Birth Networks: Good for Business, Good for the Community
by Nicole Zirnheld Aldridge, AAHCC, The Birth Care Network of Louisville, KY

I have only been a member of the local Birth Network for a little over one year now. I first joined after deciding to pursue my childbirth educator certification. It has turned out to be a very wise decision, considering more than half of my students are referrals from the birth network. Not only has it been a very valuable marketing tool, but becoming a member has also afforded me the opportunity to meet many wonderful women who are all just as passionate about birth as I am.

I have learned a wealth of information, not only from the other more experienced educators and birth professionals, but also by attending various educational trainings and meetings offered through the network From a birth professional perspective, it is extremely rewarding to be part of an organization where I can surround myself with other people who believe in the birth process and are dedicated to preserving its integrity. I have found a mentor who has helped me both personally and professionally. She inspires me, encourages me, teaches me and counsels me. Just that aspect alone has proven to be worth the cost of membership many times over.

All members have plenty of opportunities to learn from each other. We share stories, experiences, frustrations and triumphs. There are doulas and educators who have been in the profession for decades. Sharing their knowledge and experience with the newer members, like me, is another key advantage. They have been in and out of all the local hospitals and they know most of the doctors in the area. They know who is, and who isn't supportive of natural birth, as well as who has the highest rates of intervention. Our group is not only made up of childbirth educators and doulas, but also nurses, lactation consultants, chiropractors, midwives, doctors, photographers and even a published author.

For a consumer, the birth network is a key resource in the community, especially for those wanting more from their birth experience. It's hard to find supportive people when you want an “alternative” birth. And by alternative, I mean natural. A “normal” birth in our society is anything but natural, or normal for that matter. Women giving birth in America are typically induced, drugged and often cut open – not really what I would consider normal. Birth is, after all, what our bodies were designed to do. A birth network gives the women who want to experience normal birth, in its truest sense, a place where they can go and feel just that – normal.

There are also numerous educational opportunities through the birth network, not only for birth professionals, but consumers as well. Our local birth network sponsors an annual birth conference for professionals and consumers alike. This past year's conference featured topics on the latest in birth trends, VBAC, the doula advantage, pregnancy massage, birth rituals, local birth stories and a very moving and inspirational panel discussion by a group of area midwives. At monthly meetings, guest speakers offer another element to the learning process. We had a placental pathologist at a recent meeting who spoke about the wonders of the only disposable human organ. We all had an opportunity to see and touch a real placenta. Other topics at monthly meetings include: “How to interpret medical literature,” “Birth rites and rituals,” “Emergency childbirth,” “Cesarean prevention” and “Advances in birth control” – just to name a few. Monthly meetings are open to the public. This is a great way for consumers to meet doulas and other birth professionals and to learn about topics they might not hear about anywhere else.

We also sponsor “Doula Nights” several times each year at one of the local hospitals. Here, moms and dads-to-be can come and learn about the advantages of hiring a doula and why choosing a doula can make for a better birth experience. They can also meet the doulas face to face and interview prospective labor assistants on the spot.

Another exciting benefit of the birth network is the New Mom's Group. Here new mothers can come and share their experiences, trials and tribulations with other new moms in the area. It is a wonderful support group that not only serves as a social outlet for new moms, but also provides educational opportunities, such as infant massage demonstrations, home schooling information and other topics of interest to new mothers.

Doula training workshops are also offered through the birth network for women who aspire to become birth and/or postpartum doulas. It is a convenient and exceptional opportunity to study for national certification without having to travel all over the country. We have experts right here in our own community who are certified as doula trainers!

I have named only a few of the many benefits of joining a birth network. As you can see, birth networks are not only good for growing your business as a professional, but also for expanding your knowledge and expertise in your chosen field. Birth networks benefit the community by providing a wide range of opportunities for childbearing women and their families to gain priceless information regarding normal birth. Lastly, birth networks and the members who support them, make a difference in the lives of not only mothers, but the children they are bringing into the world as well. And that, perhaps, is the most fundamental role a birth network plays in its community.

Nicole Zirnheld Aldridge, AAHCC Bradley® Certified Childbirth Educator, NATURAL BIRTH CHOICES, LLC, (502) 387-0449