The class that comes with a doula in your back pocket!
Boost your confidence, connect with other parents, and thrive with the support of your community as you get ready to welcome your baby!
Upcoming sessions
All classes are held virtually via Zoom.
3 Saturdays in September
September 7, 14, & 21
12pm - 2pm EST / 9a - 11am PST
Combine Powerful Birth with your basic birth class (like those offered at many hospitals) or take it on its own if you prefer to do your own reading and research!
Powerful Birth feels more like a small group doula prenatal meeting than a "class". We'll work through your questions, your needs, and you'll have continued support well beyond class. Read on to learn more!
Your time is valuable!
Powerful Birth classes are uniquely designed to engage your family in the nuts and bolts of navigating labor, birth, recovery and caring for your new baby. Dive deep into your own choices, preferences and support systems. Focus on the things YOU need, for YOUR birth.
In order to advocate for the health & safety of you and your baby, you need to be able to do a few things…
Understand
what your body is telling you and what to realistically expect physically before, during & after birth.
Ask questions
of professionals and care providers, confidently and with your priorities in mind
Communicate
your needs and set firm boundaries with healthcare professionals, your support team, friends and family
In Powerful Birth, you'll get the information you need, ample resources, practice, and much more!
And most importantly, you will remember the things that matter and walk away from our class confident that you have the tools you need to navigate your labor & birth, whatever comes your way!
How you make decisions matters!
There are very few clear, definite, “right” answers when it comes birth and parenting. You’ve hired a team of birth professionals to help you access your options, but YOU are your own expert. During class, you will develop an ability to ask the right questions, understand the answers you get, and make decisions that are right for you.
When parents feel informed, supported, and respected as they make their decisions, positive experiences follow. You probably won’t have a childbirth educator whispering in your ear during labor, and you may not have time to research the latest research as you welcome your baby…but you will be able to tap into your own priorities and your birth team to find your way!
Families love my classes!
Here are things that stand out when new parents take classes with me:
Hands on practice
Small group discussion
Movements & positions to help labor
Practical tips & exercises
Interactive activities
Opportunity to ask questions
Ideas and encouragement for non-birthing partners
Non-judgmental, ongoing support
Seeing all the other couples' faces and knowing we're all in this together!
You might benefit from a Powerful Birth Class if…
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Understand what the most recent evidence says so that you can use it to make the best decision for your birth. This class presents straightforward information about what we know about birth, and the opportunity to navigate that information so it works for you.
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Get the benefits of a group class setting while having the flexibility and space to get exactly what you need out of the experience. Our small class size, unique curriculum flow and interactive structure will allow us to focus on the aspects of birth prep that matter most to the families in class.
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Before our class begins, you’ll receive a list of items that you might want to have handy to build your birthplace bag. But even better, you will leave our class sessions with confidence in the tools you already have at your disposal and the knowledge of what else you can access to make your birth experience the best it can be.
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You don’t need endless pamphlets that you will lose in your junk drawer or your mail pile with simple information you can find anywhere. Some parents want to read stacks of books and listen to every podcast out there, others want to tune it all out and explore in other ways. With the Powerful Birth resources & recommendations, you will have easily-accessible and helpful content that you can turn to when YOU most need it.
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Let’s be real. Birth is super important. But it is really only the beginning of an even wilder ride. My goal for all families is to grasp the reality of post-birth mental, emotional, physical and social changes. They are different for everyone, but they are universal in the way they upend your world. You can never be fully prepared, but you can be flexible and ready to take on whatever your postpartum throws at you!
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Sure, I have training about birth. Experience of my own. Have attended client births. Heard tons of birth stories. I know the evidence and I will help you track down any resources you need. But the families in my classes are the true experts. That’s you! Not only will you be learning from your peers in the class, you will also have the opportunity to connect with them outside of the class for support long after your Powerful Birth class has ended.
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As part of the Powerful Birth community, you will be invited to my regularly-scheduled (virtual) “office hours”. Many of my past clients and students take this opportunity to check in, ask questions, get reassurance and feel a little more connection. I am also available via email as long as you need for help finding your village. You’re not in this alone!
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Psst…support partners, this class is REALLY for you! Join in on conversations about making birth a powerful and positive experience and fill your toolbox with concrete things that YOU can do to have a hands-on impact, be an amazing advocate, and help every step of the way.
Take these simple steps to be fully prepared for welcoming your baby:
Sign up now for Powerful Birth Prep
Receive and review the recommended resources for pre-class learning. If you're taking a separate basic birth class, you're probably on top of this already. If not, these resources will give you a good starting point for understanding the very basics of how labor works so that we can build on that knowledge! Your Zoom link and all resources will be sent via email from malloryemersonbirth@gmail.com.
Schedule an optional pre-class check-in with Mallory. This is your opportunity to touch base ahead of time, get your technical questions answered, chat about any of the pre-class resources, share any of your specific concerns or needs, and be fully ready to engage in class.
Check your email at least 48 hours before class each week for any updates, assignments or suggestions before we come together.
Attend each of the 3 classes on a computer or laptop (rather than a mobile device) so you can fully participate and get the most out of class. Anyone from your birth/parenting team is welcome to attend class with you!
Stay connected via email and drop-in hours to get future questions answered and have Mallory & your peers cheering you on as you navigate the roller coaster of pregnancy, birth & parenting. You've got this!
Three-Week Overview
Week 1
Before birth: preparing for baby’s arrival, making decisions about your birthplace & team, having conversations about getting labor started
Week 2
During labor & birth: how to make decisions in the moment, ask for more time, listen to your instincts, and understand risks as you consider medications, interventions & other medical tools
Week 3
After the birth: getting your needs met at the birthplace after baby arrives, ensuring your & baby’s safety at home, setting boundaries and getting the help you need
ATTENDANCE POLICY: CLASSES ARE HELD LIVE VIA ZOOM. PARTICIPANTS UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WILL HAVE THE BEST EXPERIENCE IF ATTENDING THROUGH A LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER (RATHER THAN A MOBILE DEVICE). ZOOM LINK WILL BE SENT 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRST CLASS DATE. REGISTRATION FEES ARE NOT REFUNDED FOR SESSIONS MISSED.
REFUND & CANCELLATION POLICY: A $10 CANCELLATION FEE WILL BE CHARGED IF YOU CANCEL YOUR REGISTRATION. ONCE THE SERIES HAS STARTED, REFUND IS NOT AVAILABLE. MALLORY EMERSON BIRTH SERVICES RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CANCEL ANY CLASS AT ANY POINT PRIOR TO THE CLASS START DATE AND WILL REFUND ALL MONIES PAID TO ALL REGISTRANTS. YOUR PURCHASE IS CONFIRMATION THAT YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO THE REFUND POLICY STATED ABOVE.
Who am I?
I am a childbirth educator & full spectrum doula with over 8 years of teaching experience and 5 years supporting birth clients. I am committed to inclusive classes, focus on self-advocacy and understanding evidence.
I strive to offer classes that are NOT lecture based and have you out of your seat engaging your brains and bodies in ways that make the day fun and helpful. Yes, even online! I am the co-founder of Creative & Confident, which offers training and tools for birth educators who want to have truly dynamic classes.
