Birth Mentorship
The Birth Mentorship Program is designed to help you prepare for an empowered, safe and embodied birth experience through guided exploration sessions, practical preparation and one-on-one conversation. Mentorship topics include, but are not limited to:
understanding birth physiology
respecting birth hormones
naming your fears
reconceptualizing pain
birthing as a journey
affirmations and visualizations
coping techniques
non-medical pain management
mindful breathing
building confidence
practical labor tools
preparing the birth space
developing personal advocacy skills
optimal maternal positioning
exploring mindful breathing
engaging your baby for birth
consulting on birth considerations
book, podcast, research article recommendations
birth processing
A) Individual Mentorship Session - $150
1.5 hour birth mentorship sessions (In-person or Virtual)
B) Full Birth Mentorship Program - $1000
7 Private, 1 hour mentorship sessions (In-person + Virtual)
1 Birth-processing session (post-birth)
Handouts and Educational Materials
C) Condensed Birth Mentorship Program - $500
3 Private, 1 hour mentorship sessions (In-person + Virtual)
1 Birth-processing (post-birth)
Handouts and Educational Materials
Scholarships, payment plans and sliding-scale options available.
Please reach out - akua@caringincolor.com
Mentorship Program
Interest Form
About this program:
This mentorship is for people who:
are looking to cultivate a sense of agency in birth
want a sense of companionship and guidance as they prepare for birth and parenthood
are passionate about birth as a human experience
are drawn to having a natural or unmedicated birth but are unsure if they are equipped or how to prepare
are desiring a low-intervention birth in any setting (home, hospital, birth center)
are preparing for a redemptive birth experience after a disappointing one
are planning a vaginal birth after a cesarean
are worried about change and preparing for a new role
are longing for guidance and support beyond their immediate family, friends or partnership
are working with a birth doula but want additional, personalized guidance in their journey
are wanting to tune out the noise and tune-in to themselves
are wanting deeper, emotional support throughout pregnancy
are creative and/or exploratory
are wanting to approach birth as a transformative and spiritual experience
How is the mentorship Program structured?
Once you have registered for the program, we will book the mentorship sessions according to your needs, vision and where you are in your pregnancy.
When should I start the mentorship program? You can start the mentorship program any time in your pregnancy!
If you are very early in pregnancy, this program allows for monthly mentorship sessions as you prepare. If you are late in pregnancy, you may consider enrolling in the ‘Condensed’ program with fewer sessions.
About Akua, your mentor:
I am a Parent, Certified Perinatal Doula and a Childbirth Educator who has a passion for preparing folks for birth and new parenthood. My own journey to giving birth and becoming a parent was marked by uncertainty, fear and curiosity as a prepared to give birth for the first time at home, with midwives during an unprecedented pandemic. I began my first pregnancy with very limited confidence in myself and a very limited understanding of childbirth -yet I ended this same pregnancy by birthing my baby standing up in my living room, surrounded by my partner and birth team. Since then, I have helped countless families prepare for birth as a doula and childbirth educator. My experience as a doula and educator has revealed that there are certain folks, like myself, who are wanting to go deeper in their preparation and exploration. There are certain folks who are trying to solve their own internal riddle around giving birth but need some help getting there. I designed this Mentorship Program to provide a more expansive, creative and personalized approach to preparing for birth, that goes beyond information and permits you to explore the depths of your potential and your many unknowns.
FAQ'S
Is this mentorship the same as childbirth education?
No - Childbirth education courses are typically aimed at introducing families to the foundational topics surrounding pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, infant-feeding and baby care. This mentorship program will help personalize your birth preparation process by focusing on the key topics which are most important to you. This mentorship will challenge you to connect with and honor your inner voice. This mentorship will help you identify what's important to you and what may be standing in your way.
What is the difference between the mentorship program and doula support?
Birth doula support typically involves 1-3 prenatal sessions to help equip you (and your partner) with practical tools and information surrounding your pregnancy, birth, postpartum, breastfeeding, etc.
The mentorship program involves ongoing, one-on-one sessions throughout the entire course of your pregnancy designed to help you develop a deeper understanding of birth. The structure of the mentorship allows for ongoing conversation between mentor and mentee and opportunities and prompts for personal exploration. The scope of the mentorship experience allows us to navigate the many feelings that arise with each pregnancy, the interpersonal considerations you may be navigating and the questions, concerns and curiosities which come to the surface as you prepare.
Does this Mentorship Program include in-person doula support at my birth?
This mentorship is designed to help pregant folks prepare for labor and birth. If you are looking for in-person, hands-on labor support, you will need to hire a birth doula outside of this mentorship.
I think I want to have an epidural or some sort of pain medication during birth. Is this mentorship right for me?
This mentorship program is primarily aimed at supporting people who are exploring unmedicated, physiologic birth. If you are unsure about whether or not the mentorship is for you, please reach out!