Do you want to feel deeply honored as you journey through pregnancy, labor, birth and into parenthood?
Do you want to feel well prepared for any birth outcome and any birth setting?
Are you looking for birth education and lactation support without bias or dogma?
Welcome to Passage.
PRENATAL OFFERINGS
CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION
Prepare for the Passage
At birth, there is a passage from pregnant person to parent, from maiden to mother, from womb to world, from person/couple to family. Modern birth education and practices often lose this focus as birth has become more medicalized. Passage childbirth classes were born out of a desire for new and expectant parents to feel deeply honored as they navigate through pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.
LACTATION PREPARATION
Lactation, Demystified
While it is biologically natural, it doesn't always feel natural to new parents and new babies. The first hours, days, & weeks of the feeding relationship are so critical to its comfort, your milk supply, your baby's growth and meeting your long-term breast/chestfeeding goals. Empower yourself prenatally by learning some of the basics and some of the boobytraps.
POSTPARTUM OFFERINGS
LACTATION CONSULTATION
Support by an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) has been shown to increase breastfeeding/chestfeeding initiation and duration, improve mental health, increase self-esteem, increase confidence, foster parenting skills, and improve the overall experience. Holistic lactation care goes far beyond the "latch". A consult will be individualized and unique, starting with a review of the parent's personal feeding goals and will include care of the body and mind, addressing birth history, medical/surgical history, diet, environment, and familial health. Holistic lactation care addresses the whole parent and whole baby and you can expect interdisciplinary collaboration with body-workers, occupational therapists, dentists, doctors, nutritionists, allergists, or therapists, when needed.
ABOUT
Hello! I'm Sarah.
I am a Registered Nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. I am also a Childbirth Educator, Yoga teacher, and Mother of two. I provide holistic prenatal education and postpartum support on Long Island and in the Capital District of NY. My birth work started 20 years ago as a labor & delivery nurse, high-risk obstetrical home care nurse and hospital based lactation consultant. My professional birth work combines with my personal motherhood journey to fuel a passion for holistic health, birth education, and lactation support that emphasizes transformation and puts the pre & perinatal experience at the center. I've had additional training and education in Spinning Babies®, Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTS), and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. I am an apprentice of award winning childbirth educator and mythologist Britta Bushnell, PhD, author of Transformed by Birth and am a Certified MotherCircle facilitator.
Prepare for the Passage
This class is for you if:
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You want an interactive childbirth education experience that will explore all the birthing options and help you uncover what’s right for you.
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You are looking for a judgement free space to prepare for labor and birth.
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You prefer a more creative and heart centered approach to learning.
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You want to learn effective and practical coping techniques for the challenges of pregnancy, birth, and new parenthood.
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You appreciate a blend of the latest science with some more traditional knowledge.
Taught by a Registered Nurse with over 20 years of experience working with expectant and new parents, Prepare for the Passage is inspired by the book Transformed by Birth, by Dr. Britta Bushnell, PhD. Using a unique blend of stories, metaphors, group engagement and lots of props, this class intends to prepare you for any birth outcome and all birth settings and will cover:
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Pregnancy Wellness and Prenatal Bonding
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Language of Labor; Labor and Hormonal Physiology
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Birth options, Interventions, and Cesarean
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Comfort and Coping
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Labor Positions
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Partner Connection and Support Techniques
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Decision-making in Birth and Beyond
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How to Navigate Unexpected or Unwished for Situations
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Postpartum Preparation
Cost $325 per couple
Lactation Preparation
Optimize the tender beginning of this special relationship with your baby with some basic prenatal education! Whatever your goals are with breast/chestfeeding, this class, taught by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), will be supportive of your journey.
Class covers:
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The Benefits
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The breast crawl and baby-led attachment
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Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding positions and deep latch strategies
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Milk supply and demand- managing and establishing your supply
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What to expect in the first hours/days/weeks
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Common issues and their warning signs
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Milk collection and storage
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Supplies and accessories many parents find helpful
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What to do if you need more help
Cost for 2hr group class (virtual) $185
Cost for 2-3hr private class (virtual) $200
Postpartum Planning Session
The postpartum time is like a time between worlds. You are no longer the same person as prior to pregnancy and still becoming someone new in relationship and responsibility to the newborn baby with disrupted sleep, altered routines and changed roles. The intentional creation of a postpartum plan lays a foundation of rest, support, and care in this special time period. Having a unique and individualized postpartum plan in place honors the passage into parenthood with the space and time necessary to nurture bonding, healing and transition while emphasizing the importance of following your own parenting path.
What would it be like to set yourself up to have everything you need and want during this sacred window?
Cost of a private postpartum planning session is $75/hr
TESTIMONIALS
From the moment I reached out to Serafina, I knew everything was going to be okay. I was determined to breastfeed my baby, yet in those early days, I couldn’t get my bearings. I couldn’t think, let alone troubleshoot on my own. I remember crying in Sarah’s arms from relief as soon as she walked into my house. She helped me gain confidence to breastfeed my newborn by providing me tips for positioning and timing and pumping. She gave me a totally doable plan and the support I needed to follow it. She quickly became my trusted resource for all things related to breastfeeding and caring for a baby and myself. Every time I encountered a challenge with breastfeeding (mastitis, nursing strikes, schedule changes, weaning, etc.), Sarah saved us. She guided us through every stage of breastfeeding up until I weaned Rory at 2 years old. I never would have been able to have such a positive breastfeeding journey without her.
Abby C.
One of the biggest takeaways for me was learning about how and when to advocate for yourself in the hospital and to trust your instincts. Overall, everything was super informative and the class went by very quickly. You definitely helped me to think through what I’d ideally like for birth, though I know it’s likely not everything will go to plan. You answered everyone’s questions and concerns thoroughly and covered so much in the time we had.
Kate L.
Thanks again...It was really helpful to meet with you. The guidance you provided has definitely brought me some peace of mind as I navigate these first weeks as a new mother.
S.A.
