No matter what your unique labor becomes ~ whether estimates of a large baby, presumptions regarding your due date ~ you will be best equipped to cope with your labor if you have advocated for and will have freedom of movement and maximum belief in your ability to birth under your own power. As the President of Independent Childbirth I work to protect women and children's health rights.  I help you explore all of your options so that you are confident in making the choices that are right for you. My birth class is not about birthing THE right way. It is about you knowing how your body works to give birth and you recognizing and appreciating that YOU will birth YOUR way.  The research shows the obvious, women who are active participants in their birth care enjoy their birth experience because the choices belonged to them (Listening to Mothers).

Connecticut is a very interesting state in which to give birth.  You have the choice of hospital, teaching hospitals, birth centers and homebirth with a midwife is still legal.  Among my couples ~ all of whom learn all the aspects of each option ~ they have chosen hospitals, birth centers, homebirths.  Whatever was right for them.  They learned about how a mother's body works to give birth.  After choosing the best birth options for them they've learned laboring and coping techniques such as aromatherapy, like one of our mothers in this story. 

Homebirth with midwives is coming under scrutiny in Connecticut and we are in an era where change in our birth care is brewing.  I am a strong advocate for protecting women's and children's health rights because these same rights must be learned, appreciated and valued in all areas of our health.  It is for this reason that I,  along with two midwives and colleagues, :created Independent Childbirth.  'We are committed to being the experts in normal birth so that we can help the careproviders understand what is not normal and appreciate their skills for assisting women and children when they are in need of medical assistance while we continue to keep babies normal around any medical birth situation.  I have been published in Midwifery Today on the subject and I bring this philosophy and ideal into my teaching and sharing with you, the owner of your birth.