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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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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

Tuesday Inspirations #3

June 12, 2012 By Deena Leave a Comment

“Having a baby is hard enough. No woman should be asked to do anything else while she is having a baby. She shouldn’t have to renegotiate a birth plan, argue with her care providers about the evidence supporting her decisions, or advocate for her baby. She also shouldn’t have to comfort her husband or reassure […]

Filed Under: Inspirations, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Birth, Birth Plan, Communication, Inspirational Pregnancy and Birth Quotes, Labor, Pittsburgh, Pregnancy

If I know I’m getting the epidural, do I really need a childbirth class?

April 9, 2012 By Deena 1 Comment

In short – YES! Ok and now for the longer answer: Your anesthesiologist won’t come to your house and you won’t be admitted to the hospital if you are too early in labor.  So, what do you do while you labor at home?  How do you know when to go into the hospital? What if […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: C-section, Childbirth Education Classes, Communication, Decision making, Epidural, Expectations, Fathers, Fear, Natural Birth, Pain, Placenta, Valid Medical Reason

It’s not the Method, it’s the Mother.

March 8, 2012 By Deena 5 Comments

Bradley, Hypnobabies, Brio Birth, Birthing from Within, Lamaze and so many others… Does it matter which flavor of childbirth education you take?  Maybe. Every method has its benefits.  However, every method is not for every mother.  Not every mother needs a method; not every method will work for an individual mother. I note that we […]

Filed Under: Featured Home Page, Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Birthing from Within, Birthing Methods, Bradley Method, Brio Birth, Childbirth Education Classes, Communication, Coping Skills, Decision making, Emotional State, Expectations, Fear, Hypnobabies, Labor, Lamaze, Mothers, Pittsburgh, Sexual Abuse, Traumatic Birth, yoga

Integrating Yoga and Lamaze: How the Ethical Practice of the Yamas and Niyamas Relate to Pregnancy and Childbirth. Part 8 – Tapas

December 27, 2011 By Deena 1 Comment

Tapas – (literally – heat) Austerity, Discipline, Dedication to Practice “A better way to understand tapas is to think of it as consistency in striving toward your goals: getting on the yoga mat every day, sitting on the meditation cushion every day—or forgiving your mate or your child for the 10,000th time. If you think […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: C-section, Communication, Decision making, Emotional State, Expectations, Fear, Interventions, Labor, Lamaze, OB, Pain, Valid Medical Reason, Yamas and Niyamas, yoga

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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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