TECHNIQUES FOR A LIFETIME 

The Birth Ease Method was conceived in 2003 while I was working as a midwifery birth assistant and birth center manager for Jennie Joseph, LM, CPM at her birth center, The Birth Place. I was a HypnoBirthing® Practitioner and a Hypnobabies® Instructor. Jennie witnessed the incredible results that my birth hypnosis clients were achieving. A strong believer in the importance of relaxation for labor.  She asked me to create a program that could help her mothers achieve the same deep relaxation for their births without the use of hypnosis. I, too, understood that many people are uncomfortable with the idea of hypnosis and/or esoteric meditation traditions. The Birth Ease Method was born!  

Additionally, I wanted to create a childbirth program that focused on creating a relaxation habit by eliciting the Relaxation Response within the mind to reduce fear and stress versus pain free childbirth. The Relaxation Response is essentially the opposite reaction to the “fight or flight” response.  It is a physical state of deep relaxation which engages the other part of your nervous system—the parasympathetic nervous system. Once engaged, it turns off the fight or flight response and brings the body back to pre-stress levels counteracting the physiological effects of stress and the fight or flight response.  Dr. Benson describes the Relaxation Response as a physical state of deep relaxation which engages the other part of our nervous system—the parasympathetic nervous system. Associates of Dr. Benson at Harvard Medical School found that regular sessions of a simple meditation technique decreased the body's response to norepenephrine, a hormone released in reaction to stress. Although the endocrine system continued to emit the hormones, they did not seem to have their usual effects. ''Ordinarily, norepinephrine stimulates the cardiovascular system,'' Dr. Benson said. ''But regular relaxation training resulted in less blood pressure increase to norepinephrine than is usually seen.''  Research has shown that regular use of the Relaxation Response can help any health problem that is caused or intensified by chronic stress such as fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal ailments, insomnia, hypertension, anxiety disorders, inflammation, infertility, and others. According to Dr. Benson, one of the most valuable things we can do in life is to learn deep relaxation- making an effort to spend some time every day quieting our minds in order to create inner peace and better health.
 

It is shown that fear and stress can slow or stall a labor, affect postpartum mood and milk supply, and it also can impact the baby in the womb. Dr. Thomas Verny cautions, “Too much stress is destructive to adults, and it can be especially so for babies in the womb. The ebb and flow of stress hormones may powerfully affect the architecture of a baby’s developing brain. Too much stress can cause pregnancy complications such as preterm birth and low birth weight. During pregnancy, it becomes more important to release stress and return to balance.” If parents counteract the effects of stress by utilizing the relaxation response daily, their babies receive the benefit as well, especially babies in the womb. The baby’s experience of conception through the first year of life forms a template for life.  Pre & perinatal psychologists recommend connecting and bonding with your baby while in the womb as a vital way to help protect babies from stress and the rigors of birth. It became obvious to me that helping families to reduce stress-- whether day to day or chronic-- was where I wanted to focus.

I believe in and appreciate the birth hypnosis methods that I have certified with, trained in, and studied. Yet, I also craved the freedom to meet my clients' needs. Especially regarding concerns about hypnosis, class format, having multiple recordings that parents could work with without the boredom that comes with only one recording, or the feelings of overwhelm that come with too many long scripts that birth partners are expected to read nightly. Over the years, I have also been humbled and honored to have had clients repeatedly tell me that they preferred the sound of my voice. I wanted the ability to offer clients recordings in my voice. As a facilitator, having clients resonate with my voice increases the relaxation response. This is especially valuable when I am attending a birth as the doula for my Birth Ease students. Most importantly, I want to provide the families that I am working with stress reduction skills and relaxation techniques that truly do last for a lifetime. 

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All my Birth Ease classes are individual classes that are centered exclusively on you. This allows the course to be catered towards your unique needs, birthing plans, and schedule. This private class setting also allows us to address any increased stress or concerns you may be experiencing during your pregnancy. This is something not possible in a group class setting. My Birth Ease Method classes contain audio relaxation recordings, a digital workbook, video childbirth education, and one-on-one instruction and guided relaxation sessions. The instructional videos reflect the teaching style I have used to individually instruct hundreds of families for over 17 years. To listen to a version of the foundational Inner Sanctuary guided relaxation audio recording or a children's nighttime sleep story, please find the links below. 

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I am currently offering all classes virtually.