In 1996, a friend asked me to help with the birth of her first child. In preparation, she, her partner, and I took a Birth Works class. I knew immediately that the holistic and empowering Birth Works® philosophy was right for me.

In November 2000, I delivered my daughter at a freestanding birth center (The Maternity Center in Bethesda, MD) in a wonderfully short (5 hours total), easy labor and delivery.

By the time my daughter was four months old, I was embarked on the road to Birth Works® certification, which involves attending an intensive workshop for educators, reading and reviewing 10 books, writing 7 papers, visiting two hospitals, and completing a variety of other written work. I completed the certification process in November, 2002.

I hold three master's degrees (social work, law & social policy, and library & information science).

I have a great deal of experience teaching in the areas of reproductive and sexual health. After years working as a freelance grantwriter for several health and human service organizations, I now work for the National Hospice Foundation (the other end of the lifespan!)

My partner, Maryann, and I are raising our daughter with her biological father (our known donor) and his partner. I have lived, worked, and volunteered in the DC area since 1990.

My childbirth philosophy is pretty simple:

1) Women labor best where they feel the most comfortable (so we spend time in class learning about and discussing all birth options--hospital, birth center, home)

2) Women's bodies are designed to give birth (noninvasive, non-embarrassing "pelvic bodywork" done in class helps each woman understand how her own pelvis works)

3) After 36 weeks of pregnancy, there are important ways women can move their bodies that will help them position the baby for the easiest delivery (occiput anterior [OA]--back of the baby to the mother's abdomen).

4) Routine and needless medical interventions are to be avoided, but there are many excellent reasons to use various medical interventions when warranted (we will talk about the pros and cons of all interventions)

I want every woman/couple who takes my class to feel good about their baby's birth--whether it went "according to plan" or ended up very differently. The point is to learn as much as possible in advance so that during labor, you can make good choices and not feel rushed or pressured.

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Email me at s.messina03@gmail.com