2009/2010 Class Offerings

Please note my new email address (3/30/09): maryburgess555@gmail.com

2009/2010 Life Song Class Offerings Include:

Pregnancy Classes:

* Birthing In Awareness: A 6-week Series Birthing From Within(R) Childbirth Classes. Wednesdays, 6:30-9:15 pm.

• Spring Series: April 22, 29, May 6, 13, 27, and June 3 (class full)
• Summer Series: June 10, 17, 24, and July 1, 8, and 15 (a few spaces left)
• Autumn Series: September 9, 16, 23, 30 and October 7, 14 (class full)
• Late Autumn Series: November 18, 25 and December 2, 9, 16, 23 (a couple of spaces left – sign up soon)
• Winter Series: January 27, February 3, 10, 17, 24, and March 3 (sign up now)
  

A lovely class in a pretty cottage garden setting. Bring your journals, a nice pen, your sweetheart or labor partner, and join this intimate class, where we discover your innate strengths for not only labor and birth, but parenthood. We discuss pain coping practices, pregnancy and birth anatomy and physiology, explore our deepest questions about birth and parenthood, breathing and visualization, comfort measures, and, of course, learning about gentle in-womb positioning for getting the baby in the right position for an easier birth experience. The heart of this class is birthing in awareness and empowerment as the mysteries of birth unfold. Each class will be 2-3/4 hours in length, and I’ll serve snacks and tea. This class is going to fill up, so if you are interested, please contact me soon. (see Birth Class Page for details). Suggested texts: Birthing From Within (England & Horowitz), She Births (Marci Marcari – optional), and Pregnancy, Child, and the Newborn (Simkin, Whalley, and Keppler). BFW and PCN are often found in used bookstores or kids consignment stores, or Village Books can have it in one day upon ordering. $200.

Birthin’ Again Refresher Class

Having another baby? Wonderful!

Want a one-night class that delves deep into the processes of birth, where you can re-remember your inner strengths for the journey ahead?

Please join me for a one-night class, in a lovely garden cottage setting, where we will discuss Labor & Birth, when to go to the birth center, comfort measures and things your partner can do to support this journey, fear releasing, and deep connection with your baby and each other.

You will have a chance to think about your previous birth, remembering your strengths, what you liked/what you’d like to change, how to pull forward your previous birth strengths into your upcoming birth.

Birthin’ Again teaches you strong coping practices, based on the Birthing From Within traditions. These coping practices are excellent for labor AND for those challenging times of when you are finding new balance in your growing family.

Please come with yourselves, an open heart, and a sense of curiosity about how THIS birth can be a life-empowering event.

• Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 OR
  
• Wednesday, September 2, 2009
  

• Time: 6:15-9:30 pm
• Place: Life Song Cottage
• Price: $75

Late Night Snacks & Tea provided To Register: Contact me maryburgess555@gmail.com

• Optimal Fetal Positioning Workshop. Wednesday, September 23 (6:30 – 9:15 pm). A big title that means: How to Avoid Back Labor! In this class, that is opened up for those not interested in the 6-week series, we talk about gentle baby-in-womb positioning, we’ll do some belly mapping to find out what position your baby is in, and give lots of information about getting your baby in the best position possible for an easier labor and birth. Truth is, back labor is the #1 reason women request pain medications during childbirth. This class is best suited for women entering their last 6-8 weeks of pregnancy (for first time moms) and for the last 3 weeks of pregnancy (repeat moms). This is a wonderful complement to any childbirth class, and an excellent investment in your birth. Late night snack and tea provided. Space limited to 8 participants. Class cost: $38.50. Please email me for available spaces in this class (maryburgess555@gmail.com)

* Birth Comforts – Class intensive with Complimentary Birth Comforts package. Date to be announced (6:30-9:30pm). A unique, 3-hour experience where we discuss the best tools for providing labor comforts. Perfect for mamas nearing their 37th week of pregnancy. Partners will learn a lovely “mama massage” that has been demonstrated to increase mama’s love-hormones and reduce labor pain, techniques for back labor relief, ways of utilizing birth balls effectively for labor/birth/postpartum comfort, how to use a rebozo, the power of water/heat/touch, and so much more. Students will leave with a FREE LABOR COMFORT PACK, which includes a rice and lavender sock, back relief tool, candle blessing, massage oil, womb-strengthening tea from Traditional Medicinals, honey sticks, and sour lollipops for labor. Participants will also receive a BIRTH COMFORT RENTAL KIT, which includes a birth ball and pump, rebozo, affirmation cards, a relaxation CD (may choose between labor/birth and VBAC specific CDs), a shared journal of thoughts from mamas and dads as they journey through their labors and births, and a booklet of birth comfort tips (handy for the birth partner!). This class is not included in the 6-week series. Rental kit should be returned in approximately 30 days, but can be rented for longer periods at $10/week. Class cost: $115. Limited to 6 couples.

* EBAC: Empowered Birth After Cesarean – A VBAC Preparation Class. 3-week series (6:30-9pm):

• Spring 3-Week Series: Wednesdays, March 4, 11, and 18
  
• Summer 3-week Series: Wednesdays, June 3, 10, and 17
• Autumn Series dates: October 21, 28, and November 4
  

Having a baby after a previous cesarean experience? Join me as we reflect upon your past birth(s), learn about the physical challenges & spiritual journeys of an EBAC, discuss hurdles in the birth ahead, and look forward to an Empowered Childbirth Experience. This childbirth class, based on the Birthing From Within practices, encourages parents to re-explore birth after cesarean, including pain coping practices, fear releasing, comfort measures for birth, gentle in-womb positioning for an easier labor and birth, and birthing in awareness throughout the unfolding of Birth. This series includes a night learning about Optimal Fetal Positioning (see below for details) plus a Birth & Labor Refresher. Please bring: Yourself, your spouse/partner, a journal, and a nice pen. Also, bring a shawl, quilt, or wrap – something comforting and soft, and some cozy socks or slippers. I’ll provide late night snacks and tea. Class cost: $90.

• Cloth Diapering & Beyond – A Hands-On Workshop. I am very pleased to announce that Anna Morin – mother, educator, and cloth diaper guru will be presenting a Cloth Diapering & Beyond Hands-On Workshop, and I hope you can join us! This will be a chance to see cloth diapering in action, diaper options, washing & care, local resources, and hands-on demonstrations. Bring all your diapering questions! And if you have been given some diapers and don’t feel comfortable knowing how to use them, please bring them along for trouble-shooting. Anna will also expand upon these ideas and approaches to potty-learning, including elimination communication. This class is perfect for new and expecting mamas and for those who work with these mothers, including doulas, midwives, nurses, and childbirth educators. Babes-in-arms ok, with common courtesy for other participants. http://bellinghamdoula.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/diapering-class-so-fun/

Like many mothers, Anna became obsessed with cloth diapering while pregnant. After changing and washing countless diapers, she became even more familiar with the amazing variety of cloth options available. As an educator, she is excited about helping others navigate the myriad of choices to find just the right solution for them.

Date: Saturday, February 21, 2009 (Fall date to be announced soon!)

Time: 8:45 – 11:00 a.m.

Cost: $15 – $20 per person (sliding scale), or $30 for a parenting couple – less than the cost of one box of disposable diapers!

Please Register early – class is limited to first 10 participants.

* Childbirth Classes “a la carte”: For women/couples desiring a private birth class experience, or for women on bedrest. Topics focus on couple’s specific childbirth/early postpartum needs. Cost: $25/hour (2 hour minimum).

• Doula Services. I offer personal, professional labor support, with experience in all birth settings, including home, birth center, and hospital. (See Doula Page for details).

* Birth Healing: Often a private class, done with just mama and myself, with or without her spouse/partner. A time to gently process difficult birth experiences, towards clarity, release of strong negative feelings of self and body. Topics include exploration of birth loss and gain, blamelessness, compassion and forgiveness of self and others, connection with baby after a difficult birth experience, preparing for another birth, and more… Please contact me to discuss this further.

• Birth Healing Circle: Date: To Be Announced (10am – 3pm). For those who need to process difficult birth experiences, or lingering feelings and emotions surrounding their birth experience. “We are not alone in our struggles and triumphs. We are part of a greater plan and a larger community of women. Many have come before us – many are yet to arrive earth-side. Our individual loads in life become lighter as we come together” (from Mother Rising). Includes light lunch. Space limited to 8 participants. Cost: $75

To learn more about Birthing From Within mentoring and extra-ordinary childbirth classes, please visit their website at:

www.birthingfromwithin.com

To register for classes, please contact me: maryburgess555@gmail.com to be sure there is space available and confirm times/dates. Registration is confirmed with receipt of payment and is on a first come, first serve basis.

Birthin Mama Cake

This page has the following sub pages.

• Life Song Special Events
• Birth Warrior Goddesses!!