By Chris Bavender
Watch a childbirth seen on TV or in a movie and it – more often than not – seems to be a negative experience for the mom-to-be. But birth doula, Cara Mehlon, said a birth boot camp could be the answer.
“It seems that with each passing year we become more comfortable with the cesarean rate jumping so it’s important to know there are options,” she said. “Birth boot camp gives you the tools you need. You learn nutrition and exercise, relaxation techniques, the process of labor and birth, how to carefully choose a birth place and birth team.”
Mehlon is one of just three certified Birth Boot Camp instructors in the state. The other two – Brandi Wood and Bekah Smith – are located in Fishers. They are among the 106 certified instructors across the country.
Birth Boot Camp was 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. Mehlon recommends couples start classes around the 25th week of pregnancy. The two hour sessions are held in her home.
“I want there to be plenty of space to relax and get comfortable and not get too crowded,” she said. “It also creates a sense of community in small groups since they are all doing the same thing.”
Mehlon’s first session of Birth Boot Camp begins the first week of September. She said she has no doubt it will be a popular class.
“The Carmel area is a fantastic birth community – full of lactation consultants and birth doulas and yoga teachers and midwives and we are all committed to natural birth and breastfeeding,” she said. “I feel like with birth boot camp having parents who are very interested in natural birth and getting the information they need will be very helpful and I really hope all three of us – as instructors – are able to continually have these classes to help these parents who are looking for natural birth.”
For more information on Birth Boot Camp visit www.caramiabirth.com or e-mail Mehlon at [email protected].
