A lively game of preparation and final review for expectant parents, childbirth classes and doulas. This Game Teaches, Reviews and Reinforces: -The practice of embracing what is -Assessing (not judging) the situation -A solution-focused mindset (rather than a problem- or avoidance-focused mindset) -Considering all possible solutions from cards held in their hands (ranging from common sense, parent-can-do solutions to what the medical model might offer) -Finally, doing what needs to be done next...without striving for a particular outcome.
Labor and postpartum situations presented in this game are mostly ordinary and always brief; there are no happy or sad endings to any of the scenarios that would suggest that "choices" made by the players lead them to achieve a desired outcome. The situations presented are created in part by the childbirth teacher/mentor and partly by the random drawing of face-down Birth Fairy and Time cards.
The cards are printed in color on sturdy glossy card stock, 2.75" x 4.75", and fit in a black 5x7" draw-string velour bag. Each of the 141 "Next Best Thing" cards belongs to one of the following categories:
Things Parents Can Do ( e.g., Drink Fluids, Walk)
Medical Support (e.g., IV, Pitocin)
Birth Fairy (situations that arise, e.g., Water Breaks)
Time (e.g. An Hour Later)
This game was conceived of and illustrated by Pam England.
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CD: Birth Tiger Safari $12.00
**SALE** (regularly $20)
This excellent CD contains two parts, and is designed for BIRTHING FROMWITHIN Mentors and other birth professionals. Refresh what you learned at your Introductory (Level 1) workshop, deepen your understanding of "Tigers" and strengthen your facilitation of this process (also known as "Drawing on Your Coping Skills"). This live recording features Pam England at a Level 1 workshop in London. In the first part, she teaches Mentors how to do the process, and in the second part she demonstrates how to do it with actual expectant parents. A must for every BIRTHING FROMWITHIN Mentor!
Pam England offers a taste of BIRTHING FROMWITHIN's history and unique approach to working with parents. This introductory 50 minute audio CD is designed for people who have an interest in learning about how to mentor with BIRTHING FROMWITHIN's philosophy. People who register for all "Introduction to BIRTHING FROMWITHIN" workshops will receive one of these CDs in advance of the workshop (time allowing).
Pam England takes parents through an introduction to BIRTHING FROMWITHIN's proven pain-coping practices. On this CD, Pam sets the foundation and motivation for building a pain-coping mindset, and parents learn: Breath Awareness, Non-Focused Awareness, Finding the Center, and a visualization. The last track is designed for parents to practice. After taking a BIRTHING FROMWITHIN class, listening to this CD will refresh parents’ memory and provide a way to continue practicing before labor. For parents who can’t take a BIRTHING FROMWITHIN class, this CD is the next best thing! A perfect companion to the Keepsake Journal.
CD: Pain-Coping Practices for Parents (box of 6) $55.00
**SALE** (Regularly $72)
This wonderful CD for parents gives them the opportunity to deepen their understanding and practice of BIRTHING FROMWITHIN's proven pain-coping practices. We offer boxes of 6 CDs to birth professionals at a reduced price of $84 to sell or give to parents. That's only $9 each! Save $17!
CDs: Pain-Coping Practices: How to Teach Parents (3 CD set) $40.00
**SALE** (regularly $75)
If you are a birth professional who loves the BIRTHING FROMWITHINbook, then this three-CD set is just for you! Step-by-step, you learn how to motivate and prepare parents to cope with the intensity of labor, using proven pain-coping practices. This three-CD set will refresh and reinforce what you learned at your Introduction to BIRTHING FROMWITHIN (Level One) Workshop. A must-have for all Mentors and birth professionals! Featuring: Pam England teaching pain-coping practices to birth professionals, and include live demonstrations of Pam working with expectant parents. CDOne (52 min.): Introduction to Pain-Coping Practices, Scaling, Baseline, Breath Awareness. CD Two (59 min.): Non-Focused Awareness, Finding the Center CD Three (50 min.): Ovarian Breathing, Coyote Circle
In search of an image that would convey the universal, introspective feeling of gestating motherhood during pregnancy and early postpartum, Pam England made this pastel drawing in 1998. Living in the Southwest, Pam England's art is influenced by visits to ancient pueblo sites where some ancient peoples built kivas, round underground rooms for ceremonies (some kivas were built above ground). Kivas are entered through a hole in the roof. There is usually a hole in the floor called a sipapu, which for Pueblo people symbolizes the connection with Mother Earth from birth, and the spot from where the First People emerged. During soulful transitions, we move between two worlds. Moving between taking care of worldly responsibilities and descending into daydreaming, prayer, or meditation is represented by the ladder.
Pam's beautiful, classic pastel drawing is reproduced as a 5" x 7" greeting card. Comes with envelope.
Pam England's intense and thought-provoking painting reflects three levels of consciousness and history surrounding birth in our culture. See the Birth Art section of the website for a detailed description of this work. Reproduced as a 5" x 7" card, and comes with an envelope.
Pam England's stunning oil painting depicts the fleeting, unforgettable moment she envisioned herself a powerful, ferocious roaring lion while pushing her second baby out at home. The painting is reproduced as a 5" x 7" greeting card. Comes with an envelope.
Pam England tells the story that inspired her painting: "In March of 2000, in a flood that took 700 lives and left millions more homeless, Sofia Pedro gave birth to her daughter, Rosita, while clinging to branches high up in a tree over muddy flood water from the Limpopo River in Mozambique, Africa." Her oil and acrylic painting that pays homage to the strength and resourcefulness of birthing women is reproduced as a 5" x 7" card. Comes with envelope.
How to Have an Epidural in Awareness: A Teaching Video
This 15-minute video/DVD, featuring Pam England's colorful and whimsical pastel drawings, illustrates the truthful and typical experience of labor with an epidural. Parents learn about the advantages, disadvantages, and the cascade of medical support that accompanies epidurals. The message to parents is to develop and maintain a solution-focused, non-judgmental mindset, so that if an epidural (or any medical support) becomes necessary, they can stay present emotionally and spiritually for the birth of their child.
The video has exactly the tone I was hoping it would. There's no soft-pedaling on the potential drawbacks and side effects of epidurals, and yet that information is very non-threatening and accessible. I was totally impressed by the tremendous amount of information packed into a relatively short video. Two thumbs up! ~ Eileen Sullivan, BIRTHING FROMWITHIN Mentor
Special Sale! Only $11 each! The beautiful storytelling journal is available for resale, childbirth classes, and/or gift-giving. Half-case of 12 is $132. Save $84!
**OUT OF STOCK** This beautiful spiral-bound journal was designed by Pam England to accompany the storytelling of Inanna's Descent, Initiation, & Return. It contains select portions of the ancient story, excerpted from the translation by Samuel Noah Kramer and Diane Wolkstein in their book, Inanna: Queen of Heaven and Earth. There are exercises and processes for personal growth.
Rich in metaphor, symbols and wisdom, this Great Story parallels the story of your labor, postpartum, and other important life transitions. Inanna’s Descent also holds tremendous relevance to birth-related professionals who use this Journal to teach mothers how to prepare for the inner journey of birth and the Return postpartum.
During the storytelling, parents and others can use the blank pages to jot down notes, journal personal reflections, and draw or paint emerging images.
This fantastic and very popular online distance course is designed by Pam England for people who work with pregnant women and their partners. You will be guided in the nuts-and-bolts of making and teaching from birth art in both private sessions and group classes. Lessons are lively, fun, and very informative.
Our interactive course runs for five consecutive weeks, with lessons, weekly assignments, interactive forums and live online chats with your peers and Pam England and/or Virginia Bobro. The course ends with an hour-long group conference call. You will come away with a myriad of skills and processes to enhance your work and personal awareness!
All sessions have sold out two months in advance, so register early! Enrollment is limited to ensure personal attention.
Available sessions (start date listed, course runs for five weeks):
February 22 - March 28, 2010 - **FULL**April 12 - May 16, 2010 - *FULL**We will be adding more sessions shortly!
When you register, please indicate WHICH session you want.
Before you register, be sure you can participate fully for five weeks. Assignments include holding birth art sessions during the course, so if you are on a solo boat voyage around the world, that won't really work! Online chats are held once a week, usually on Fridays or Mondays at noon (Pacific time). All chats and calls are optional and archived, so they can be accessed later. Once the course has begun, the fee is non-refundable.
16 contact hours available through CA Board of Registered Nursing, provider #12800.
This poster features Pam England's beautiful, classic pastel drawing of a pregnant woman sitting meditatively in a kiva. It has a white border, with the pink BIRTHING FROMWITHIN logo tastefully printed along the bottom edge. Suitable for framing. Perfect for midwives or doctors to hang in their offices, or for parents who desire an elegant reminder to "Birth from within". Poster is 11"x17".
Pam England writes about her birth and this painting: "When I was pushing on my bed, on hands-and-knees, I raising up my head and made ferocious growling and pushing sounds as my son's head was being born. For a fleeting moment I envisioned myself a roaring lion--and felt empowered by this image. The white jagged line represents the Force of Life surging through me, assisting in the expulsion of my baby. The darker earthy colors in the lower half of the painting represent being immersed in the Dark Feminine. In Mesopotamia where lions were plenty and hunted, the lion symbolized an attribute of the goddess; the lion is generally associated with the power of God, courage and the guardian of the tomb." Suitable for framing, this high-quality poster makes a striking statement in an office, birthing center, or private home, reminding all who see it of the power of the birthing woman. Poster is 11"x17".
This poster features Pam England's beautiful, classic pastel drawing of a pregnant woman sitting meditatively in a kiva. It has a white border, with the pink BIRTHING FROMWITHIN logo tastefully printed along the bottom edge. Suitable for framing. Perfect for midwives or doctors to hang in their offices, or for parents who desire an elegant reminder to "Birth from within". Poster is 11"x17".
*Poster-Roaring the Baby Out!
Pam England writes about her birth and this painting: "When I was pushing on my bed, on hands-and-knees, I raising up my head and made ferocious growling and pushing sounds as my son's head was being born. For a fleeting moment I envisioned myself a roaring lion--and felt empowered by this image. The white jagged line represents the Force of Life surging through me, assisting in the expulsion of my baby. The darker earthy colors in the lower half of the painting represent being immersed in the Dark Feminine. In Mesopotamia where lions were plenty and hunted, the lion symbolized an attribute of the goddess; the lion is generally associated with the power of God, courage and the guardian of the tomb." Suitable for framing, this high-quality poster makes a striking statement in an office, birthing center, or private home, reminding all who see it of the power of the birthing woman. Poster is 11"x17".
