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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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A doula softens a mother’s fears about her upcoming birth.

July 8, 2015 By Deena Leave a Comment

When a first birth doesn’t go as planned and a mother feels hurt, lost and afraid, she turns to her doula, Anneliese, for mentoring and support. Through her compassion and attentiveness, Anneliese lights this mother’s path so her fears are dissolved and she can move forward with grace and confidence to her upcoming birth with […]

Filed Under: Doulas, Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Baby, Birth Plan, C-section, Childbirth, Doula, Emotional State, Expectations, Fear, Shining Light Doulas, Traumatic Birth, VBAC

You can shorten your labor by up to an hour or more by doing this one thing

June 18, 2014 By Deena 3 Comments

What if you could shorten your labor by up to an hour or more and reduce your risk for c-section by 30% by doing one thing during labor? What if I told you this one thing was free, easy and helped you manage your pain and discomfort as well? What if I told you this […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Birth, C-section, Childbirth, Childbirth Education Classes, Coping Skills, Epidural, Labor, Lamaze, Movement in Labor, Pregnancy, Pregnant

What’s the Deal with Cesareans? A New Video from Lamaze

April 28, 2014 By Deena Leave a Comment

The national cesarean rate is 32.8%. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that an appropriate, medically necessary c-section rate is 10 – 15%. Change starts with education and communication. Lamaze International has produced this video to begin the process of education and communication. First, watch the video; then take a childbirth education class to learn […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: C-section, Cesarean Birth, Childbirth, Childbirth Education Classes, Confident Birthing, Lamaze, Pregnancy, VBAC

New! Class Offerings Online with Google Helpouts

April 7, 2014 By Deena Leave a Comment

I am broadening Shining Light’s reach beyond Pittsburgh and out into the rest of the world with Google Helpouts. It’s an online tool for live, interactive, web-based classes. They can be taught at a scheduled time or they can be scheduled to suit the student’s needs. My first offering on Google Helpouts is: Great Expectations, or, […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: C-section, Childbirth Education Classes, Helpouts by Google, Online classes, Pregnancy, Pregnant, VBAC

Six is the new Four, with regards to the start of Active Labor

March 18, 2014 By Deena Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago ACOG updated their guidelines for preventing a primary c-section. One of their points is that active labor is 6 cm, not 4. This is a big deal and can reduce the number of c-sections done for “failure to progress”. Please share this information! More: Science & Sensibility: Safe Prevention of the Primary […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: ACOG, Birth, C-section, Cesarean Birth, Childbirth, Decision making, Labor, OB, Pregnancy, Valid Medical Reason

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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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