Better Prepared
I just had an exhilarating birth experience! My water broke spontaneously at 7:15 pm and I managed a completely natural labor and delivery (we even convinced the doctor to wait until my labor started up naturally rather than jump starting with Pitocin)! Our daughter was born with a very speedy and effective labor after only 6 hours of labor. This birth could not have been more different from the last one. We felt totally prepared to do it naturally this time, because we actually knew how to manage labor (thanks to your class!) and I never once asked for medication. Everything went very smoothly and everyone was totally on-board for my natural birth and delivery. But, because of this class, I also felt totally prepared for labor if things had not gone as smoothly as we hoped. I feel like if I had taken an FCEA class prior to my first birth, things would have gone a lot differently. I would have known that my baby was posterior and would have used the techniques you taught us to help the baby turn and I would have known how to advocate for myself as well. I really appreciate all you did to prepare us for this labor. My support team was so focused and we all kept your class in mind through breathing, moaning and positions. And yes, we spent some time in the shower for transition too! Thanks so much for helping us achieve a beautiful and remarkable birth experience!
- Misti
I just had an exhilarating birth experience! My water broke spontaneously at 7:15 pm and I managed a completely natural labor and delivery (we even convinced the doctor to wait until my labor started up naturally rather than jump starting with Pitocin)! Our daughter was born with a very speedy and effective labor after only 6 hours of labor. This birth could not have been more different from the last one. We felt totally prepared to do it naturally this time, because we actually knew how to manage labor (thanks to your class!) and I never once asked for medication. Everything went very smoothly and everyone was totally on-board for my natural birth and delivery. But, because of this class, I also felt totally prepared for labor if things had not gone as smoothly as we hoped. I feel like if I had taken an FCEA class prior to my first birth, things would have gone a lot differently. I would have known that my baby was posterior and would have used the techniques you taught us to help the baby turn and I would have known how to advocate for myself as well. I really appreciate all you did to prepare us for this labor. My support team was so focused and we all kept your class in mind through breathing, moaning and positions. And yes, we spent some time in the shower for transition too! Thanks so much for helping us achieve a beautiful and remarkable birth experience!
- Misti
Paying It Forward
I'm sharing this story because I want everyone to know the amazing impact FCEA had, not only for my labor, but my sister's as well. My husband and I felt so prepared for birth and we had an amazing experience. But then I was also able to use the information I learned in my classes to help my sister have her first baby. I'm so very grateful for FCEA! I could not have done it without you!
My sister was pregnant with her first baby and lives in a very small town where labor classes, as informative and comprehensive as FCEA's, are not available. Her plan was to have me in the labor room as a support person along with our mom and her husband. I arrived during her early stages of labor after the hospital had sent her home twice because of slow progress. Her husband had been doing his best to help but just didn't quite know what to do. I quickly jumped right into coaching her the way my husband had coached me. She seemed to be having back labor and was just laying in bed. I got her up and had her on all fours and crawling. I was able to refer to my handouts for anything I couldn't remember. We alternated positions from sitting to standing and I reminded her to empty her bladder often. We waited until she was 4-1-1 and then headed back to the hospital. I helped her change gears in her breathing as needed, reminded her to stay relaxed during contractions and rest completely in between. Her plan was to go all natural, just as I had, and as she started reaching transition she mentioned an epidural. I acknowledged that it was an option but urged her to make it through the current contraction before deciding. We changed positions again and she was able to have an un-medicated labor, and she is so proud! After pushing for an exhausting 1hr and 45mins (nothing like my 27mins), my beautiful niece was born!
It really was a wonderful experience to be a coach so soon after being the one coached. My brother-in-law has now dubbed me with the nickname "da coach" and constantly thanks me for how I was able to help them. Thank you for the great classes! I recommend them without hesitation.
- Lindsay
I'm sharing this story because I want everyone to know the amazing impact FCEA had, not only for my labor, but my sister's as well. My husband and I felt so prepared for birth and we had an amazing experience. But then I was also able to use the information I learned in my classes to help my sister have her first baby. I'm so very grateful for FCEA! I could not have done it without you!
My sister was pregnant with her first baby and lives in a very small town where labor classes, as informative and comprehensive as FCEA's, are not available. Her plan was to have me in the labor room as a support person along with our mom and her husband. I arrived during her early stages of labor after the hospital had sent her home twice because of slow progress. Her husband had been doing his best to help but just didn't quite know what to do. I quickly jumped right into coaching her the way my husband had coached me. She seemed to be having back labor and was just laying in bed. I got her up and had her on all fours and crawling. I was able to refer to my handouts for anything I couldn't remember. We alternated positions from sitting to standing and I reminded her to empty her bladder often. We waited until she was 4-1-1 and then headed back to the hospital. I helped her change gears in her breathing as needed, reminded her to stay relaxed during contractions and rest completely in between. Her plan was to go all natural, just as I had, and as she started reaching transition she mentioned an epidural. I acknowledged that it was an option but urged her to make it through the current contraction before deciding. We changed positions again and she was able to have an un-medicated labor, and she is so proud! After pushing for an exhausting 1hr and 45mins (nothing like my 27mins), my beautiful niece was born!
It really was a wonderful experience to be a coach so soon after being the one coached. My brother-in-law has now dubbed me with the nickname "da coach" and constantly thanks me for how I was able to help them. Thank you for the great classes! I recommend them without hesitation.
- Lindsay
A Positive Birth Experience & Successful Breastfeeding
Before attending the Foothills labor classes I fully intended to have immediate medical intervention and just hoped labor would be fast so I could get it over with. It was a scary process I didn't understand. Once I received the vast amount of knowledge regarding labor and delivery from the classes, I realized not only could I have a positive birth experience, but I was equipped with tools that would allow me to confidently do it without medical intervention! My delivery ended up taking a completely different path than I had anticipated, but in gaining and discussing this newfound knowledge and tools with my spouse beforehand we were able to make hard decisions quickly that ended up saving my baby and the medical staff agreed were the right calls to make. I wouldn't have been confident in making those choices without these classes. I went from fearing labor and delivery to going into it with confidence, peace, and the resources I needed to make it a positive experience no matter the turns it happened to take.
Before leaving the hospital we were provided with a ton of lactation resources and information, but it was too much, overwhelming, and there was no way we had time to read everything they provided on breastfeeding with a newborn at home. The most accessible and helpful resources I turned to were from the Foothills Breastfeeding Class. The information I received from the class was concise yet thorough and easy to find the answer specific to my concern. It was a huge relief to be able to contact the class instructor, with whom I had already built a relationship, with questions instead of setting up an appointment with someone I didn't know in an office I'd never been to. She was incredibly helpful in understanding my specific concerns, offering recommendations, and adjusting our course of action as needed. I had a great breakthrough after that as I was able to boost my milk supply, bond with my newborn, and breastfeed my preemie baby for the first time in over 2 weeks. Breastfeeding is a hard journey, but through the Foothills class and support I was equipped with resources and knowledge that completely changed my breastfeeding experience from being frustrating, overwhelming, and negative to a joyful, hopeful, and positive experience.
-Kimberly
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