Charis "Labor Support" Workshop

Was held August 11, 2012, and everyone went home enriched! Beaverdam Baptist Missionary Home in beautiful Montpelier, Virginia What a blessed and educational time we all had at the Charis “Labor Support” Workshop!   Childbirth Educators, Doulas, Midwives and others gathered from around the world at the Beaverdam Baptist Missionary Home in beautiful Montpelier, Virginia, improving our abilities to support laboring women with excellence.   The day was filled with interactive, hands-on, fun, and interesting activities taught from a Christian perspective, giving God the glory for His marvelous creation and how He so wonderfully created women to bear children. We made new friends and became more skilled in knowing how and when to use many techniques to bring a woman comfort during each phase of labor, understanding the science behind why the comfort measures work, creating an environment conducive to the natural progression of labor, recognizing when a woman is beginning to panic and helping her regain control, gently encouraging a woman to effectively push out her baby while taking advantage of the natural physiology of second stage, assisting a woman in breastfeeding for the very first time, and so much more. In addition to the valuable skills acquired at the workshop, we also took home a beautiful “labor support bag” filled with an assortment of tools to help successfully support, serve, and bring comfort to  future clients as they labor. A delicious lunch was prepared by aspiring midwife, Rose Schuchmann.  We enjoyed it thoroughly while getting to know each other better during our midday break.  Left to right: Mary Beth Stubenrauch, Kristin Schuchmann, Tara Thessen, Connie Keen, Francesca Crimu, Rose Schuchmann, Gail D., Susan Oshel, Cheryl Crimu On Friday evening many of the workshop attendees and a few others gathered at the California Pizza Kitchen in Short Pump, near Richmond, Virginia.  The food was yummy and the company super great!  New friends and old gathered from around the world saying hello and laughing allot. We had such a great time at last month’s labor Support Workshop!  I think we all left with renewed passion for serving laboring women and greater confidence in using the skills and tools we have gained.  As usual, it was wonderful having Susan Oshel, Charis director of midwifery studies, to join us and add her wisdom to our conversations and we were extremely blessed to have Rachel Thompson, Charis CE/Doula Coach, to teach and share her experience and skill with us.  I am already counting the days until our next workshop!  ~ Kristin Schuchmann, Executive Director, Charis Childbirth, Inc. Our director, Kristin Schuchmann, opening the morning with the workshop overview. Left to right: Mary Beth Stubenrauch, Gail D, Karen Yoder, Rachel Thompson, Francesca Crimu (behind the light holding the camera), Anne Ohlman and Laura Hale with their manuals open and ready. I love how everything I learned during this workshop solidified and "made real" all that I am studying in the Charis Doula CE track.   Knowing the science behind what we do to comfort laboring women helps move all those tools deeper into my heart and head.   Amazing wisdom from three women, Kristin Schuchmann, Rachel Thompson and Susan Oshel, who truly give of themselves to bring LIFE into this world!  ~ Mary Beth Stubenrauch, Charis CE/Doula student Practicing the Gate Theory We were each a part of the process: sensory fibers, receptors, electrochemical impulses,  instinctive and rational responses and stimulus passing between us. The hands-on practice was especially helpful to me.  I also appreciate understanding a little better why different comfort measures are helpful.  Lerning how to do a good massage will be extra handy next time I attend a birth! ~ Karen Yoder, Charis CE/Doula student Rachel Thompson guiding the hands-on labor support portion of the class. It is such a privilege to be part of the excellence which Charis offers in training and education for those who serve during birth.  Each of the women here today are precious and I loved meeting them.  I am inspired by their love and passion for birth!! ~ Rachel Thompson, Charis CE/Doula Coach Anne Ohlman doing effective hip squeezes on Karen Yoder. It was so helpful to try out all the different positions and have personal feedback on weather I was doing labor support measures correctly.   I loved learning about why techniques work and when to use them.  And, of course, I loved the time of fellowship!  ~ Anne Ohlman, Charis CE/Doula student Rachel Thompson demonstrates belly dancing and how it can move babies into favorable positions. Gail D, Karen Yoder, Anne Ohlman, Laura Hale and Nancy Prevatt practicing. This was such an amazing workshop!  I gleaned so much from every part of this time together.  I learned so much more about the mechanics of comfort measures and how to better serve my clients.  I will often look back over the notes from this class so that I ensure my clients get the best doula I can be!!  ~ Laura Hale, Charis CE/Doula student Anne Ohlman, Laura Hale and Nancy Prevatt discussing pressure points. It was such a blessing being able to meet with the other doulas and midwives during this workshop.  Getting to experience the positions and pain releasing techniques for myself has been very beneficial and will enable me in serving laboring moms.  The expertise and tools each person shared is very valuable!  ~ Nancy Prevatt, RN, Charis CE/Doula student Rachel Thompson demonstrating how to use a rebozo to hang. Nancy Prevatt (above) and Beth Stubenrauch (below) feel the powerful pelvis-opening effect while practicing. A few treasures I brought home with me were to use warm compresses, good breastfeeding tips and the importance of skin-to-skin contact and baby positions and learning the science behind the techniques!  ~ Gail D., visiting Doula and Childbirth Educator         Gail D (left) gently swiveling Karen Yoder's hips with a rebozo. Karen Yoder (right) gently swiveling Beth Stubenrauch's hips with a rebozo. Everyone took turns feeling it and doing it!   It was so sweet to be with the amazing women of Charis who are so dedicated to educating and assisting families in birth! Thanks for letting me join you. I pray God's highest to all of you!!  ~ Cheryl Crimu, MA, NCC, IMHC Cheryl Crimu's background as a massage therapist was wonderful during the pressure point and massage segment of the workshop.  Every hand received a massage and pressure points were practiced.  Everyone opening their labor support "birth bags" full of tools of the trade. Kristin Schuchmann ended the day describing valuable techniques to use during situations that are out of the normal.  She demonstrated pressure points to help initiate labor when waters are broken and labor needs to start and much more!  I always walk away inspired after attending Charis workshops and this one was super inspiring!  It was lovely to spend the day with dedicated Charis students and our teachers, Kristin Schuchmann and Rachel Thompson, full of love for laboring families and hearts for birth.   One of my prayers in continuing to walk this path as a midwife in my senior years is for the restful energy it needs to serve awesomely.   My prayers were answered with a recharged spirit of love and refreshed energy as I returned home after the workshop last month.  I love the kindredness of our Charis family and the support we lend each other! ~ Susan Oshel, CPM, Charis Director of Midwifery Studies