Empowered Childbirth Education

You’re in the hospital, things are moving fast, and you realize you’re not actually being given choices or helping to make decisions. 🛑

As a Midwife and an OB Nurse team, we’ve seen it a lot. Patients walk in with no real understanding of their choices or the labor process, and you start to feel like a passenger in the labor process.

Hi, I’m Kirby. 👋 I’m a mom of two, a Midwife, and nursing professor. I co-founded Empowered Childbirth Education because I believe every birthing person deserves to be a part of the decision process in labor, and we know that having an understanding of all the options makes a big difference in someone’s experience.

You don’t need a medical degree to have a voice. You just need these three questions:

1️⃣ “Can you explain the risks and benefits?” (This triggers a conversation about informed consent, not just compliance.)
2️⃣ “Can we have a moment to discuss our options?” (This buys you private time to check your gut and talk with your partner or support team.)
3️⃣ “What would happen if we waited?” (Often, if everyone is stable, the answer is ‘nothing.’ This opens the door for a more physiological approach.)

Knowledge is the antidote to fear. When you understand the why behind the process, you replace anxiety with empowerment.

❤️ We want you to walk into your birth feeling powerful, not panicked. This week, we want to give you a discount on our courses:
1️⃣ Follow
2️⃣ Comment “course” below, and we will send you a discount code
3️⃣ Sign up and start feeling prepared for your birth experience

The best labor position doesn’t actually exist…🤯

And honestly? That surprises a LOT of people.

Here’s why: The BEST labor position depends on you and your baby…

After 20+ years working as a nurse and midwife in labor and delivery, one of the biggest misconceptions I see is people searching for the ONE “magic” position that guarantees an easier birth.

But birth doesn’t work that way.

Labor is dynamic because YOUR baby is constantly rotating and navigating through YOUR unique pelvis. A position that works beautifully for one person may feel ineffective or even uncomfortable for another.

That’s why we teach movement and CHANGING positions is the key!

At Empowered Childbirth Education, we focus on teaching you:

✨ 1. Upright Positions
Standing, leaning, squatting, lunging, or using a birth ball can help use gravity to encourage baby’s descent into the pelvis.

✨ 2. Dynamic Movement
Rocking, swaying, figure-8 motions, walking, and pelvic movement may help create space in the pelvis and encourage baby to rotate into more optimal positions during labor.

✨ 3. Frequent Position Changes
Changing positions every 20–30 minutes can help reduce pressure points, encourage continued progress, and keep the pelvis mobile as labor unfolds.

And YES - 🙌 movement still matters even with an epidural 💉

⭐️ This is something many people are never taught.

Even with reduced sensation or mobility, position changes using tools like a peanut ball, exaggerated side-lying positioning, or supported repositioning can help create pelvic space and support fetal rotation while allowing laboring moms to rest.

Research has shown that movement and upright positioning during labor may:
✔️ improve comfort
✔️ promote labor progress
✔️ encourage fetal descent
✔️ reduce feelings of helplessness during labor

Your body was not designed to stay frozen in one position for hours.

The goal is not finding the “perfect” position.
The goal is learning how to work WITH your body and baby during labor.

If you found this helpful, please:
👉 Save this for later!!
👉 Share with or tag a friend
👉 Follow us for more birth/postpartum/newborn

POV: You’re staring at the IV bag, wondering if Pitocin is going to take away your control. 🛑

Let’s look at the science of what is actually happening in your body.

1️⃣ Pitocin is a synthetic medication that is a molecular copy of oxytocin, the natural hormone your body produces during labor.

2️⃣ Both natural oxytocin and synthetic Pitocin cause the uterus to contract by binding with specific oxytocin receptors located on the cell surfaces of your uterine muscle.

3️⃣ The Difference: While natural oxytocin is released in pulses by your brain, Pitocin is delivered in a steady, controlled drip through an IV. This allows your medical team to fine-tune the dosage to help your labor progress safely.

The Truth: Everyone responds differently to the medication. Some need a small amount of Pitocin to have regular contractions and others need a higher dose. BUT not everyone needs Pitocin. It is often used if you need an induction or augmentation. Learn more in our full course!

Education is the Antidote to Fear: Pitocin is often portrayed as a “villain,” but it is simply a medical tool. It has benefits, risks, and specific situations where it is appropriate. The goal isn’t blind fear or blind trust- it is informed decision-making.

I’m Kirby. 👋 I am a mom of two, a Midwife, and a Professor in Nursing. I co-founded Empowered Childbirth Education because after 20+ years of births, I know that parents who are educated feel calmer, more confident, and more involved in their experience.

👉 Save this and share with someone who could use this information!
👉Follow us for more tips on pregnancy, birth and postpartum

Our mission is to support you- not just monitor you. You are not “difficult” for asking questions about your care; you are an advocate for yourself and your baby.
Make sure you understand all the interventions happening in labor!

✨ Comment “Course” below and we will send you a Link for our FREE packing list and discount code for 20% off any course!!

We want you to walk into the hospital with clarity and confidence. To celebrate all the parents-to-be, our full Comprehensive Birth Series is 20% off this week ONLY!

Hydrotherapy isn’t just a “natural birth trend”- it’s backed by research 👇

Evidence shows water immersion during labor can:
1. Reduce pain medication use
2. Shorten labor duration
3. Improve comfort and relaxation

That’s why many midwives recommend it for managing the discomforts of labor.

It’s one of the simplest, most accessible comfort measures—and it works with your body, not against it.

You can use hydrotherapy in a tub or shower- both are incredibly beneficial!

🙋‍♀️Still have questions? Drop them below 👇

❤️ If you found this helpful, follow us for more tips and helpful advice!

Are you having pelvic discomfort in pregnancy?🤰

One of the reasons? The hormone Relaxin is hard at work loosening your pelvic ligaments so they can make space for your growing baby and prepare for birth.

Additionally, if you’ve had a previous pregnancy, your body may respond differently this time—ligaments may be more susceptible, and pelvic discomfort can show up earlier or feel more intense.

📣 Always consult your provider if you are experiencing new or worsening pain🤰

In this video I’m showing you how to properly wear a pelvic support belt to help stabilise your pelvis, ease discomfort, and support your body through these changes. ✅
👉 If you’re navigating pelvic-girdle discomfort, this is one tip you’ll want in your toolkit!

Want more empowered tips for comfort during pregnancy (and beyond)? Follow us for guidance, techniques and support for your empowered childbirth journey. 💛

Who let us do this?!

🌟Follow us for more mom content, pregnancy education, and a lot of laughs.

Want even more fun?! Come join us this Sunday at Babies & Bumps at the Westin Chicago Lombard! We will be doing a labor and pushing positions demo at 1pm. So…”let’s bust this wide open”…it’s harder to say than it sounds?! 🤪.

Comment below why you love and let us know if you’d like to be considered for our complimentary VIP ticket to join us this Sunday! 👇

5 Things Every Pregnant Person NEEDS to know before labor:
1. Your body already knows how to do this.
2. You always have options- you can always ask questions.
3. Support can completely change your birth experience.
4. Birth is intense, but intensity is not the same as danger.
5. Confidence in birth comes from preparation, not luck

We believe if you understand the WHY behind what’s happening, the fear starts to disappear. We want you to feel Empowered, Supported, and Informed. That’s why we have a comprehensive, self-paced, online course taught by medical professionals.

Follow us for evidence-based birth education 🤰