Chicago Birthing From Within® Childbirth Classes:
Upcoming Chicago Birth Class Schedule*:
Birthin’ Again: A “refresher” class for parents who are experienced in birth and are expecting a second, third (or 7th!) baby. January 2012, on two Saturdays, the 7th and 14th from 11 am to 4:30 pm. This class will be held in the Logan Square/Humboldt Park neighborhood. The price for this class is $225 and includes lunch and snacks (On the second Saturday lunch will be a potluck).
*I do not currently have any Childbirth Preparation classes for first time parents scheduled. For now, please check out the class schedule for my fellow mentor and doula, Holly Barhamand.
My Birthing From Within group classes are priced on a sliding scale from $125 to $275 based on parents’ ability to pay. If you are interested in participating in classes, please contact me at amy at chicagodoula dot net or 773-255-4542 for more information. You can find out more about what to expect from Birthing From Within® classes here.
If my current schedule for group classes does not work for you, private classes are available. My fees for private birth classes begin at $350 for a full, 6-session series. I also have Pam England’s Birthing From Within Pain-Coping Practice cd available to borrow or purchase.
Doula Services*:
- Labor and Birth
- Siblings at Birth
- Postpartum
- Abortion Support
- Miscarriage Support
*I recently gave birth myself in November 2011 and will be taking a break form labor and birth doula work for several months till a date to be determined in 2012.
Please call or email me to discuss what working with me would include and to see if you would like to set up a phone interview or time to meet in person. I can be reached by phone at 773-255-4542.
Please also shop around! There are many amazing doulas and birth educators in Chicago and it is important to find the one who is right for you. You can check out local birth and postpartum doula listings at Birthlink or visit doulamatch.net.
My Lending Library:
I make my own personal collection of books and movies available to anyone who uses my services. Here is a sample of available titles:
Books:
Birthing From Within, by Pam England
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn, by Peggy Simkin, Janet Whalley and Ann Keppler
Mama’s Little Baby – The Black Woman’s Guide to Pregnancy Childbirth and Baby’s First Year, by Dr. Dennis Brown and Pamela A. Toussant
Gentle Birth Choices, Barbara Harper
The Nursing Mother’s Companion, by Kathleen Huggins
The Birth Partner, by Peggy Simkin
Laborinth of Birth, by Pam England
Operating Instructions – A Journal of My Son’s First Year, by Anne Lamott
and many more!
DVDs:
“Birth Day” with midwife and mother Naoli Vinaver Lopez
“The Business of Being Born” with Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein
“Delivery Self Attachment” with Dr. Lennart Righard
“Baby Led Breastfeeding: The Mother Baby Dance” with Dr. Christina Smillie
“The Happiest Baby on the Block” with Dr. Harvey Karp
Other Anti-Violence Work:
In addition to birth and reproductive rights work, I provide a range of adult education about domestic and sexual violence (including “DV for Doulas”) as well as anti-oppression trainings and workshops such as Unlearning Racism and Heterosexism. I am a frequent trainer for the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network’s 40 Hour Intro to Domestic Violence Training. Please email me if you are interested in setting up a training or class in Chicago or elsewhere.