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Ask A Doula
Questions and Answer

Q. Are there any videos of actual births that would help me prepare for the time of delivery? My wife is due in January and I am just a bit concerned about how I will react as I plan to be by her side the whole way no matter what or how it happens. This is my first child obviously but it is her third and she also has been looking for a video that will help me to be prepared so I think she might be concerned about me too. Thanks for your help Rob & Carla

A. Rob and Carla,

Congratulations on your first pregnancy! Videos are a great way to prepare. There are many wonderful videos on birthing. I would suggest that you contact your local independent childbirth educators, who will probably have the greatest library, and ask to come by and view them. Look for "Birth in the Squatting Position", "Gentle Birth Choices", "Special Delivery", "Birth Reborn" and "Dads". Also, many of the Bradley Method films, although dated, are excellent.

Childbirth Education

How do you become an educator?

Ilana Stein has been working professionally with pregnant women since 1983 as a childbirth educator, labor assistant and breastfeeding consultant. She was originally certified by the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth (The Bradley Method), The Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators (ALACE), and Doulas of North America (DONA). She teachs the ALACE Labor Assistant training workshop nationwide. She has spoken at conferences and at the New York University Graduate Program in Midwifery about labor support. She is a Positive Pregnancy and Parenting Fitness (PPPF) instructor and La Leche League Leader. She is also a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor at the local YMCA. She volunteers as the coordinator of the annual New York Area YM-YWCA Women’s Wellness Weekend.