5.10.2010

Int'l Doula Month - Giveaway #11

Connie Livingston is the owner of BirthSource, an RN, a CD, an ICCE, an aromatherapist, and the president of Perinatal Education Associates, to name just a few.

She has also chosen to donate the awesome DVD, "Comfort Measures for Childbirth The Rebozo Way".A Rebozo is a Mexican shawl that has been used by Traditional Mexican Midwives for centuries. They have been used it for different purposes:
  • Position the baby for a normal vaginal birth.
  • Relax and give pregnant women reassurance.
  • Decrease women's discomfort during pregnancy due to awkward position of the fetus.
  • Accommodate baby during labor for a normal birth.
Guadalupe Trueba demonstrates different techniques using the Rebozo to enhance relaxation and deal with discomfort and pain during childbirth in combination with other widely known strategies. Guadalupe is a Midwife, CD(DONA), Approved DONA International Birth Doula trainer, Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, and a member of Lamaze International Education Council. She has dedicated her professional life to the integral health of childbearing women and their families for more than 30 years. This wonderful video demonstrates these techniques.

As Connie is such a diversely talented business woman and advocate, it was a delight to read more about her passions and personality.
I have been a nurse for 34 years and a doula/childbirth educator for almost as long! My specialty is birth research. Birth is my PASSION and I immerse myself in it each and every day. I also love mentoring new childbirth educators and doulas and nurses! The most important piece of all this is my incredibly supportive husband and family. Without their support, I couldn’t have accomplished all that I have!
How did Birthsource come about:
Birthsource started in 1999, during a time when there was virtually NO information about birth and parenting on the internet. All articles have always been evidence-based and writing by professionals. Today, Birthsource has won numerous awards and has the HON Code Seal – a very prestigious seal noting evidence-based information. Our website is scanned and evaluated regularly to maintain this honor. In 2003, we added the online store to help parents and professionals find top quality products. Now we also provide continuing education workshops – in 2010, we’ll be adding online education plus podcasts and videocasts!
What makes your heart skip a beat, hold your breath, or sigh with happiness:
Babies skin-to-skin - the dynamics there is fantastic and breath-taking!
If you had to choose one item or offering on your site, what is your favorite and why:
My favorite item is the Professional Office Series: Doula Office, CBE Office and Postpartum Doula Office. This set of software give the professional a jump start on their career. We have sold thousands of these CDs and have gotten rave reviews. But our newest help, Creating And Marketing Your Birth Related Business, is a book that will help birth professionals set themselves up legally and market wisely! So it is really hard to choose!
When you think of a doula, what do you think:
I think of a guide through a jungle. The doula helps expectant parents navigate the US maternity health care system in every way to achieve the optimal birth from the circumstances presented.
Consequentially, what do you think of birth practices in the U.S. right now:
We in the U.S. are at a dynamic turning point. With the help of Childbirth Connection, we’ve been able to define and identify evidence-based maternity care. Statistics from the CDC and other sources prove that our use of interventions has not improved maternal mortality/morbidity or infant mortality/morbidity. We MUST add to the training that nurses and residents receive – we must give them the tools to also facilitate physiologic birth along with those tools of crisis intervention. Only then can ALL health care professionals work together in unison to care of expectant parents. Working from the inside out – enabling hospitals and staff to recognize and care for the individual needs of individuals rather than give mass care for the masses. Our workshop, Evidence-based Maternity Care: Turning A-Ha Moments into Dynamic Practice is proving to be a part of this solution!
Anything Else that you would like us to know about you or your site:
As a result of parent requests, in 2008 we began Birth Facts. This website has direct links to evidence-based research. Not only can parents benefit from this site, but hospitals have been telling me how beneficial it is to have this available when writing or updating policies, procedures and practice guidelines.
You can find us at BirthSource, Birth Facts, our Blog, on Facebook here or here, and on twitter.
RULES FOR ENTERING:

Remember, EACH OF THESE count as one entry. You have to complete the first entry to be able to be able to have the other entries counted. To have them counted as one entry each, they must each be fulfilled with their own, separate, comment. Be sure that your comment contains your email either in the body of the message, or through your profile.
  • For your initial entry, you must visit BirthSource, then come back and let me know which item is your favorite in their store.
  • For an additional entry, let me know which article under their professional's section you enjoyed the most and why.
  • For an additional entry, post a link to this giveaway on your FB OR create your own blog post regarding this giveaway, with a link to this post, then comment with a link back to your blog post/FB post.
  • For an additional entry, visit friend both her personal and professional FB account, then let me know in a comment here on my blog.
  • For an additional entry, follow on Twitter, then let me know in a comment here on my blog.
  • For an additional entry, follow Connie's blog, then let me know in a comment here on my blog.
  • If you took advantage of the Early Bird Entries, you can add any/all of your Early Bird entries to this giveaway by commenting with the words "EB Entry".
Entries will be closed on May 29th, at midnight, and the drawing will occur on May 31st, at noon.

Happy entering!!!

39 comments:

Utahdoula said...

I really like the tabletop charts. I have them and use them for one-on-one teaching.

Utahdoula said...

My favorite professional article was "Doulas on the Edge"

Emily said...

Favorite item - Definitely would love to check out the Doula Professional Office program.

Momof4 said...

It's great to see a giveaway promoting BirthSource! I recently completed Connie's ICEA Childbirth Educator Workshop and let me tell you, she is a PHENOMENAL instructor! I loved every minute of the workshop; it was worth every penny & every second. I really hope to take other classes from Connie.

I'd say my "favorite" item from BirthSource shop (if my mom said "Pick your favorite item and I'll buy it for you") would be Understanding Birth (VID00111) for $450. It would be a great addition for my classes. :-) I need a FitBall & Peanut Ball, too.

Thanks for hosting!

Momof4 said...

For an add'l entry, it's hard to pick a favorite article from the Professionals section. She has a wealth of info there! I almost feel traitorous picking just one, but I'll go with the one on Red Raspberry Leaf Tea, since it's hard to find hard info on RRL as opposed to just "my midwife recommended it." http://www.birthsource.com/scripts/article.asp?articleid=127

Momof4 said...

I am Connie's FB friend on personal & business accounts. Thanks for the extra entry!

Momof4 said...

Posted link to giveaway on my FB. Thanks for the extra entry!

Momof4 said...

I follow childbirthtoday.blogspot.com on Google reader. (I also subscribe to her e-newsletter, FWIW.) Thanks for the extra entry!

Anna M. said...

I like the peanut ball - I love, love, love physio balls for labor and pregnancy - I think they help so much.

Anna M. said...

from the professional section, Valsalva's Maneuver-- http://www.birthsource.com/scripts/article.asp?articleid=148 is my favorite article.

Lori said...

I love the Stages of Labor DVD! I have been saving for a while to add that one to my CBE class.

Lori said...

Now following you on Twitter and in my RSS Reader :)

Cait said...

Personally, I really love the marketing software for birth businesses! As a DONA trained (working on certification) BIrth Doula moving to Tokoyo, I often wonder where to start!!

doula cait at gmail dot com

Heather said...

What a beautiful etsy shop!

I love the items in the postpartum basket, but I would settle for some allergy tincture! :)

Heather

Heather said...

Oops! I commented on the wrong entry!

Sorry!

Heather said...

I would like to be entered!

I visited Birthsource. I would like to purchase a birth ball and pump. :)

Heather (lovelylivingbooks @ yahoo . com)

Heather said...

I'm following Connie on twitter and put her blog in my Google Reader.

Heather

Anonymous said...

My first choice would be the ICEA Childbirth Education Training Workshop. And I adore the Baby at Breast necklace.

Anonymous said...

Connie's friend on FB via suggestion by Sarah D. I look forward to one day taking the ICEA Childbirth Education Training Workshop.

Anonymous said...

I shared the giveaway info on my FB Fanpage Tre'Slings.

Anonymous said...

My favorite article under would be the VBAC & Elective C/S. It is right on w/ what physicians are saying to women and what women are being left w/ to make a decision. I have been in that place, told that a repeat c/s would be best, made to feel bad or even selfish for wanting a VBAC. Coerced and given fear tactics, I had a repeat C/S. Since then I have had 1 Hospital VBA2C and 1 Homebirth VBA2C. I take every opportunity I get to share my story and help educate women of their options.

Paula said...

Wow - what an extensive source!
The Positions for Labor DVD looks excellent - I'd like to order that.
Paula

Anonymous said...

too many things at the store to like. I like the software program and have always wanted to get a baby w/placenta... and a pelvis.

hisjennifer @ yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

posted on FB

hisjennifer @ yahoo. com

Birthkeeper said...

holy goddess of abundance pendants, batman! love 'em.

TopHat said...

I love the Baby at the Breast Pendant. It's gorgeous. And what a wonderful site!

hrfarley at gmail dot com

Rochelle said...

I also friended/liked her on facebook!

Rochelle said...

I love the daphne tree of life necklace!!!

Avital said...

followed on twitter

Avital said...

liked on facebook

Avital said...

I really loved the pregnant woman keychain. I think I'm going order one! I also really like the "Comfort Measures for Childbirth The Rebozo Way" and if I don't win it...I'll have to order it!

Enjoy Birth said...

Baby's First Massage - I have actually done this home study program and it is great!

Enjoy Birth said...

I liked the Amnioinfusion article. I just had 2 moms who got this and it was nice to learn more. Nice collection of articles!

Enjoy Birth said...

Following her blog!

Emily said...

Blogged about this giveaway on my blog today! http://anthrodoula.blogspot.com

Emily said...

Forgot to add my EB entry! EB ENTRY!

Mary said...

Like the birth balls on their site. I need one so I think I'll be ordering soon.

Mary said...

http://wonderfullymadebelliesandbabies.blogspot.com/2010/05/intl-doula-month-giveaway-11.html
I like this article on using water for labor.

Mary said...

I'm following the blog now.

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