• The physiology of normal labor, birth and early postpartum
• How to optimize the hormones of labor for a smooth and safe birth
• Positioning to facilitate the normal progress of labor and birth – optimizing the position of the baby and the dimensions of the pelvis
• Comfort measures for the woman and tools for her partner to take an active role in the labor and birth
• Relaxation skills to use during pregnancy and labor
• Mindfulness tools to help the woman stay in the moment, recognizing when the mind has gone into a story (e.g. ‘what ifs’) and how to bring it back to the present
• Evidence-based information about choices in birth
• Communication skills for the pregnant woman and her partner with members of the health care team
• Guidance for the pregnant woman to make informed decisions about medical procedures, including non-pharmacological pain relief (e.g. epidurals) and cesarean birth, always focusing on how to keep birth as normal as possible even if an intervention is requested or medically necessary
• Breastfeeding and the early postpartum period
• How to cope with the baby when you bring him/her home
• Healthy lifestyles for pregnancy and the postpartum period
• A reunion once all the babies have been born. We will have an opportunity to meet all the babies and to talk about some hands-on parenting issues

• Most of the topics listed above in the Mindful Childbirth Education course (physiology, comfort tools, interventions, advocacy, etc.)
• Learning and practicing mindfulness meditations including Awareness of Breath, Body Scan, Sitting Meditation, Walking Meditation, Mindful Movement (Yoga), and Compassion Meditation
• Practice mindfulness and its applications for working with pain and fear during labor
• Understand the mind/body connection in childbirth and how mindful awareness can be a critical element in facilitating the birth process
• Tap into inner resources of strength, confidence and courage
• Learn how to be fully present to give comfort and support as a birth partner
• Learn how moment-to-moment awareness can be a powerful tool for the challenges of birthing and parenting
• Learn how cultivating awareness, rather than reacting on auto-pilot, can help us respond to our children more skillfully and with compassion

Often pain and anxiety are our greatest challenges in childbirth. Learning to use our minds to work with these challenges can make a huge difference in our labor and delivery experiences.

The Mind in Labor workshop is a time to look deeply at pain and fear in childbirth and to cultivate present moment awareness for meeting whatever childbirth experience might unfold.

The workshop is an excellent complement to any childbirth education class, including refresher classes. It can also be helpful for those who anticipate a birth experience requiring special medical attention or for those who have had a previous difficult birth experience.