Powerful Mamas® Natural Birth Course
Be Prepared. Be Confident. Be Powerful!
Classes Fill Quickly - Secure Your Spot Today
"You are constructing your own reality with the choices you make...or don't make. If you really want a healthy pregnancy and joyful birth, and you truly understand that you are the one in control, then you must examine what you have or haven't done so far to create the outcome you want." Kim Wildner-Mother's Intention: How Belief Shapes Birth
Invest the time! Be prepared for what will be one of the most important days of your life.
Our live, blended learning course in Ankeny, IA lasts 7 weeks and is just $199 per couple. It includes over 15 hours of live instruction, a special breastfeeding session taught by an IBCLC, complete access to our entire online natural birth course, and all of your course materials!
Blended learning offers you the best of both worlds. Practice labor techniques in person, join discussion and build a local community, all while diving deeper into natural childbirth online and live with your fellow students. Best of all, with blended learning you'll never miss a class again! If you're sick or just can't make it, you can always get caught up (or review) in our online classroom.
Jacquelyn's goal is that EVERYONE has the opportunity to walk away from Powerful Mamas® Natural Birth Course fully prepared for their best birth ever!!!
Blended learning offers you the best of both worlds. Practice labor techniques in person, join discussion and build a local community, all while diving deeper into natural childbirth online and live with your fellow students. Best of all, with blended learning you'll never miss a class again! If you're sick or just can't make it, you can always get caught up (or review) in our online classroom.
Jacquelyn's goal is that EVERYONE has the opportunity to walk away from Powerful Mamas® Natural Birth Course fully prepared for their best birth ever!!!
Knowledge is Power When It Comes To Your Birth Goals!
Powerful Mamas® Natural Birth Course seeks to inform and educate families on their options during pregnancy and childbirth. Come to the local series held in Ankeny, IA and meet new friends that hold similar views on the natural, healthy and normal process of childbirth. Use this time to bond with your partner, gain confidence, make connections and build a sense of community. Best of all, walk away feeling prepared for what will be one of the most amazing days of your life!
Unlike other courses, Powerful Mamas local sessions are kept small, intimate and relaxed with a focus on individualized attention, CONNECTION with others, and plenty of discussion.
Powerful Mamas integrates elements from a variety of natural childbirth methods rather than teaching one narrow approach. After all, you can't predict how your birth will go, but you can be prepared by knowing which questions to ask and by having LOTS of coping tools in your tool bag!
Who Should Take This Class???
I've had everyone from experienced parents, first-time parents, VBAC moms (vaginal birth after cesarean), home birth parents, birth center parents, hospital-based clients, parents with OBGYN providers, midwife providers, family physicians; even high-risk moms, ALL take Powerful Mamas® Natural Birth Course!! We learn from one another! Part of what Jacquelyn loves about teaching this class is the huge spectrum of clients that participate, from the mainstream mama to the ultra "crunchy" family. This class is for ANYONE that desires an informed, empowered birth experience!
What Will Be Covered?
Jacquelyn Duke holds a Masters degree in Education, in addition to being a CAPPA-Certified Childbirth Educator, Certified Labor Doula and CAPPA Labor Doula Faculty Member. She has worked with hundreds of families in the Central Iowa region and beyond as they prepare for every type of birth imaginable. She uses real-life experiences as a labor doula and teacher to develop this unique series, and truly enjoys sharing the lessons she has learned as a birth expert to enrich class discussion with real life examples. Students will view videos of real births, share important research and statistics that can affect their birth experience, practice pain coping techniques, and process common myths and fears with other class students (even online through the use of exclusive forums and private videoconferencing calls!!!).
Powerful Mamas® Blended Learning Natural Birth Course Covers the Following Topics and MORE!!!
~ The Role of Nutrition and Exercise in a Healthy Pregnancy, Birth and Recovery
~ Birth Terminology
~ Choosing the Right Birth Location, Support Team and Provider to Set You Up for the Birth of Your Dreams!
~Understanding the Current U.S. Maternity Care Environment, and Particularly the Influence It Can Have on Your Birth (If You Let It!)
~ Reframing Pain as a Positive Resource in Labor
~ Using Emotional & Physical Signposts to Determine Labor Progress, Rather than Unreliable Vaginal Exams
~ Understanding the Outdated Friedman's Curve, so that You Can Hopefully Avoid an Unnecessary Cesarean for "Failure to Progress"
~ Timing Contractions, and When to Head to Your Birth Location or Call Your Home Birth Midwife
~ Techniques for Relaxation, Including: Labor Massage, Setting the Environment, Meditation, Breathing Exercises, Visualizations, Imagery Exercises, & Birth Affirmations
~ Important Position Changes for Labor Progress and Natural Pain Relief
~ Specific Techniques for Coping with Normal Labor Challenges, such as Back Labor, a Slow or Prodromal Labor, if You Must Labor in Bed & Fast or Precipitous Labors
~ Benefits and Risks of Common Labor Interventions & Procedures
~ Understanding the Connection between Labor Inductions and Unintended Interventions
~ The (In)Accuracy of Estimated Due Dates
~ How to Exercise Informed Consent and/or Denial so that You Can be an Active Participant in Your Birth
~ Techniques for Avoiding an Unnecessary Cesarean
~ Why You Should NOT Have a "Birth Plan" & Instead Create a "Wish List!"
~ How You Can Bond, Comfort, & Stabilize Your Newborn through Immediate Skin-to-Skin Contact
~ Understanding Common Newborn Procedures, as well as Your Rights to Permit or Refuse these Interventions
~ Breastfeeding 101: Taught by an Expert with the HIGHEST Level of Training and Accreditation for Lactation Support, an IBCLC!!!
~ Preparations for Postpartum & Life with Baby, Including Time Sharing Activities, Building a Support Network, Warning Signs for Postpartum Mood Disorders, How You Can Comfort Your Newborn, and MORE!!!
Powerful Mamas® Natural Birth Course seeks to inform and educate families on their options during pregnancy and childbirth. Come to the local series held in Ankeny, IA and meet new friends that hold similar views on the natural, healthy and normal process of childbirth. Use this time to bond with your partner, gain confidence, make connections and build a sense of community. Best of all, walk away feeling prepared for what will be one of the most amazing days of your life!
Unlike other courses, Powerful Mamas local sessions are kept small, intimate and relaxed with a focus on individualized attention, CONNECTION with others, and plenty of discussion.
Powerful Mamas integrates elements from a variety of natural childbirth methods rather than teaching one narrow approach. After all, you can't predict how your birth will go, but you can be prepared by knowing which questions to ask and by having LOTS of coping tools in your tool bag!
Who Should Take This Class???
I've had everyone from experienced parents, first-time parents, VBAC moms (vaginal birth after cesarean), home birth parents, birth center parents, hospital-based clients, parents with OBGYN providers, midwife providers, family physicians; even high-risk moms, ALL take Powerful Mamas® Natural Birth Course!! We learn from one another! Part of what Jacquelyn loves about teaching this class is the huge spectrum of clients that participate, from the mainstream mama to the ultra "crunchy" family. This class is for ANYONE that desires an informed, empowered birth experience!
What Will Be Covered?
Jacquelyn Duke holds a Masters degree in Education, in addition to being a CAPPA-Certified Childbirth Educator, Certified Labor Doula and CAPPA Labor Doula Faculty Member. She has worked with hundreds of families in the Central Iowa region and beyond as they prepare for every type of birth imaginable. She uses real-life experiences as a labor doula and teacher to develop this unique series, and truly enjoys sharing the lessons she has learned as a birth expert to enrich class discussion with real life examples. Students will view videos of real births, share important research and statistics that can affect their birth experience, practice pain coping techniques, and process common myths and fears with other class students (even online through the use of exclusive forums and private videoconferencing calls!!!).
Powerful Mamas® Blended Learning Natural Birth Course Covers the Following Topics and MORE!!!
~ The Role of Nutrition and Exercise in a Healthy Pregnancy, Birth and Recovery
~ Birth Terminology
~ Choosing the Right Birth Location, Support Team and Provider to Set You Up for the Birth of Your Dreams!
~Understanding the Current U.S. Maternity Care Environment, and Particularly the Influence It Can Have on Your Birth (If You Let It!)
~ Reframing Pain as a Positive Resource in Labor
~ Using Emotional & Physical Signposts to Determine Labor Progress, Rather than Unreliable Vaginal Exams
~ Understanding the Outdated Friedman's Curve, so that You Can Hopefully Avoid an Unnecessary Cesarean for "Failure to Progress"
~ Timing Contractions, and When to Head to Your Birth Location or Call Your Home Birth Midwife
~ Techniques for Relaxation, Including: Labor Massage, Setting the Environment, Meditation, Breathing Exercises, Visualizations, Imagery Exercises, & Birth Affirmations
~ Important Position Changes for Labor Progress and Natural Pain Relief
~ Specific Techniques for Coping with Normal Labor Challenges, such as Back Labor, a Slow or Prodromal Labor, if You Must Labor in Bed & Fast or Precipitous Labors
~ Benefits and Risks of Common Labor Interventions & Procedures
~ Understanding the Connection between Labor Inductions and Unintended Interventions
~ The (In)Accuracy of Estimated Due Dates
~ How to Exercise Informed Consent and/or Denial so that You Can be an Active Participant in Your Birth
~ Techniques for Avoiding an Unnecessary Cesarean
~ Why You Should NOT Have a "Birth Plan" & Instead Create a "Wish List!"
~ How You Can Bond, Comfort, & Stabilize Your Newborn through Immediate Skin-to-Skin Contact
~ Understanding Common Newborn Procedures, as well as Your Rights to Permit or Refuse these Interventions
~ Breastfeeding 101: Taught by an Expert with the HIGHEST Level of Training and Accreditation for Lactation Support, an IBCLC!!!
~ Preparations for Postpartum & Life with Baby, Including Time Sharing Activities, Building a Support Network, Warning Signs for Postpartum Mood Disorders, How You Can Comfort Your Newborn, and MORE!!!