Testimonials

“Just wanted to pass along some wonderful news…The waiting has officially ended.   Arriving a week past his due date [our baby]was born…Our amazing doula took photos – when I don’t know because she was helping [my husband] and I through a totally natural (no drugs at all childbirth.  I can’t say enough good things about your class. We used the relaxation CDs starting on Thursday night around 11 p.m. which got us through most of my labor and the breathing techniques really worked. [My husband] was an absolute rock throughout and kept reminding me to be a wet noodle and when I was in transition, the slow dance got me through. We were able to labor at home until 10 a.m. Friday morning and when we arrived at the hospital I was at 8 cm I feel so fortunate to have had the experience of having a totally natural birth – it was all that I had hoped for and all that I wanted for our sweet little boy.”  ~Courtney

“Just wanted to update you on the birth of out daughter.  We attended your one day class and then delivered [her two weeks later].  Labor progressed quickly, but I honestly believe that I would not have successfully carried out my wishes for a drug free delivery without your help.  I felt confident entering labor, and I was focused on staying relaxed and out of the pain/tension cycle.  My recovery was better, and the experience was undoubtedly more enjoyable than my first (with pitocin augmentation and then an epidural).  Thank you so much, and I wish you continued success.”  ~Jenny

Jenny, quoted above, is a pediatrication and later wrote, “I was impressed by the practical approach you took, and really appreciated how delicately you spoke about the fact that some practitioners may advocate for medications when they may not be necessary–but still were clear that sometimes (in 2010) we should take advantage of medical advancements that have been made since the time ladies had babies in the fields.”   ~Jenny Paul, MD

“Just wanted to let you know that Ryan and I welcomed our son into the world [last week].  He was 8lbs, 8 oz and 21 inches long. We had an amazing drug-free waterbirth at AMC with Anjli Aurora (Intown Midwifery).  Ryan was a wonderful coach and we used lots of things from your class.  My water broke at 5:30am, so we spent the day distracting ourselves with shopping, a movie, and dinner before being admitted to the hospital around 6:30pm.  He was born at 1:37am, so the timing was great.  We used the different positions learned in your class, and although he emerged anterior, I had back labor the whole time, so they were very useful!  We were able to get through using slow-paced breathing and never had to escalate beyond that.  And Ryan did a great job of bringing me back to the confident cycle the few times I veered off course. It was very helpful for both of us to know the stages of labor and what to expect during each of them – when I thought I was going to die during the ring of fire, I remembered that it meant I was so close to being finished – that helped me get through!  Ryan said taking the class was the best thing he could have done to prepare for labor.  So thanks so much – we were able to make it through naturally with the help of your class!”     ~Jane and Ryan

“My water broke on Tuesday morning, but NOTHING happened.  We were checked into the hospital and put on a pitocin drip.  Then, the doctor did another exam and my contractions came on hard and fast.  The birth ball was my tool for quite a while.  Coming into transition, I experienced some back labor which was alleviated by [my husband's] counter pressure.  I pushed for 40 minutes and VOILA!, we had our baby.  [My husband] and I both felt very prepared throughout the delivery and are grateful for the education provided by Katie.”    ~Whitney

“[We] attended you class and had a wonderful time. Things did not go exactly according to plan, the doctors induced, and eventually we ended up having an epidural. Most important to me was giving [my wife] the sense that this was not a failure, it was a different path to the same goal , and that is something you reinforced in your class.”    ~Ben

“When I got to the hospital it was 12 pm, I was 2 cm dialated, they monitered me for 45 minutes, my water had not broken, then I walked around the hospital to see if my contractions got stronger. Well they did. I went back 30 minutes later, I was 3 inches dilated, but my midwife thought that it was the castor oil and that my contractions would stop, so i was discharged, but she said stick around because of my family’s history of quick labor. So we went to a little pizza place about 5 minutes away and before we’d gone into the car to go there I was going into serious contractions where I had to stop and bend over, we still went to the pizza place and about 1 hour had gone by we were back at the hospital because I knew I was having the baby. This time they admitted me and it was a little after 3 pm, I was 4 cm dilated. I went to the laboring room, but it was hard walking over there. My sister was a great help to me, the contractions were super painful in my lower back and she did this thing with her hands that caused friction and was a great distraction.  I had lots of distractions, I had massage tools, heat packs and ice packs, and these spikey plastic balls that I would grab onto and the birthing ball was great.  I also had a visual which was this holographic picture of a bird on a tree limb over the ocean at sunset. And I had music as well. My sister hung a twisted sheet on the back of the hospital door and shut it so I could swing on it and pull down with my body weight, which oddly as it sounds, was one of the best distractions I had.  The doula was there and she was helpful, but the most helpful tool was your class, seriously, I knew everything that was going on each step of the way, and I had no apprehension about what was going on with my body and that allowed me to focus on what I had to do, which was relax and get through the contractions. You went over everything so much so that i had it memorized and felt totally confident in the process.  And when a contraction came I just kept hearing your voice in my head, “Be a limp noodle!” and I forced my body to relax. The most helpful thing I finally found was towards the end when they got so bad, I breathed into them, and just thought that my body absorbed them and that it wasn’t painful, just a sensation, I pushed for 30 minutes…and ended up giving birth on top on the bed, leaning over the birth ball so I couldn’t see anything.  Everything went really well, and most importantly completely natural.  [My baby] is so healthy and is just a joy.  I look at the size of that baby and I can’t believe I gave birth to him, birth is a miracle!  Thank you for providing the tools to get through it, your class was priceless, really, and I wanted to share with you how it all played out in the end.”    ~Laura

“Our baby boy is here and we are thrilled. Our birth experience was amazing. While we didn’t get to have our waterbirth (because of meconium in my water), we had a very successful natural and intervention-free birth. You would have been super proud of [my husband]–he was an incredible coach.  Thanks again for all of your help.  Your class was invaluable and prepared us so well for birth.  I will be sure to recommend it any chance I get!”    ~Jordan

“[My husband] really gained a lot of confidence, and was able to let go of his fear of the unknown after taking your class.  He has even been more caring and considerate of me in pregnancy (backrubs!) afterwards, so thank you for that.”    ~Cathy

“I have already told my midwife (intown midwifery) about the great experience in the class.  I had a wonderful, all natural birth, spending the last 3 hours in the tub. My son (over 9lbs) was born in the water. I will be sure to pass your contact info to any pregnant friends as well!”    ~Stacey

“I delivered a beautiful baby boy!  Although I did end up having an epidural, I went into the entire experience a lot more relaxed, confident, and informed because of your class.  Thanks so much!”    ~Christine

“[My husband] and I really did find your class helpful and feel much more prepared to work together as a team and let our baby come as naturally as he or she wants to! We also feel more prepared about how to advocate during the various stages of intervention that may crop up. We’re super excited to meet our kid and will let you know how everything goes.  Thanks again.

….Written after the birth:

“We had a little boy, 3 days early. He came fast and everything went amazingly well.  Intervention-free and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything, it was wonderful and kind of like magic.  Thanks again, truly, for your help.”  ~Betsy

“The class really helped me prepare for all those wonderful contractions and I used the breathing techniques all throughout.  Thank you for everything; your class was such a help!  I would take it again in a heartbeat.    ~Lauren

“We love your class and have learned so much!    Thank you for being aGREAT teacher!!!  It has been especially helpful for [my husband] because he has not read any books or websites or anything other than what I forward him from fitpregnancy.com or webmd.com.”    ~Amanda

“We used all the techniques you gave us and it really helped!  I’m so glad we were prepared.”    ~Laura

“My husband and I enrolled in the 4-week course in hopes to have a natural birthing experience with our first child.  The classes exceeded all of our expectations!  We entered the course curious and with little knowledge about natural childbirth, and we left feeling confident, knowledgeable, and ready to have a successful birthing experience.  The teacher is very experienced (in nursing and natural childbirth), which transferred directly to her incredible ability to relay important information effectively to the students. She also took the time to get to know each couple’s unique situation, leaving no question unanswered. We enjoyed every aspect of this class, and we were able to birth our baby naturally, confidently, and happily.”    ~Alisha

“The instructor is organized, witty, smart, and experienced. I especially appreciated the instructor’s nursing background; her approach to childbirth was very balanced and realistic. I left the course feeling empowered to make the best decisions for me and my baby, and confident that I will have a great birthing experience.”    ~Heidi

“To make a long story short…I starting having contractions and went to the hospital [the next morning]. At 1:30 p.m. I was 5 cm and 80% effaced so they broke my water.  Then the contractions kicked in and I have never been so thankful for the he-blow and a flocal point!!  [Three hours later] I gave completely natural birth to [our baby girl]!!!  Thank you for all of your support!!!”  ~Mandi

“By the time I got to the hospital, it was after midnight, and I was admitted.  I was 5 am dilated at my first check before 1 am, and the contractions were starting to get a bit more painful. An hour later I was 7cm, and doing slow paced breathing. Another hour later, I was 9 1/2 cm, and having double-contractions that lasted minute and a half each, with almost a minute in between. I needed some he-blows. [Our baby] was born after 30 minutes of pushing, after a completely natural labor.  [My husband] was a huge help, although we didn’t use any other tools but the two-breathing techniques. We just simply didn’t have time, and I only had less than a minute between contractions, so I couldn’t get out of the birthing bed.  We are absolutely in love with our little angel.  Thank you for giving us the tools to be able to have a great birth-experience…Again, thank you for all the advise and prep. We couldn’t have done it without you!    ~Tiina

Follow the link to read more testimonials about the Confident Childbirth Method!