By Chris Bavender
Watch a childbirth on TV or in a movie and it – more often than not – seems to be a negative experience for the mom-to-be. But midwife Brandi Wood said a birth boot camp could be the answer.
“The whole goal of birth boot camp is to inform the couple of what will happen from the pregnancy to the labor to the birth,” the Fishers based Wood said. “It really fits in well with home birth philosophy. And, it encourages relationship building with other couples who are doing this at same time with you which I think is the awesome part of it.”
Wood is one of just three certified Birth Boot Camp instructors in the state. Bekah Smith is also based in Fishers, while Cara Mehlon teaches birth boot camp out of her Carmel home. They are among the 106 certified instructors across the country.
Birth Boot Camp is an online and instructor led childbirth education method created in Texas by Donna Ryan.
“In the last decade we have seen a trend toward families wanting to have more say in their birth,” Ryan said. “The training and curriculum we provide our instructors gives them the tools to help couples in their hometown have the amazing birth experience they desire.”
Birth Boot Camp sessions are 10-weeks long and cost $300. Each session is two hours long.
“We cover prenatal exercise, nutrition, the common discomforts of pregnancy as well as also the different positions for labor and birthing,” Wood said. “Tension leads to pain so the more knowledge they have then the less unknown there is and the less scared they will be. I think it is fascinating that women will more time planning their wedding than the birth of their baby because in all reality it really is a day you are going to remember the rest of your life.”
Wood’s first birth boot camp session started Aug. 16 but it’s not too late to sign up.
“There are ways to make classes up if you can’t be there in person for a few,” she said.
For more information on Birth Boot Camp, visit www.birthbootcamp.com or e-mail Wood at [email protected]. Smith can be reached at [email protected].
