Episode 55: Evidence Based Birth Childbirth Preparation Class: Interview with Cat LaPlante

05/16/21 • 32 min

In today’s episode, I am focusing on a newer childbirth preparation program from Evidence Based Birth. I had a chance to sit down with Cat LaPlante, who is the Director of the Instructor Program at Evidence Based Birth®. She is a certified childbirth educator, certified doula, and an Evidence Based Birth Instructor. Cat's passion is empowering birthing people and their partners through evidence based education and supporting their informed choices.

In this episode we discuss:

The history of Evidence Based Birth

How Cat got involved with EBB and became the Director of the Evidence Based Birth® Instructor Program

What the EBB Childbirth Education Class is like:

Three pillars are: comfort, evidence and advocacy
Starts with an online orientation, there are two models now depending on where you are: in person and online
Teach about birth statistics and how to look them up for their care provider
Online class is comprised of videos for parents to watch and then are followed with online calls with instructors
The class goes over: comfort measures, interventions and the evidence on both and how to advocate for yourself or your partern
There is also a postpartum section that goes over: delayed cord clamping, skin to skin, circumcision, diaper and washing baby and postpartum care plan

Who would be a good fit for EBB Childbirth Class:

For the parent who wants to know it all
Those who want to know the evidence and practice comfort and relaxation techniques

Don't forget to see the special cohorts and other classes being offered by EBB Instructors both virtually and in person in your area at www.evidencebasedbirth.com/parentclasses/

How to get in touch with Cat:

Website
Follow her on Instagram

How to get in touch with me:

Follow me on Instagram
Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
Email me at [email protected]
Monthly Newsletter

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

In this episode we discuss:

The history of Evidence Based Birth

How Cat got involved with EBB and became the Director of the Evidence Based Birth® Instructor Program

What the EBB Childbirth Education Class is like:

Three pillars are: comfort, evidence and advocacy
Starts with an online orientation, there are two models now depending on where you are: in person and online
Teach about birth statistics and how to look them up for their care provider
Online class is comprised of videos for parents to watch and then are followed with online calls with instructors
The class goes over: comfort measures, interventions and the evidence on both and how to advocate for yourself or your partern
There is also a postpartum section that goes over: delayed cord clamping, skin to skin, circumcision, diaper and washing baby and postpartum care plan

Who would be a good fit for EBB Childbirth Class:

For the parent who wants to know it all
Those who want to know the evidence and practice comfort and relaxation techniques

Don't forget to see the special cohorts and other classes being offered by EBB Instructors both virtually and in person in your area at www.evidencebasedbirth.com/parentclasses/

How to get in touch with Cat:

Website
Follow her on Instagram

How to get in touch with me:

Follow me on Instagram
Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
Email me at [email protected]
Monthly Newsletter

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Previous Episode

Episode 54: Hypnobirthing Childbirth Preparation: Interview with Sara Rossi

In today’s episode, I continue this month’s podcast series on childbirth preparation programs. I had the opportunity to interview Sara Rossi, who is a Hynobirthing Instructor. Sara started as a prenatal yoga instructor and In 2007 she got certified in Hypnobirthing, the Marie Mongan Method and as an Infant Massage Instructor by the International Association of Infant massage.

Drawing on her experience as a mother, a prenatal yoga teacher, childbirth and infant massage educator, Sara looks to establish a safe and effective journey for pregnancy and beyond.

In this episode we discuss:

Sara’s background as a prenatal yoga instructor and how that led her to become a Hypnobirthing educator after the birth of her daughter

What Hypnobirthing is

A philosophy and method created by Marie Mongan
Dedicated to providing birthing women and their partners a proven method of birth education that not only guides and prepares women for birth, but also is a program that considers the psychological, spiritual and physiological well being of mother, partner and baby
Built on a framework of breathing, relaxation, visualization, meditation techniques and positive body toning

Tools

Allow you to enter an altered state of consciousness
Enables you to access the beta, alpha, delta and theta waves that allows you be in a deep relaxation between surges

Class Structure: 5 units that are 2.5 hours each

Unit 1: history of birth, physiology, the language of birth and how to use breathing techniques, visualizations and affirmations
Unit 2: bonding with baby, hypnosis techniques, how to communicate with care providers, and how to harness the power of the mind to reframe fear in birth
Unit 3: Deepening visualization and hypnosis techniques, how to prevent inductions, birth preferences, how to prepare body for birth through nutrition and movement and emphasize your body’s design for birth
Unit 4: How birth companion can support the birthing person, and how they can assist and advocate for the birthing person
Unit 5: optimal positions for baby during labor and birthing positions, bonding after birth and they touch on breastfeeding and the 4th trimester

The difference between a birth plan and birth preferences

You cannot plan birth
You can learn what your options are, what procedures are and then you can decide what your priorities are and write them down for you, your partner and birth team to be able to read

Who would be a good fit for Hypnobirthing:

It is for anybody
Those who want to eradicate their fears and doubts about birth
Anyone who wants to have a conscious, empowered and educated birth
Those who really want to include and bond with their partner through birth
Anyone who think of birth as a celebration and a huge transformation

How to get in touch with Sara:

Website
Follow her on Instagram

How to get in touch with me:

Follow me on Instagram
Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
Email me at [email protected]
Monthly Newsletter

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Next Episode

Episode 56: The Bradley Method Childbirth Preparation: Interview with Michelle Gabriel-Caldwell & Brent Caldwell

In today’s episode I had the pleasure of speaking with a husband and wife childbirth instructor team! I had the chance to interview Brent Caldwell and Michelle Gabrielle-Caldwell about their experience teaching the Bradley Method childbirth class.

Michelle and Brent have been married since 1997, they always knew they wanted children. Blessed with two great kids, they didn't realize how impactful the birthing experiences were until sharing theirs with friends and family. Michelle's first pregnancy was normal and perfect, she wanted the same for the labor and birth...normal, natural. She took Bradley Method Classes, hired a doula and had a low intervention, natural hospital birth. Second time around she was older and wiser, birth two would be at home on Christmas night...same birth team!

Both of them were inspired to teach The Bradley Method and they have been doing so since 2006.

Michelle is also a Certified Labor Doula, Evidence Based Birth Instructor and National Black Doula Association Doula Trainer & Mentor. In her spare time she loves supporting The Birth Center of NJ as their Doula Coordinator and Childbirth Instructor.

In today’s episode we discuss:

Michelle and Brent’s background and how they started teaching birth classes
History of the Bradley Method
What is the the Bradley Method Childbirth education philosophy?
The role of a childbirth coach and a doula
What the 12 week class structure is like
- Class 1: History of/Intro to Bradley Method and Get to Know your Instructors
- Class 2: Nutrition
- Class 3: Gestation
- Class 4: Coaching class for partners
- Class 5: Introduction to 1st Stage of Labor
- Class 6: Introduction to 2nd Stage of Labor
- Class 7: Birth Plans
- Class 8: Variations and Complications
- Class 9: Advanced 1st Stage
- Class 10: Advanced 2nd Stage
- Class 11: Advanced Coaching
- Class 12: Newborn care, Breastfeeding and Postpartum
Who would be a good fit for a Bradley class?