences for families. Childbirth is an opportunity to uphold the dignity of mothers, fathers, and children created in the image of God. It is an act that expresses hope in God’s wise and loving plan for every new life. Working together with parents who are preparing for birth fills my heart with gratitude and joy!
What my classes are like:
My classes are meant to be informative and fun and the curriculum I use takes a holistic approach, meaning we’ll talk about how to prepare for birth not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. All those aspects of ourselves are connected and important for birth! We cover a lot of material but there’s still plenty of time for questions and more in-depth discussions on topics of interest. We meet in my home and you are welcome to bring food or whatever you need to feel comfortable. For group classes, there is a community feeling that parents benefit from when you learn alongside other couples in the same stage of life.
While not everyone has a partner, my classes are designed specifically for couples. Even if your birth partner is your mom, your sister, or a friend, taking classes with someone who you trust and who is ready to support you no matter what is going to help you feel more prepared. I love watching partners encouraging one another, communicating about needs, and laughing together while practicing labor positions and comfort techniques. Classes are as much for dads as they are for moms!
We talk a lot about physiological birth, which refers to the way labor progresses when no interventions are used. There are huge benefits to allowing the process to continue uninterrupted. Of course, sometimes interventions or medical procedures are desired or required to make a birth safer and more comfortable. That’s why we discuss the pros and cons of every procedure and strategize how we might use them to our best advantage. We also talk about how to navigate a challenging birth in a way that still leads to a satisfying experience. Childbirth is a peak life event for a woman, one that will impact her body, her self esteem, and her parenting for years to come. A birth that doesn’t go as planned (they often don’t!) can still be amazing and that’s something we will work towards together!
At the end of our last class session, we will schedule a reunion party to celebrate the birth of your Little Ones! You’ll have an opportunity to share your birth stories, talk about the joys and challenges of parenthood, and enjoy the company of friends.
Whatever kind of birth you are hoping for, it is my honor to be a part of your support team. I genuinely care about everyone I teach and I look forward to meeting each new student! I also love hearing birth stories and seeing your newborn photos so bring them on!