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Childbirth
Our Beliefs
We believe that
We cultivates self-acceptance, self-awareness and growth in families. We offer a nurturing
environment in which women and men can become the best parents they can be.
For most of us, that means learning how to let go of the past. It means making conscious
choices rather than reactive choices. It means accepting ourselves so that we can offer
unconditional love to our children. And it means facing our fears – starting with our
unconscious and conscious fears around pregnancy and birth -- rather than running away
from them.
The "Facts" of Life
What does a birthing woman need to learn?
Birth is far more than a physical event. Physically speaking, there is little reason that any of
us need to prepare for birth. Our bodies know exactly what to do. But emotionally,
psychologically, intellectually and spiritually we can do a lot to prepare ourselves. Birthing
women in North America have a cornucopia of options available to them. We focus on
helping you prepare for parenthood and for the birth experience that YOU WANT.
Why do we put such an emphasis on working with whole families?
Parenting and the birth experience are about creating family. Everyone within the family is
transformed by the addition of a new member… even just by the thought of adding a new
member!
Partners of women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant are involved in an
emotional, psychological experience of their own. Just as the birthing woman needs to
prepare for labor as not just a physical act, so too does the partner. Watching a baby being
born is a profound experience for everyone present. The better prepared everyone in the
room is for the many levels of feelings and thoughts that occur, the more peaceful and
wonderful the birth experience can be.
During labor, it will be the partner who must thoroughly understand what the birthing woman
wants and make sure that it happens – because she is usually NOT able to do it for herself
in the 60 seconds between contractions.
Workshops
Click here for a list of workshops on birth.
Our Beliefs
We believe that
 | pregnancy and birth are natural, normal processes | |
| pregnancy is a time in a woman’s life that invites self-reflection and transformation | |
| a pregnant woman’s partner can also transform through participation in this | |
| procreative process | ||
| pregnancy and birth flow most smoothly when our emotions, rational minds and | |
| spiritual selves are aligned | ||
| the challenges we encounter in childbearing and birth are exactly what we need in | |
| order to grow | ||
| giving birth teaches us lessons that enhance our whole lives | |
| that women and men need exceptional nurturance from their families and | |
| communities during their childbearing years | ||
| that birth invites us to connect inwardly with ourselves and outwardly with our | |
| families and communities |
We cultivates self-acceptance, self-awareness and growth in families. We offer a nurturing
environment in which women and men can become the best parents they can be.
For most of us, that means learning how to let go of the past. It means making conscious
choices rather than reactive choices. It means accepting ourselves so that we can offer
unconditional love to our children. And it means facing our fears – starting with our
unconscious and conscious fears around pregnancy and birth -- rather than running away
from them.
The "Facts" of Life
What does a birthing woman need to learn?
Birth is far more than a physical event. Physically speaking, there is little reason that any of
us need to prepare for birth. Our bodies know exactly what to do. But emotionally,
psychologically, intellectually and spiritually we can do a lot to prepare ourselves. Birthing
women in North America have a cornucopia of options available to them. We focus on
helping you prepare for parenthood and for the birth experience that YOU WANT.
Why do we put such an emphasis on working with whole families?
Parenting and the birth experience are about creating family. Everyone within the family is
transformed by the addition of a new member… even just by the thought of adding a new
member!
Partners of women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant are involved in an
emotional, psychological experience of their own. Just as the birthing woman needs to
prepare for labor as not just a physical act, so too does the partner. Watching a baby being
born is a profound experience for everyone present. The better prepared everyone in the
room is for the many levels of feelings and thoughts that occur, the more peaceful and
wonderful the birth experience can be.
During labor, it will be the partner who must thoroughly understand what the birthing woman
wants and make sure that it happens – because she is usually NOT able to do it for herself
in the 60 seconds between contractions.
Workshops
Click here for a list of workshops on birth.
Growing Together www.togrow.org Ann Arbor, Michigan (734) 622-8335
Copyright 2006 Felix Paulick and Cynthia Gabriel
Copyright 2006 Felix Paulick and Cynthia Gabriel
Growing Together
Life Learning Center
Life Learning Center
