Birthing As Nature Intended (B.A.N.I.™)
Childbirth Education Classes
"Having a baby is the most normal, natural, basic, physiological, and fundamental beginning of life.
Nature never intended for it to be painful. " ~ Teresa Van-Zeller, BANI founder
Childbirth is a natural process and pregnant women inherently possess the instinctual ability to have their baby without the interventions so commonly seen today. B.A.N.I.™ re-teaches women the art and joy of experiencing birth in a safer, more comfortable, relaxed manner.
Class Schedule and Location
Tuesday, August 2nd, 9th and 16th
6:00-9:00 pm
Location:
9003-B East Euclid Ave, Millwood, WA
*I recommend taking the class as early in the pregnancy as possible so that the techniques can be practiced throughout the pregnancy. Why wait to learn how to relax, reduce stress, and eliminate fears of giving birth? Parents are welcome to repeat the series as a "refresher" during the pregnancy and subsequent pregnancies free of charge.
*Contact me for private class information.
Tuition:
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What you will learn:
Class #1
- The Normalcy of Birth
- The needs of parents desiring non-medicated births
- How the uterus works
- Why/how fear affects labor
- Why is labor painful for some people and not others?
- The mind/body connection is real. Preparing the mind/body/spirit
- Taking responsibility for your birth
B.A.N.I. book and "Time to Relax" cd to bring home
Class #2
-Pre-natal bonding
- Preparing the body for childbirth with exercises, guided imagery, breathing techniques, visualization and client centered relaxation, deepening techniques.
- The “due” date is actually a "guess" date
- Know your options and learn about potential benefits/risks to be able to make informed decisions, allowing for "the ability to give true informed consent." Avoiding unnecessary artificial induction.
Unique techniques individualized for each participant and additional handouts
"Journey To Inner Awareness" experiential techniques cd and class handouts to bring home
Class #3
- The birth process: what to expect before, during and after birth
- Preparing a birth plan that encourages support from medical care providers
- Breathing techniques to help baby gently descend down birth path, enhancing the body's natural expulsion reflex, oftentimes shortening descent time. Often eliminates the need for exhaustive, harsh "purple pushing", allowing for baby's calm, relaxed arrival into mother's arms.
- Releasing fear that can cause pain during labor
- Not all births go as planned/how to handle the unexpected. Potential interventions you must understand before you can give true "informed consent when they are truly a medical necessity."
Unique techniques individualized for each participant and additional handouts
"Birth Rehearsal" cd to bring home
- The Normalcy of Birth
- The needs of parents desiring non-medicated births
- How the uterus works
- Why/how fear affects labor
- Why is labor painful for some people and not others?
- The mind/body connection is real. Preparing the mind/body/spirit
- Taking responsibility for your birth
B.A.N.I. book and "Time to Relax" cd to bring home
Class #2
-Pre-natal bonding
- Preparing the body for childbirth with exercises, guided imagery, breathing techniques, visualization and client centered relaxation, deepening techniques.
- The “due” date is actually a "guess" date
- Know your options and learn about potential benefits/risks to be able to make informed decisions, allowing for "the ability to give true informed consent." Avoiding unnecessary artificial induction.
Unique techniques individualized for each participant and additional handouts
"Journey To Inner Awareness" experiential techniques cd and class handouts to bring home
Class #3
- The birth process: what to expect before, during and after birth
- Preparing a birth plan that encourages support from medical care providers
- Breathing techniques to help baby gently descend down birth path, enhancing the body's natural expulsion reflex, oftentimes shortening descent time. Often eliminates the need for exhaustive, harsh "purple pushing", allowing for baby's calm, relaxed arrival into mother's arms.
- Releasing fear that can cause pain during labor
- Not all births go as planned/how to handle the unexpected. Potential interventions you must understand before you can give true "informed consent when they are truly a medical necessity."
Unique techniques individualized for each participant and additional handouts
"Birth Rehearsal" cd to bring home
Why B.A.N.I?
Birthing As Nature Intended, (the B.A.N.I. program), was developed for several reasons. First and foremost was to fill a need that is not being met in our current birthing culture. The philosophy of B.A.N.I. is that no two individuals are alike. That is why we are referred to as individuals.
There are numerous birth programs available today and most of them have wonderful techniques and exercises to help women have more calm and relaxed births. Each program has it's strengths and weaknesses. Some programs teach exercises and techniques that are great for helping the laboring mother to relax but teach the relaxation techniques "to re-focus the woman away from the pain" whereas B.A.N.I. teaches that, as nature intended, when women remain relaxed during labor, then pain does not need to be a necessary component for childbirth.
Nature gives us pain to alert us when we are injured or sick, to let us know when something is wrong. However, there is nothing wrong with the birthing process that nature has designed and there is nothing about the birthing process that needs to be fixed.
There are other programs that teach that nature never intended for childbirth to be painful, but then fail to address the fact that some women, for whatever reason, will indeed feel pain during labor. That is not a suggestion, it is a fact. As a childbirth educator, it is irresponsible to not address this fact while still claiming to be a complete childbirth preparation program. B.A.N.I. teaches that birth was never intended to be painful, and that if a woman remains relaxed, calm and confident, then asking for pain medication may never even occur to her. However if a woman is indeed experiencing discomfort, there are options available for her. Practicing and using the techniques taught in B.A.N.I. classes will help the parents be fully informed of their options so that informed decisions and be made when needed that are right for them.
In addition, by practicing the exercises and techniques provided, the mother will often be able to avoid the need for intervention or induction assistance altogether or at least delay assistance long enough to not interfere with her labor progress, still achieving a satisfying, relaxing and stress-free birth. B.A.N.I. empowers pregnant women and their birthing companions.
Childbirth is a natural process and pregnant women inherently possess the innate, instinctual ability to have their baby without medication or interventions. B.A.N.I. re-teaches women the art and joy of experiencing birth in a safer, more comfortable, trusting and therefore relaxed manner.
Women learn how to regain trust in their bodies and their birthing instincts to release their own natural endorphins and keep their bodies relaxed, which allows the laboring body to function the way nature intended; efficiently and so much more comfortably. When a woman is properly prepared for childbirth to the point that mind, body and spirit are in harmony, her body is free to function in the same well-designed manner that nature has provided for all other living species on this planet. And as is most often the case in nature, without the need for unnecessary discomfort, intervention, or medication.
Parents are fascinated as they view birth videos showing laboring mothers, awake, alert, in good humor and even talking on their cell phone as they experience safe, calm birth--free of fear and totally confident. B.A.N.I. teaches a woman how to release prior negative programming about birth, how to trust her body and work with it, as well as how to free herself of the harmful emotions that lead to fear-causing muscle tension and pain. Fathers will see births that actually teach just how important, helpful and beneficial their role is during labor.
B.A.N.I. empowers women to rediscover their natural birthing instincts, with most births requiring little or no intervention. B.A.N.I. moms are aware and fully in control, but profoundly relaxed as they bring their babies into the world with their companions supporting them throughout.
There are numerous birth programs available today and most of them have wonderful techniques and exercises to help women have more calm and relaxed births. Each program has it's strengths and weaknesses. Some programs teach exercises and techniques that are great for helping the laboring mother to relax but teach the relaxation techniques "to re-focus the woman away from the pain" whereas B.A.N.I. teaches that, as nature intended, when women remain relaxed during labor, then pain does not need to be a necessary component for childbirth.
Nature gives us pain to alert us when we are injured or sick, to let us know when something is wrong. However, there is nothing wrong with the birthing process that nature has designed and there is nothing about the birthing process that needs to be fixed.
There are other programs that teach that nature never intended for childbirth to be painful, but then fail to address the fact that some women, for whatever reason, will indeed feel pain during labor. That is not a suggestion, it is a fact. As a childbirth educator, it is irresponsible to not address this fact while still claiming to be a complete childbirth preparation program. B.A.N.I. teaches that birth was never intended to be painful, and that if a woman remains relaxed, calm and confident, then asking for pain medication may never even occur to her. However if a woman is indeed experiencing discomfort, there are options available for her. Practicing and using the techniques taught in B.A.N.I. classes will help the parents be fully informed of their options so that informed decisions and be made when needed that are right for them.
In addition, by practicing the exercises and techniques provided, the mother will often be able to avoid the need for intervention or induction assistance altogether or at least delay assistance long enough to not interfere with her labor progress, still achieving a satisfying, relaxing and stress-free birth. B.A.N.I. empowers pregnant women and their birthing companions.
Childbirth is a natural process and pregnant women inherently possess the innate, instinctual ability to have their baby without medication or interventions. B.A.N.I. re-teaches women the art and joy of experiencing birth in a safer, more comfortable, trusting and therefore relaxed manner.
Women learn how to regain trust in their bodies and their birthing instincts to release their own natural endorphins and keep their bodies relaxed, which allows the laboring body to function the way nature intended; efficiently and so much more comfortably. When a woman is properly prepared for childbirth to the point that mind, body and spirit are in harmony, her body is free to function in the same well-designed manner that nature has provided for all other living species on this planet. And as is most often the case in nature, without the need for unnecessary discomfort, intervention, or medication.
Parents are fascinated as they view birth videos showing laboring mothers, awake, alert, in good humor and even talking on their cell phone as they experience safe, calm birth--free of fear and totally confident. B.A.N.I. teaches a woman how to release prior negative programming about birth, how to trust her body and work with it, as well as how to free herself of the harmful emotions that lead to fear-causing muscle tension and pain. Fathers will see births that actually teach just how important, helpful and beneficial their role is during labor.
B.A.N.I. empowers women to rediscover their natural birthing instincts, with most births requiring little or no intervention. B.A.N.I. moms are aware and fully in control, but profoundly relaxed as they bring their babies into the world with their companions supporting them throughout.