natural birth in the news

A story in today's NJ Star Ledger talks about the films, Orgasmic Birth and The Business of Being Born, the play, Birth, midwives, the Anna Verwaal seminar we had recently and more...

pictures from Conception, Pregnancy & Birth

Yesterday was great - a wonderfully full, exhilarating event. It was a honor to assist Gayle Lemke of Shakti Ma, who did a fantastic job of making this day happen! Thanks to Lisa Duggan of The MotherHood for feeding us.

PHOTOS
Here's Anna Verwaal and then the panel for the discussion I moderated - so nice to have Pushed author Jennifer Block, a wise and compassionate OB (Dr. Winsome Parchment), a hospital midwife, a fellow doula, a mom who has birthed in hospital/birth center/home (just like me!), and Anna.

A shout out to all the lovely couples who came and hopefully learned some new, exciting stuff. These sorts of events are so great because they educate and inspire but also because it's a chance for those of us who love and believe in birth to gather together. Some of my favorite people in the world were all in the same room yesterday and I feel so nourished for having spent time with these passionate, articulate, smart women.

check it!

Conception, Pregnancy & Birth the journey that shapes our lives
with Anna Verwaal, RN, CLE, Doula

When: Sunday, October 12th, 9am-5pm

Where: SOPAC (South Orange Performing Arts Center), One Sopac Way in South Orange. Coming from NYC? Take a train 25 minutes DIRECT from Penn Station NYC to South Orange Station--SOPAC is located just adjacent to the station. www.njtransit.com

Cost: $175 individual, $300 partner rate - bring a friend, partner or colleague and receive a discount!

Half Day Option: $90 for am (9-12:30) or pm (1:30-5) session - includes free screening of "Orgasmic Birth"

To register: call 973-763-2288 send an email or pay online at Shakti
For more info: call Gayle Lemke at 917-750-0516 or send her an email

nice turn out

Good to see all the ladies who came out to the birth open house today at Shakti. It was cool to meet these (obviously self-selecting) women where are open to change or doing what it might take to have the births they want.
And the chocolate truffles by a local chocolatier, (Nadine Kerstan/Chocolate Polka Dot) on which Gayle Lemke (director of Shakti Ma) and I collaborated were fantastic! Remember, chocolate helps get the oxytocin flowing!

For more of those truffles and more empowering information on birth, don't forget to save the date & register for the October 12th event we are doing at SOPAC: "Conception, Pregnancy & Birth ...the journey that shapes our lives", with screenings of Orgasmic Birth & The Business of Being Born, and what promises to be a mind-blowing seminar with Anna Verwaal.

Scroll down to the bottom of this blog page to see all the details.