Planned for 2009*:

 

We hope you will join us at one of our inspiring, life-changing workshops!

 

Back to top 

 

  Thank you for being a part of Birthing From Within!

Love,

Pam England  (Founder & Creative Director)

Virginia Bobro  (Managing Director) 

Britta Bushnell (Mentor Program Director)

 

 

    Birthing From Within

Newsletter

 
July 2008

 

 

New Birthing From Within Booklet Released!

 

When Labyrinth Becomes Laborinth: Metaphor, Map, Meditations, and Rituals for Labor and Postpartum

 

by Pam England

 
Good things come in small packages. Pam England's newest publication, When Labyrinth Becomes Laborinth, is a big idea packed into a beautifully illustrated 52-page booklet that parents will enjoy receiving in classes or as a gift. The booklet comes with a packet of labyrinth "seeds," the patterns from which various labyrinths can be drawn.

 

The labyrinth is an ancient, universal symbol representing our journey through life, initiations and ordeals. It's over three thousand years old and has been found on every continent, and now it might be found in every birthing room. Create a Laborinth and connect with ancient feminine wisdom. This simple, beautiful process will change how you think about and prepare for birth and postpartum. Read more about laborinths at our website

 

Pam England is always in search of new ways to help parents prepare holistically for birth, so when she learned about the labyrinth, it seemed to her the perfect symbol for a woman's emotional, physical and social journey during the childbearing year. When Pam introduced the labyrinth symbol as an art process and metaphor to parents in her childbirth classes, she received overwhelming positive feedback. Over time it developed into the rich, metaphorical art process now called the Laborinth^TM.

 

In Laborinth, you will learn how labyrinths have enriched rituals, initiations, and meditations surrounding childbirth around the world. You may want to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors and participate in the ancient tradition of making and meditating on your own labyrinth. The templates or patterns used to draw various labyrinths are called "seeds." Labyrinth "seeds" have been passed from woman to woman, from midwife to mother, from mother to daughter for thousands of years. Your booklet comes with a packet of six labyrinth "seeds." Now, the seeds are passed to you: Learn how to make one for yourself or a friend.

 

Booklets are being printed and will be available by September 1st. Pre-order now and get free shipping!

PRE-ORDER NOW 

 

  This illustrated, soft cover booklet is 52 pages, 7" X 8.5". It makes a great gift or supplement for childbirth classes. Perfect for pregnant women and anyone who supports and cares for them. The booklet comes with a packet of "labyrinth seeds", so you can grow a variety of childbirth labyrinths.

 

 

Order your copy through our online store, bulk orders discounted for classes. For booklet and seeds: $12 each, orders of six or more: $10 each.

Another great idea from Birthing From Within!

 

 

Click here for links to our past articles and newsletters

 

Back to top 

 

 

Something Radical is Happening at Birthing From Within: The First Forum for Fathers Launches in September

 

Birthing From Within is continually evolving and experimenting. After the buzz created by our article about initiating fathers in our February newsletter, we are excited to present our newest cutting-edge project: Fathers Mentoring Fathers. The first Forum for Fathers is being launched at the Introductory Mentor/Doula Workshop in Los Angeles, September 19-21, 2008. Click here for info and to register

 

For most of human history, men did not take part in childbirth. It was a radical change to bring fathers into the birth room a generation ago. Here's the problem: a man is expected to be there for his wife in labor and postpartum, but while he may have learned about birth physiology and a few "support techniques," he probably didn't learn the two most important things: (1) what his woman really needs from HIM in labor and postpartum, and (2) how to care for his own emotional well-being in labor and as he grows into fatherhood. Birthing From Within has long recognized these two essential pieces, and for two decades we have been including them in our ground-breaking "Special Class for Fathers and Partners."

 

While this special class has been very popular with both women and men, the emphasis has been on helping men learn to support their partner in labor and postpartum. This was a valuable first step, and now Birthing From Within is ready to go further and deeper!

 

The emerging vision for our new program, Fathers Mentoring Fathers, goes beyond labor support tips. Expectant and new fathers will receive guidance and support from experienced fathers as they transition from being a partner and lover to being a father and co-parent, and to negotiate the postpartum changes in their relationship.  Fathers mentoring fathers will transcend the birth day, and positively affect couples' changing relationships, as well as their own individual growth, long after the baby has come in to the world. Our program is unique because we are not focusing solely on the day of birth, but on the life-long changes that pregnancy and birth bring to individuals and couples.

 

 Sample Topics for Fathers' Class:

 ♦ What a pregnant and birthing woman really needs from her man (it may surprise you!)

 ♦ Protecting the birth space, his woman and their baby

 ♦ Changing relationships through the child-bearing year

 ♦ Sex and intimacy during pregnancy and postpartum

 ♦ Growing up: what it means to be a father

 ♦ Emotional needs of expectant fathers

For this new program to live up to its potential, it needs to be co-created both by the women of Birthing From Within and by the fathers themselves. Here is our plan for the Forum for Fathers:

 

(1) Fathers interested in mentoring other fathers must attend one of our Introductory Workshops to learn about mentoring and the Birthing From Within philosophy and processes.

 

(2) After attending the three-day workshop (with or without their partners), fathers will meet with workshop facilitators to answer questions and dialogue about the emerging vision of this new program.

 

(3) We will continue the dialogue and visioning on follow-up conference calls. More Father Forums may be scheduled (in conjunction with Introductory BFW Workshops), depending on interest.

Read Pam England's article about initiating fathers in our February newsletter

 

Back to top

 

May not be reproduced in any form without written permission.