You have to be able to put what you know into action. THEN, you have power!
I certainly wanted to feel empowered and in control (as much as you can during labor) as I labored and prepared to hold my baby for the first time. Both of my labors were extremely rewarding experiences, and afterwards, as I was looking into my daughter's eyes and kissing her head, I was overwhelmed with so many different emotions, one of them being pride. Pride that I had just given birth without any drugs or interventions, despite many people rolling their eyes when I mentioned I would be having my baby naturally. Or when they would tell me how terrible labor was going to be and that I would want medication once I was in the middle of things. Pride that I had proven them wrong. Pride that I had put what I learned into practice and had a wonderful birth experience.
I want the same for my students, as they too are going into their own labors wanting to their own babies to be born "au naturale."
I was excited when a fellow Bradley® instructor shared this website with me. Talkbirth.me is chock full of amazing resources that will empower by students, giving them lots of information about labor -- signs of labor, comfort techniques during labor, creating a birth plan, and LOTS more!
I am looking forward to sharing this website with my students at our next class together. We will be talking about birth plans, so this will certainly be useful in helping them be even more prepared for the arrival of their babies!
AND, I am delighted that I can use the materials myself to learn more about childbirth and how to be a better educator!