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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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An interview with pregnant mom, Kelly

July 24, 2013 By Deena 1 Comment

This is the first post in our new interview series with our current and past students. Kelly was gracious enough to answer our questions and put herself out there. Please show her some love and support for being brave!  xoxo  ~Deena Mom’s name: Kelly Partner’s name: Robert Estimated due date: End of October Care Provider: […]

Filed Under: Interviews with students, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Birth Plan, Childbirth, Childbirth Education Classes, Expectations, Fear, Homebirth, Interviews, Midwife, Motherhood, Mothers, Pittsburgh, Pregnancy, yoga

Shaping our lives: In the Womb, at Birth and Beyond

March 22, 2013 By Deena Leave a Comment

What we do and how we feel during pregnancy and birth shapes our baby’s future. This is why we eat healthy foods, come to prenatal yoga, get a massage, and learn to relax. Gurmukh says, that as pregnant women, we ought not to watch scary movies, or subject ourselves to fearful or stressful situations. She […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Birth, birth story, C-section, Emotional State, Epigenetics, Fear, Newborn, Pregnancy, yoga

A Birth Story – Barb and Rob, mama and papa to Flynn Viktor

December 17, 2012 By Deena Leave a Comment

Barb was a regular at our Prenatal Yoga classes.  She and Rob also came to Infant Care class.  I’m honored that she’s sharing her birth story with all of us.  Happy reading!   I woke up in the morning on November 23 (my due date) feeling great with no plans to do Black Friday shopping. Since […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Baby, Birth, birth story, breastfeeding, Childbirth, Coping Skills, Fathers, Fear, Infant, Labor, Newborn, Pain, Pittsburgh, Placenta, Pregnancy, Prenatal Yoga, The Midwife Center, Water breaking

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

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

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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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