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Shining Light

Building empowerment, self-confidence and connection through candid education and compassionate advocacy for all families before, during and after pregnancy.

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Penny Simkin was in Pittsburgh and I got to meet her!

October 17, 2012 By Deena Leave a Comment

On Monday, 10/15/2012, I had the honor and the pleasure of meeting and learning from the incomparable Penny Simkin.  She happened to be in town for a conference and took some time out of her busy schedule to meet with a small group of doulas, childbirth educators and midwives at a local Panera.  (note to […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Birth, Birth Plan, birth story, Childbirth, Childbirth Education Classes, Communication, Coping Skills, Decision making, Emotional State, Fear, history, Homebirth, Lamaze, Motherhood, Mothers, OB, Pain, Penny Simkin, Pittsburgh, Pregnancy

Tuesday Inspirations – From Mama to Baby

October 16, 2012 By Deena Leave a Comment

This is a quote from one of my student’s birth stories.  I was inspired by it and I hope you will be too. “B. is now 1 week new. She has already taught me the following: There is always a higher level of pain a woman can endure; If you need something, just fuss a […]

Filed Under: Inspirations, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Birth, Childbirth, Inspirational Pregnancy and Birth Quotes, Love, Motherhood, Mothers, Pittsburgh

Milk Sharing: Mother to Mother Breastmilk Donation

September 29, 2012 By Deena 1 Comment

So it’s World Milk Sharing Week, and I’m participating in the blog carnival. I talk about Milk Sharing in my Breastfeeding Essentials class.  In class, I also handout a resource sheet on breastfeeding, the links to the Milk Sharing information are on the handout as well as on the Resources tab here, on the website. For […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Birth, Blog Carnival, Bottle Feeding, breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Essentials Class, Breastmilk, Childbirth Education Classes, Choice, Decision making, Pittsburgh, Pumping, World Milk Sharing Week

Birth is a Human Rights issue.

September 21, 2012 By Deena 5 Comments

Last night, we screened Freedom for Birth.  We had a nice turn out and good discussion afterwards. It got me thinking (no big surprise there). Birth is a Human Rights issue.  So why is it that women are often treated as if they are incompetent to make their own decisions regarding their own bodies and […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Birth, C-section, Childbirth, Communication, Decision making, Fear, Homebirth, Human Rights, Interventions, Labor, Media, Midwife, Motherhood, Mothers, OB, Pittsburgh, Pregnancy, Traumatic Birth, Valid Medical Reason

Myth: Childbirth is the Worst Pain, EVER!

July 19, 2012 By Deena 4 Comments

Dad (to me): “So, how painful will childbirth be for her?” Before I can answer, Mom blurts out, “It’s the worst pain of your life!” This is one of the most common myths about childbirth.  When we talk about pain, we need to put it into context. “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.” Me: “Well, […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Birth, birth story, Childbirth, Childbirth Education Classes, Coping Skills, Emotional State, Expectations, Fear, Ideal Birth, Labor, Media, Motherhood, Mothers, Orgasmic Birth, Pain, painless, Pittsburgh, Traumatic Birth

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About Shining Light

Building empowerment, self-confidence and connection through candid education and compassionate advocacy for all families before, during and after pregnancy since 2012.

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