Davis Prenatal Mentoring Program
Before COVID changed all of our lives, I used to participate in a local “Centering” model of prenatal care. This model is based on monthly, group prenatal visits with your provider, verses individual appointments in the office. Centering groups consist of 8-10 couples and the meetings last 90 minutes to two hours.
Birth Fusion’s Take on the Centering Model
My experience participating in these groups is my inspiration for what I’m offering with the FREE Davis Prenatal Mentoring Program. Centering is a “model of group health care with three components – healthcare, interactive learning, and community building – provided to a group of patients facilitated by a credentialed health provider”. I’m offering a mentoring version of this model which will include education, review of the evidence around various topics in childbirth, and a space to check in on how your doing, how your pregnancy is going, and forging new local friendships in the process.
Mentoring with an Evidence Based Birth® Bend
The “Centering” model focusus on medical care. The Davis Prenatal Mentoring Program offers education from an Evidence Based Birth® Instructor and informational/emotional support from an RN and professional doula.
Our time together is focused on you and what’s on your mind, what you’re dealing with, and supporting each other in this very personal journey to parenthood. If there is still time after our round-table check-in’s, I will introduce discussions on the following topics on a rotating basis:
Doulas and childbirth education options
Local resources and alternative therapies in perinatal care
Comfort measures and medicinal pain relief options
Understanding diagnoses associated with inductions/navigating inductions
Lactation Support
Postpartum Considerations/Birth Stories
I will also have a collection of Evidence Based Birth® resources to hand out supporting a host of topics that come up in every session.
©️ 2022 Jennifer Anderson Birth Photography
©️ 2022 Jennifer Anderson Birth Photography
Gimme the Deets!
First and foremost… IT’S FREE!
Meetings will be held at Mirror Image Dance Studio at 2121 2nd Street next to Swim America.
Sessions are open to all pregnant people and new parents up to 1 month after your baby is born. Join us at any time during your pregnancy. The more sessions you take in, the more info you’ll have at your fingertips and the more new friends you’ll make.
**These sessions are for the pregnant person only. We love your partners, but the focus of this group is on the pregnant person/moms and the goal is to create a safe space where all feel comfortable discussing vulnerable and intimate topics.
Davis Prenatal Mentoring Program Schedule
Sessions will be held on Sundays from 10:30am-12:30am
©️ 2022 Jennifer Anderson Birth Photography
Sunday, 12/15/24: Discussion topic - Why do I need an Induction? Understanding the difference between a risk factor and a clinical diagnosis
Sunday, 1/19/25: Discussion topic- Comfort Measures and Medical Pain Relief options
Sunday, 2/9/25: Discussion topic - Breastfeeding with Lisa Paradis, IBCLC; Special Guest - Kate Duren, founder of the Davis New Parents Support Group
Sunday, 3/9/25: Discussion topic - Hospital Statistics and what they can tell us about their care
Sunday, 4/6/25: Discussion topic - Why do I need an Induction? Understanding the difference between a risk factor and a clinical diagnosis
Sunday, 5/4/25: Discussion topic- Comfort Measures and Medical Pain Relief options
Sunday, 6/1/25: Discussion topic - Breastfeeding with Lisa Paradis, IBCLC; Special Guest - Kate Duren, founder of the Davis New Parents Support Group
FAQ’s
©️ 2022 Jennifer Anderson Birth Photography
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That’s a big “No”. While we’d all love to see you each month, life happens and schedules rule our world. If you can only make it to a few, still sign up. It’s FREE, why not? You have nothing to lose.
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We meet inside, protected from the winter weather and summer heat, at Mirror Image Dance Company at 2121 2nd Street in Davis. MIDC is located in the same plaza as Swim America.
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In order to provide a safe space where delicate pregnancy/birth topics are discussed, I have decided to make these groups soley for the pregnant person. I cater to birth partners intensely in my classes and as a doula. For these mentoring sessions, I have chosen to have one offering that focuses soley on the pregnant person. I appreciate your understanding.
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Sadly, no. If you haven’t met me yet, I run a pretty busy childbirth business in Davis. I usually have 3-4 doula clients/month and teach 2 childbirth classes per month. I have chosen these dates to work best with my schedule while anticipating what the community can likely attend. If you can’t make a date, then just join us next time.
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It’s FREE!!! Couples who take my childbirth classes or work with me as a doula get intense support and education, but I can only cast that net so wide. My goal is to take my experience, knowledge base, and perspective to my commuity while providing a safe space to build friendships. FREE accomplishes both of those goals quite well.
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Yes. All babies/toddlers are welcome. I just ask that your “baby” isn’t distracting to the group. We’ve had both and it has not been an issue.
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Did the line turn pink? Then you can join. These groups are open to all pregnant people and continues through two months postpartum.
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Nope, sure doesn’t. The beauty of these groups is that it’s open to everyone, no matter where they birth or live. I’ve attended births at most of our region’s facilities and I have intel for all. If you live or work in Davis, then you’re likely to find your people here too. Variety is one of the beautiful things about this group. If you can make it to Davis on Sundays, join us.
Membership has its Perks
Pairing up with a registered nurse, childbirth educator, and professional doula can have palpable effects on your birth experience.
As an RN, I’m well versed in the realm of medical intervention and what the evidence and guidelines support. I frequently work with the high-risk populations of Advanced Maternal Age and IVF. These risk factors can bring on the interventions faster than you can blink. I enjoy slowing things down to make sure you know how to frame the all-important questions about the risks/benefits/alternatives to every procedure that is recommended to you
As an educator, I’m proficient in taking the time needed for you to “get it”. I don’t have my hand on the door knob as I ask you “Do you have any questions?”
As a doula, I’m experienced in helping you reformat your general questions into specific ones to take back to your provider for answers and guidance. Advocacy is at the core of what I do every day. I’m “Team You” in every conversation. Prenatally, that looks like mentoring you in how to get the answers you need from your providers in order to play a shared role in your care. As many high-risk pregnancies lead themselves to inductions, navigating inductions is one of my “super-powers”.
My goal is to cast a wider net to bring the mentoring I offer my doula clients and the education my EBB® Childbirth Class clients, to my home community in a broader way. Davis is my home and my goal is to fill it with happy, strong, well-adjusted parents who felt empowered and supported in their birth experience.