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About Us
Chris Dewilde Prescott created A Brighter Birth 7 years ago. As an active doula in the Richmond area, she learned many techniques and general information not covered in her studies of the "big name birthing methods". She decided to branch out and began teaching from her own experience and from those around her. She immediately received great feedback from her couples as well as care providers in the area pertaining to her "different" curriculum. After her own birth, which ended in a Cesarean, she found it absolutely essential to teach Mothers and Partners when medical interventions are necessary and how to avoid them if they are not. In her own birthing experience, she also learned how important communication skills are in dealing with care providers and hospital staff and she conveys that skill in the class. Chris has passed the teaching torch on while she begins a new path of nursing at MCV Medical Center. She now deals with heart patients and their families, but her passion for birth and women's choices carry on...
Kirsten Olsen has been an active doula for over 9 years, has had one unmedicated hospital birth herself, one homebirth and is planning another homebirth...any day now. Kirsten's sheer experience in birth is an inspiration alone. She has seen and heard everything, and probably has one hell of a story to tell about it. While in the "trench's" she has learned many, many different tricks and tips that couples wouldn't even think of asking about. In her classes, you learn a wealth of information delivered with the ease of a professional, while sitting in her living room laughing at her jokes. Her knowledge of birth and of the Richmond birthing establishment as a whole creates a feeling of confidence and security that you have indeed found the right educator.
Melanie Headley is a mother of 4. She has had one hospital birth as a result of a transfer from a Birthing Center, and 3 home births. Melanie was actually one of Chris Prescott's first students in 2003 with the pregnancy of her first child.
"The class prepared my husband and I so well that when our birth plan flew out the window as we transferred, we still felt in control of our care. Because of my birth partner, and his new found knowledge
and commitment to our desired birth, we were able to successfully avoid a Cesarean and communicate our wishes efficiently."
While pregnant with her 3rd, she became increasingly passionate about the options in place for women regarding birth. She took the ALACE doula training in the Spring of 2008 and began teaching A Brighter Birth that Fall. Melanie tries to implement as many "real live" birth stories into the class as she can. She feels that by normalizing natural birth, hearing these women share their stories of triumph, her students will hopefully stop listening to all of the scare tactics out there condemning it.
"If all of our mothers, sisters, best friends, even the little old lady in the grocery store- if they told us, 'oh, you're planning a natural birth? Good for you! You can do it!' Instead of the traditional, 'No drugs?! Oh, honey, you're not gonna make it... I just told them to knock me out as soon as I got to hospital!' If all we heard were supportive words, what a different world we would live in."
"I am so thankful to have taken the 'Brighter Birth' class. Melanie's practical teaching (along with a little humor) to both Mom and partner came in handy during those hours of laboring at home. Her wise advice to "do life" was my motto throughout most of my labor and allowed me to shift my focus onto other things and prepare for the work of labor that was ahead of me. She, and the class in general, encouraged me to trust in my body and in myself to labor and birth naturally. I went on to have an amazing and unmedicated birth - a beautiful 9lb, 3oz baby boy! The class was so hands-on, fun and practical. It will give you the tools you need to help you prepare for your birth. A MUST for any first time Mama-To-Be that is looking to birth naturally, or maybe a 2nd or 3rd time Mama that wants a brighter birth experience." -Tiffany Reynolds, former student and Mama to Lachlan Grae
