Catholic Childbirth Education
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Why should we prepare for the birth of our baby?
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…” -Jer 1:5
The average couple spends more time and money decorating a baby’s nursery than preparing to bring him or her into the world.
But there is another way.
As a childbirth educator, I want to share with couples a way of birth in which parents are empowered to make the best choices for their baby, right from the start. A way in which father and mother bond with each other and their baby in one of the most intimate moments of their lives. A way that gives honor, glory, and respect to God for His marvelous design of the female body, while judiciously utilizing technology and scientific advances for safer outcomes.
This course is appropriate for first-time parents, as well as couples who have experienced one or more births and either want a refresher on principles they have learned, or a completely new experience.
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Does God care about our baby's birth?
Yes! God cares about you and your baby at every point in time!
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” -Isaiah 49:15
Childbirth is a time when we can draw particularly close to God, both through the redemptive suffering of labor as well as through the glory and awe of newborn life.
On a more practical level, God desires only good for you, your baby, and your family. What does that look like? Every birth is different, and there are truly no guarantees in life, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t equip ourselves with the appropriate knowledge and do our best! God gave us each an intellect and a will, and He hopes we will use it for His glory!
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What will we learn in the classes?
I’m so glad you asked! Courses consist of six two-hour classes. Classes will cover the following, along with any questions and concerns you may have.
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Pregnancy:
Nutrition + Exercise to prepare for labor
Dealing with common pregnancy discomforts
Choosing a birth professional and location
Informed Consent
Birth:
Terminology, anatomy, + stages of labor
Techniques for labor and pushing
Respect for God’s design
Pain relief: natural and medical
Common technology and interventions
Newborn procedures
Writing a birth plan
Newborn and postpartum life:
Breastfeeding
Sleep
Diapering
Choosing a pediatrician
Vaccines
Attachment: responding to your baby’s needs
ready to register?
If so, please take a moment to review the class details below, then follow the links to register.
Class dates:
For information on my upcoming on-demand series, please click here.
Times: Zoom classes are now at 2 different times: Mondays from 4:00-6:00 pm, Pacific AND Mondays from 6:30-8:30 pm Pacific.
If you’re local (San Gabriel Valley, CA), please reach out to me to discuss in-person classes.
**July: Please note, I’ll be taking the summer off of classes, so if you have a late summer due date, consider the on-demand classes, available July 1!
August-September classes: best for mid-September through early November
July 31, August 14, August 21, August 28, September 11, September 18 (No classes Aug 7 (family vacation) or September 4 in observance of Memorial Day)
Cost:
Zoom or in-person: $300 per couple ($50 deposit due upon registration, the remainder due at the time of the first class.)
The cost includes the entire curriculum, 12+ hours of live classes, and text and phone consultations as you near your due date on birth-related issues that may come up. It’s a steal, I promise you!
Please contact me if you need to arrange a payment plan.
On-Demand: $220 per couple
The cost includes the entire curriculum and pre-recorded classes, plus “office hours” where you can pop in to ask questions
Class sizes:
In person: limit of 5 couples per 5-class session
Zoom: limit of 12 couples per 5-class session
On-Demand: no limit!
Location:
In-person: classes will be held in Eagle Rock, CA. Address will be emailed to confirmed attendees.
Zoom: classes will be online. The Zoom link will be emailed to confirmed attendees.
Questions?
Please email me at micaela.darr@gmail.com
Before Micaela was my doula at my third birth, I had two uncomplicated, unmedicated births - one in a hospital and one at home. Micaela’s presence at my third birth made a huge difference. She knew exactly how to encourage and support me through the whole process. Her suggestions for positions to try, coping techniques, and reminding me to hydrate were exactly what I needed. Once labor was established, I had a relatively fast birth with a big baby (over 9 lbs) and it was my best birth experience. I credit this largely to Micaela. “Doula” means servant, and this is exactly Micaela’s heart. She worked quietly, in the background, and continued to care for me and my whole birth team even after my son was born. Everyone needs a Micaela in their life, and especially at their birth!
-Sarah S.
The birth of my eldest daughter was fairly traumatic. Before giving birth, I had done little to prepare for the actual labor and delivery, apart from a Lamaze class offered by the hospital, which I didn’t take very seriously. My conclusion from it was, get an epidural and everything will go like clockwork. I got the epidural, pushed for 4.5 hours, and was finally rushed to an emergency cesarean because I just couldn’t push her out.
My plan for the delivery of my second daughter was to have a scheduled cesarean. But on a car ride up to a weekend retreat, my husband happened to mention my plan to Micaela’s husband, Kevin. Kevin suggested I talk with Micaela, who had not only had more than one successful VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean birth), but was also a birth educator.
From the very first conversation, Micaela began to reshape my understanding of how labor and delivery works. She explained the mechanics of why my daughter might have gotten stuck and suggested a number of solutions to make a successful VBAC possible:
No epidural so I could move around and make a smooth descent through the pelvis possible; that I likely had a tilted pelvis, which could be tweaked with the Webster technique; and TONS of solid gold advice on laboring and managing pain WELL.
I can’t express how strong and inspired I felt after that refresher session. Eventually, I even asked if she’d consider acting as doula for me and she said yes!
It was a truly beautiful and completely holy birth. I entered the labor prepared and ready to welcome the Holy Spirit in with complete surrender to Our Lord’s will.
Micaela walked my husband and I through each of the inevitable unknowns and acted as our advocate and go between with the hospital nurses and my doctor. She was extraordinarily attentive to when I needed her help and when I needed my husband. I can still hear her repeating “Jesus, I trust in you. Jesus, I trust in you.” as I offered up each painful contraction and she pressed down on my hips with all her strength to alleviate the excruciating pain of back labor. She prayed with us and for us, took careful notes on the labor’s progression, and took the most gorgeous pictures post-delivery.
That successful VBAC with my second daughter meant I healed much more quickly postpartum and didn’t suffer from postpartum depression due to trauma. Further, I was able to birth my son via a second VBAC this last year! What a blessing it has been to understand how to purposefully and prayerfully approach each labor.
— Caroline M., mother to 3 on earth and 1 in heaven
My name is Micaela Darr, and I’m a trained childbirth educator with a passion for helping women prepare for birth and life with a newborn.
I’m also a mom of seven children with some pretty wild birth experiences of my own! I’ve had 4 hospital births (including a cesarean section), 2 homebirths, and 1 baby born in the car on the way to the hospital! I have also experienced loss in the form of 5 miscarriages. My varied birth experiences have given me compassion and understanding, as well as first-hand knowledge of a range of birth situations.
I’ve had the honor of attending over half a dozen women as a friend and doula as they bring their babies into the world.
I know full well that births are not all rainbows and unicorns, but rather something deeper, more profound, and more intimate… something that connects us to God in a way no other experience can.
I believe you were born to do this.
My goal is to help you believe it too.
Who am I?
What are you waiting for?