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No classes on 5/5 & 6/30

Natural

Natural

natural

BEGINNINGS

birth, breastfeeding & baby

natural

BEGINNINGS

natural

BEGINNINGS

birth, breastfeeding & baby

birth, breastfeeding & baby

natural

BEGINNINGS

birth, breastfeeding & baby

natural

BEGINNINGS

birth, breastfeeding & baby

January 13 - April 14

Sundays / 3:00 PM

January 13 - April 14

Sundays / 3:00 PM

natural

beginnings

Soft focused on petal of pink flower abs

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Is Natural Childbirth Really the Goal?

Susan Martin

Apr 9, 2021
7 min

Is Natural Childbirth Really the Goal?

As a Bradley teacher, the families who seek my classes often have the goal of a natural birth. This is a beautiful intention for the birth of their child. If this is your goal, I want you to know what you can do to help you achieve the birth you are seeking. But, it's not the sole point of taking prenatal classes or a way to measure whether the classes “worked.” Sometimes even teachers misunderstand what the point of our teaching actually is. Our goal is very clearly stated i

Yogurt Custard Pie

Susan Martin

Feb 25, 2021
2 min

Yogurt Custard Pie

Looking for a high protein, nutrient dense tasty treat? Something that could be a snack, a dessert, or even breakfast? Look no further than my Yogurt Custard Pie - a creation which evolved from a "Brown Sugar Yogurt Tart" that I used to make for my family from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison. The rich yellow color comes from the amazing eggs I picked up at the Santa Monica Farmer's Market today. Yogurt Custard Pie has a delicious tartness and a satisfying

My Thoughts on the Loss of the UCLA Midwives

Susan Martin

Feb 17, 2021
7 min

My Thoughts on the Loss of the UCLA Midwives

Update 3/1/21: Good news that this decision has been reversed and my class couple have been reinstated into the midwives care. Woot, woot! Original post: I try not to be cynical. Or feel overly despondent at the forces that loom in our midst much larger than any one individual that impact our birth experiences and our initiation into new parenthood. I know from experience that I can help new parents have awareness, skills, and some control over the decision-making processes t

Four Mantras for Parenting

Susan Martin

Dec 11, 2019
4 min

Four Mantras for Parenting

During my second pregnancy I used a phrase I found attributed to Tich Naht Hanh as a mantra for my relaxation practice (I call these Anchor Thoughts in my childbirth classes), which I subsequently recited for much of my labor (you know, until I hit transition, when I was just hanging on for the ride!) So, when I came upon an interview with him I took some time to listen. The best part of the interview came at the end, when Oprah asks him about healing the world and cultivatin

Breastfeeding Success Begins Before Birth

Susan Martin

Sep 2, 2019
5 min

Breastfeeding Success Begins Before Birth

Some pregnant mothers worry about how breastfeeding will go. They hear a lot of discouraging stories about how hard it is. This can make new mamas anxious about what’s in store for them (as if worrying about the birth wasn’t enough!) Breastfeeding doesn’t have to be hard. There is a lot that can be done in pregnancy to lay the groundwork for breastfeeding ease and success. In fact, pregnancy is the perfect time to prepare for your breastfeeding relationship with your baby. He

"Coach" - What It Really Means

Susan Martin

Aug 28, 2019
4 min

"Coach" - What It Really Means

How would you feel if your partner was absolutely not allowed to be in the hospital with you during your labor and the birth of your baby? You couldn’t have anyone you know there. You would be dropped off at the front of the hospital, wave goodbye, and then wheeled up to labor and delivery – by yourself. Imagine this. How would this make you feel? It sounds like a horror story, right? The crazy thing is that this actually was what was happening to laboring mothers during the

Cottage Cheese Pancake Recipe - A Solid Protein Breakfast

Susan Martin

Apr 25, 2019
2 min

Cottage Cheese Pancake Recipe - A Solid Protein Breakfast

Getting a good solid protein breakfast is important. Pregnant and lactating women and growing children have higher protein needs. A bagel or cereal for breakfast is not meeting those needs. This recipe for cottage cheese pancakes is a family favorite that has been a household staple since I was pregnant with my first child. Cottage Cheese Pancakes 1 16 oz container of whole milk cottage cheese (grass fed if possible) 4 eggs 2 Tbls melted butter, ghee, or expeller/cold pressed

Birth is the Bridge

Susan Martin

Feb 19, 2019
2 min

Birth is the Bridge

Birth is the bridge that takes you to the other side. It is not the other side itself, but it connects the two. Birth is the space between the spiritual and physical planes. In it you are literally suspended between two worlds, calling your baby's soul to you. I see the bridge connecting the unconscious and spirit to the manifestation of the physical. How that crossing goes affects our perceptions as we reach the other side. Did we feel supported and safe so that as we step o

Breakfast Outside the Box

Susan Martin

Feb 13, 2019
4 min

Breakfast Outside the Box

Protein needs increase during pregnancy and lactation. Eating a good breakfast with good protein is a must (and really this is not just for pregnancy - this is a mom strategy to keep kids going, so it is definitely to your benefit to get a leg up on this now.) Sometimes I see pregnant mamas struggle with getting a good breakfast when I look at their Nutrition Worksheets. So, this is the start of a series designed to inspire you to both think outside the box (you know, what's

Birth Inspiration

Susan Martin

Oct 19, 2018
1 min

Birth Inspiration

Arising from the natural forces moving within you during labor, there is a Rainbow. The forces mixed with the light create this. Where are you looking from? What are you concentrating on? Where are you willing to go to catch the light which allows you to experience this? It is there. Are you just focused on the raging torrent? Only looking down? Look up. See the light mixed with the mist and there reflected is the iridescent beauty containing all the colors of life. This is y

Do Yourself a Favor - Take a Live Childbirth Class

Susan Martin

Oct 17, 2018
6 min

Do Yourself a Favor - Take a Live Childbirth Class

The age of the internet is truly a marvel. Access to the information available online offers each of us an incredible opportunity to be aware of choices and possibilities that we may not have known otherwise. I personally love the ability to access like-minded communities and to supplement my knowledge through options available online. Information online can also be a little overwhelming. It can keep you distracted from important things that need to be done in the here and no

#Inspiration

Susan Martin

Oct 11, 2018
1 min

#Inspiration

#naturalchildbirth #bradleymethod #bradleybirth #parenting #yourbestbirth #consciousparenting #baby #labortips #childbirthclasses #birthinspiration

Continuity of Care: Are You Getting It? Part III - Midwives at Home or Birth Center

Susan Martin

Oct 11, 2018
6 min

Continuity of Care: Are You Getting It? Part III - Midwives at Home or Birth Center

What helps a mama to feel at ease during her pregnancy, during labor and birth, and after her baby is born? Yep, it is continuity of care. In two prior blog posts I explored what is really being delivered (pun intended!) by obstetricians and certified nurse midwives in the hospital setting focusing on the issue of continuity of care and whether this important factor (that all mothers want) is met or not. The desire for this experience is the major mostly unconscious emotional

Continuity of Care: Are You Getting It? Part II - CNM's in the Hospital

Susan Martin

Oct 3, 2018
6 min

Continuity of Care: Are You Getting It? Part II - CNM's in the Hospital

All mamas want continuity of care. This is hard-wired as an expectation in women. Once you have chosen a medical care provider, it’s totally normal not to want to switch. However, in order to receive the best of care and to provide not only the safest experience, but also the one that is most likely to honor the psychological needs of the mother and infant, choosing a provider who truly provides continuity of care definitely provides an advantage. Most situations in the U.S.

Continuity of Care: Are You Getting It? Part I - OB's

Susan Martin

Sep 24, 2018
5 min

Continuity of Care: Are You Getting It? Part I - OB's

I teach a 12-week childbirth education course. Yep, that’s three whole months. Most mamas are well into their second trimester or in their third trimester when they sign up. We always talk about the importance of choosing a health care provider who truly supports the pregnant mother’s birth goals. This is so important and makes such a mark on a mother and baby’s experience of birth that I cannot over emphasize it enough. Even so, it’s extremely rare for families to switch pro

Freedom and Birth

Susan Martin

Jul 4, 2018
5 min

Freedom and Birth

Happy 4th of July, dear reader! Today is the day we celebrate the birth of our country, the United States of America. We honor our forefathers and foremothers who risked their lives envisioning and creating a whole new way to run government, creating a new society. To this end, we were promised life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. With freedom comes responsibility. The responsibility for making choices to ensure this privilege of life and liberty, as well as our abili

Every Teacher Is Different

Susan Martin

Jun 12, 2018
3 min

Every Teacher Is Different

I started taking Kundalini yoga about six months ago. I’d been longing to attend for awhile, but kept letting my (very long list of) responsibilities get in the way. I used to wonder why my mother would stomp around complaining that there were not enough hours in the day when I was a teenager. Well, I know now that she was right. There aren’t enough hours in a day. I don't stomp around and complain, though. I just kinda resign myself to the reality - go with the flow. Anyway

Bradley Classes - A Sound Long-term Investment

Susan Martin

May 25, 2018
4 min

Bradley Classes - A Sound Long-term Investment

I just had a very happy discovery - scrolling through my Facebook feed I found out that one of the families I had worked with during my first year of teaching just had twins. Yes, naturally at the hospital. Woot, woot for them! This couple took my Bradley Method class with their first child, a daughter. She was born with the UCLA Midwives. Mom and dad worked together - no doula. We train "dude-las." I remember this mama really loved using the shower - great birthing tool for

Why I Teach the Bradley Method

Susan Martin

May 15, 2018
7 min

Why I Teach the Bradley Method

Teaching Bradley® was not a given. I felt a longing to teach childbirth classes after the birth of my second child. And I had always had in the back of my mind those little flyers the AAHCC sent out about teacher trainings. It took me awhile to even get to the point of actually pursuing becoming a childbirth educator because, frankly, I was so completely immersed in the craziness of my first decade of mothering and the many responsibilities I had that I waited until I knew I

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