I was very fortunate to connect with Catherine and Up2Birth in my sixth month of pregnancy. Although I was under the prenatal care of a highly-recommended OB-GYN group (which highlighted its inclusion of a midwife on staff), I really was not fully comfortable with the care I was receiving. Having read journalist Naomi Wolf’s book, Misconceptions, I knew I wanted to avoid the intensely medicalized prenatal care and birth experience she had had, but I was afraid to sit my doctors down, ask them direct questions, and deal with the consequences of getting answers I knew I wasn’t going to like. On the other hand, I didn’t want to feel so alone on my journey, or end up with an unnecessary C-section. I was double-minded to the point of indecision and inaction.
Fortunately, Catherine generously waded through all my fears, defensiveness, and insecurities to equip me with knowledge, and then to empower me to make decisions that were in alignment with my values. She provided me and my husband with a comprehensive and balanced education on pregnancy, the birth process, potential issues and options.
She used resources she had developed, as well as a wealth of external resources/references, so that I was assured of the accuracy and completeness of the perspectives she offered me. I completely shifted from a place of helplessness and self-doubt to a position of confidence and anticipation. Though I was far along in my pregnancy, I finally asked my OB-GYN group all the questions I had avoided.
My son’s birth was one of the most remarkable and rewarding experiences of my lifetime. My choices included natural childbirth (this from a woman who originally wanted to be unconscious during delivery!!), attended by a skillful midwife and doula. With Catherine’s support, my husband, my son and I made it through labor and delivery drug-free.
I will forever be grateful to Catherine for helping me and my husband evolve from passive, hesitant observers of the pregnancy process into active, powerful participants in the birth of our son. I recommend Up2Birth without reservation.
Elizabeth
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With Catherine’s guidance and support, I had the most amazing birth experience I could have dreamed of. When my husband and I first met with Catherine, we didn’t have a clear birth plan, we just had a vague idea that we wanted to have a positive experience and to strive to have it as natural as possible. I honestly had doubts that I could manage without pain medication — doubts that were reinforced by friends and family who told me how unbearable the pain would be. Catherine was the one voice that told me that it was possible, that in fact, a women’s body is designed to be able to cope with childbirth without intervention but she left the decision to use medication completely up to me. I was impressed with the wealth of information she provided me at that first meeting. She had a list of things I should do a month before the birth to prepare my body — and I believe this advice made a world of difference for me. At my later OB appointments, my doctor told me I would have an easy labor because of how ready my body was, most likely due to the advice Catherine gave me that I was following. It ended up being easy indeed — I labored at home overnight and was fully dilated by the time I got to the hospital. Being able to feel my baby coming out of me and to experience the euphoria afterwards is something I will remember for the rest of my life. I thank Catherine for showing me it was possible.
Karin
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Catherine came into our life as a Godsend. She truly became our “earth angel” and we had no idea that she would be when we first met her in her childbirth class. All we knew was that she was someone very special and rare. I remember thinking she was so strong and knowledgeable, and so calm and confident when it came to birthing. Plus she genuinely cared and was so passionate about birthing that you could see it was truly a part of her.
In addition to having an amazing doula, my man Joe and I really dreamed of having a natural birth - since I was so inspired by my friend's natural “birth story” and how alert, connected and present her baby girl was when I first met her - yet I did not think a natural birth was ‘meant to be’ for our baby. I was told my labor had to be induced so that the doctors could be in control, in case anything were to happen to me or the baby during the “stress” of labor. I was crushed because of how much Joe and I dreamed of a natural birth. So, when I met Catherine, it was a beautiful beginning to addressing our fears and giving Joe and I brand new faith and hope.
By teaching us healthier and smarter ways to look at birthing, Catherine helped us safely have the natural birth we desired. That’s right…no induction, no pitocin. YAY!!! Thank God we met Catherine! In addition Joe and I learned that labor was a “good stress,” and that my body and the baby were meant to go through it. It was a complete transformation from realizing we were not required to be induced, to learning pain-coping techniques such as: staying physical, using the bath/shower, vitamins and herbal supplements, etc.…just to name a few. She taught us to be prepared and to do our research and that we had a personal right and choice to say “yes” or “no” to many of the hospital’s standard procedures. Learning from her was like having an added spine or dose of confidence and strength, mixed with gentleness, love and nurturing. Her support helped me to stick up for what I deeply desired/wanted/needed. It was great feeling so empowered!!
Melanie
Up2Birth
CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION
