Personal Background

I am the mother of two young boys, both born naturally in a hospital.  The childbirth education class I took during my first pregnancy left me unprepared for the early arrival of my first son.  Almost a C-section, the birth ended with an emergency forceps delivery, which was accompanied by a rather large epiosotomy.  Recovering from the episiotomy alone was difficult, to say the least.  Had I been better educated about the labor and birth process, I would have known how to keep control of the situation and would have had a more positive birth experience.  Fortunately, my baby was healthy and over six pounds.  He's now more than 10 times that weight, and is as healthy as can be.

The experience was a lesson learned, and when I got pregnant with baby number two, my husband and I decided to take a Bradley Method class because we heard from friends that it would better prepare us for labor and childbirth.  It turned out to be a wise choice, and when I went into labor in my kitchen a week before my due date, I knew just how to relax while I waited for my husband to come home. This time, there were no forceps, no episiotomy, and hardly a tear for a chubby 8-pounder.  The recovery was faster and caring for my newborn was much easier.

It was the difference in these birth experiences that prompted me to become a natural childbirth educator.  I can now help other women learn what to expect in labor and birth so they can make informed decisions that will help them achieve a positive birth experience.  What better way to meet your baby for the first time than for both of you to be drug-free and fully present? 

The first three stages of labor are short compared to the fourth stage, which is the life-long commitment mothers make to raising their children.  But only some of fourth stage feels like labor.  Most of it is pure love and joy!

Childbirth Philosophy

Life is inherently unpredictable.  So is childbirth.  Most women are physically and emotionally capable of having a baby without any medications, as long as she has the right training, education and support.  A natural birth is the safest way for the mother and the baby, and the fastest way for both to recover from their birth experience.

However, for some women, a birth without medication is not an option.  Sometimes, a C-section or other medical interventions are needed to safely birth a baby.  How fortunate we are to have medical advances that can save lives during childbirth.  

No matter what the birth choice, Happy Birth Way can help a couple go through the experience feeling empowered, informed and relaxed.  We explore the choices in labor, teach the pros and cons of labor medications, discuss safe alternatives to medications, create priorities for a birth plan, and remember that in labor, as in life, plans sometimes change mid-way. Couples who take Happy Birth Way classes will be comfortable making decisions no matter how their birth plan might change mid-way.

My mission statement for Happy Birth Way is simple: to empower couples to make informed choices about their birth experience, whether in a hospital with an obstetrician or at home with a midwife.  I hope to have the opportunity to guide you to your baby's birth.

Professional Training

Natural Childbirth Educator June Connell is trained in the Bradley Method(R) of natural birth by the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth.  Since receiving her certification, she has enhanced her course with information about holistic pre-natal care, and with updated research that offers multiple perspectives on controversial issues. 

June is also a member of the Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators (ALACE) and the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA), by which she will be certified. She has a degree in Speech Communications and worked for more than twenty years as a writer and media producer.  She is a strong communicator and an excellent researcher, ensuring that her students are provided with current information suited to their individual needs.


                                               june@happybirthway.com