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| Professional Story Natural Childbirth Educator June Connell, founder of Happy Birth Way and creator of its unique group, private and online classes, is certified by the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA). With a degree in Speech Communications, June has worked for more than two decades in broadcasting and print as a writer, producer, anchor and host. After moving from New York to Florida, she switched careers and created Happy Birth Way in 2007. Since then, she has taught hundreds of expectant moms about labor and birth, many of whom had natural births with few or no medical interventions. June is a co-founder and member of the Tampa Bay Birth Network, a member of the American Pregnancy Association and of the Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators (ALACE). She is a DONA-trained doula, with certification expected in the Summer of 2011. Personal Story | |
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"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 completely 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 large episiotomy. |
"Fortunately, my baby was healthy at just over six pounds but the recovery was a challenge. "When I got pregnant with baby number two, friends encouraged my husband and me to take a natural childbirth class to 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 use my breath 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 eight-pounder. The recovery was fast, and caring for and bonding with my newborn was much easier. "I truly feel that had I been better educated for the first birth, it would have been an entirely different experience. However, it is the contrast of my experiences that led 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 can help them achieve a positive birth experience." The Happy Birth Way Philosophy Life is inherently unpredictable. So is childbirth. Most women are physically and emotionally capable of having a baby without any medications or other interventions, as long as they have the four keys to a natural birth: knowledge, support, the ability to relax in labor, and remaining low-risk. A natural birth is the safest birth for mother and baby, and the fastest way for both to recover from their birth experience. However, for some women, a birth without interventions is not an option. Sometimes, a C-section or other intervention is needed to safely birth a baby. How fortunate we are to have safe, medical options that can save lives in unexpected situations. Happy Birth Way's mission is simple: to empower couples to make informed choices about their birth experience, whether in a hospital with an obstetrician, at a birth center, or at home with a midwife. We look forward to the opportunity to guide you to your baby's birth. Sign up for a class today. | |
Getting close
to your due date?
Getting close
to your due date?
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What is a Doula?
What is a Doula?
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A doula is a non-medical labor assistant who physically and emotionally supports a mom and her partner during labor, as depicted in this beautiful montage of Samuel's birth. Thank you to Tara and Angel for sharing their natural birth experience at Breath of Life Birth Center. |
Breath of LIfe Birth Center
Breath of LIfe Birth Center
 Breath of Life is a beautiful birth center based in Largo, FL, with two caring Certified Nurse Midwives who lovingly help moms bring their babies into the world without drugs or high-tech equipment. "High-touch, low-tech" sums up the center's philosophy. Happy Birth Way childbirth educator June Connell is in her fourth year of teaching classes there. If you are a Breath of Life client and would like to sign up and pay for Happy Birth Way classes, you can do that right here. |
Did You Know?
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Studies are suggesting that babies whose moms ate a variety of foods during their pregnancy are less likely to be picky eaters! So go ahead, moms -- sample some new cuisines! |
Testimonials
"Great environment and flow."
Keith R.
"We know more of what to expect now."
Susan G.
"June is intelligent, humble, patient and always available for questions."
Seth P.
"Having natural coping tools has boosted my confidence."
Regis B.
"I learned that my body will tell me what to do."
Stephanie W.
"Informative, excellent presentation."
Robyn B.
"Wonderful visuals. Thank you!"
Krystin W.
"Learning the husband?s role will definitely help us in labor."
Brian R.
"The class relieved my anxieties about labor and delivery."
Christie D.
"June did a great job answering our questions."
Ashley S.
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Our Experience >
Cesarean Birth Rate
| The cesarean birth rate in the United States is teetering around the 40% mark. Some of the hospitals in the Tampa Bay area have already exceeded that. Find out here how your hospital is doing. |