| Rachel Alberts | Kate Bastedo | Shoshanah Blaiss |
| Crystal Bowden | Jen Marlow | Christine Strain |
| Jill Snelson | Amanda Thum |
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Melissa Casserly Owner & Childbirth Educator |
 I
was born and raised in Powder Springs, GA. I’ve had the privilege of being
around children all my life. I am mother to Calla Lily; you can read her birth
story here. My interest in birth started around the age of 11 when my sister was expecting my nephew. When I was a teenager I found reproduction extremely fascinating, I did a few projects and essays about pregnancy. When I was 18 I decided I wanted to be a traditional midwife. In 1999, I became pregnant with my daughter, Calla, and took natural childbirth classes. I loved every minute, so when my daughter was 3 I took the teacher training for the same method I had used; I had wanted to become a childbirth educator since she was about 6 months old. Over the course of the next few years I learned so many things and met so many amazing women and couples. As I evolved as an educator, my views about birth also evolved, and we decided it was time to write our own classes. I believe that we are each responsible for our lives and our decisions and no one knows what is right for us and our families better than ourselves. That applies to all aspects of life, especially the births of our children! How long have you been teaching? Since 2004. What is your training? I originally trained (2003) and certified (2004) as a Bradley Method instructor. In 2005 I took the DONA doula training workshop and in 2006 I attended the ALACE doula training workshop. I also took the CAPPA Certified Lactation Educator training. I have taken workshops and attended various seminars. I am always on the look out for continuing education opportunities. What is your birth philosophy? Birth is safe. Birth is a normal process and our bodies are designed for giving birth. Birth is beautiful. Regardless of your birth experience, you will learn things about yourself that will help you raise your children. It is of utmost importance that each woman be fully informed so that she can make the right decision for her and her child. What do you enjoy most about teaching? What would you like to share about your own births? |
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Laura Fields Owner & Childbirth Educator |
 I'm
the owner of Baby Steps, and a mom to two girls, Madeline and Grace. I live in
Powder Springs with my husband Chad and a houseful of pets. As my birth
philosophies have evolved and my knowledge has grown, my dedication to sharing
what I've learned with expectant parents has grown as well. It has been such a
privilege to share such a special time with my students, and an honor to work
with Melissa to create the classes we now offer through Baby Steps. I'm an active volunteer with the International Cesarean Awareness Network and the Membership Director of the Georgia Birth Network.
How long have you been teaching? I taught my first class in November of 2004. What is your training? I originally certified as a Bradley Method teacher, before creating Baby Steps. I trained as a doula through both DONA and ALACE, though I'm not currently practicing. My lactation educator training was through CAPPA, and I have also attended Gail Tulley's Spinning Babies workshop on Belly Mapping and Optimal Fetal Positioning. What is your birth philosophy? My personal birth philosophy is that birth is a natural event that, when left alone, almost always goes well. For my own births I wanted to be prepared for complications, but to expect that things would go smoothly if I listened to my body and allowed things to unfold naturally. As far as other women are concerned, I believe very strongly that women should be fully informed about the risks and benefits of all of their choices, and that they should be allowed to make their own decisions regarding birth, breastfeeding, and parenting without fear or judgment. What do you enjoy most about teaching? What would you like to share about your own births? Around 4 months, I switched from an OB out of Kennestone hospital to a group of midwives out of North Fulton Hospital, where I could have a waterbirth (you can read her birth story here). I had a positive experience there, and went on to begin my career teaching natural childbirth classes. When I became pregnant with Grace, I wanted to do things differently. My first birth was wonderful, but I had attended several homebirths as a doula by then and knew that I didn't want to go back to the hospital, even one as low-intervention as North Fulton. My homebirth with Grace was absolutely perfect (you can read about it here). |
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Rachel Alberts Childbirth Educator |
 How long have you been teaching?I finished up my training in November of 2011. What is your birth philosophy? I believe that birth is a safe natural process. I believe that women should give birth where they are most comfortable whether that be at home, at a birth center, or at a hospital. With the right information and support, childbirth can be the most amazing experience in a woman's life. What do you enjoy most about teaching? I love being a part of the journey through pregnancy and childbirth. I love being even a small part of the empowerment a woman feels after having a satisfying birth experience. I love talking about birth! What would you like to share about your own births? I had two fantastic natural births: one at a hospital and one at home. I left each experience with a better understanding of myself and how amazing my body was. My birth experiences are what drew me to birth work. |
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Kate Bastedo Labor Doula & Childbirth Educator |
| How long have you been teaching? As of 2011, 5 years. What is your training? Before my Baby Steps training, I was also trained through the Hypnobirthing Institute and ChildBirth International. I am also a certified labor doula. What is your birth philosophy? Every woman should have the pros and cons of every procedure and intervention, and then be allowed to make her own choices with no pressure from anyone. What do you enjoy most about teaching? Watching people make connections between ideas...that "Aha!" moment when something suddenly falls into place in their minds. What would you like to share about your own births? I learned a lot, especially about how important it is for a woman to have all the available information she desires, and then be supported in her decisions. |
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Shoshanah Blaiss,
RN, BSN, CLC Lactation Educator, Certified Lactation Counselor |
 How long have you been teaching?I've been a Baby Steps instructor since October of 2010. What is your training? In addition to Baby Steps, I received my lactation training from the Healthy Children Project Center for Breastfeeding. I chose to teach with Baby Steps because I had taken the Intuitive Birth series when I was pregnant with my first child and I just LOVED what it was about. What is your birth philosophy? The focus of Baby Steps courses is in making each family's experience their own, and that parallels my own philosophy on birth – if you go into your birthing time informed, you can make the experience what it needs to be for you. There is no right or wrong way to give birth. What do you enjoy most about teaching? What would you like to share about your own births? I am a practicing RN and former paramedic (having experienced several births in this capacity). I also offer my lactation counseling services - in your home and/or at the hospital. Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your baby, but it doesn't always come naturally to us. Whether you are a first time mother or not, sometimes we just need a little support to get things off on the right foot. I am here to help you enjoy your breastfeeding relationship and meet and exceed your breastfeeding goals! Click here for more information. |
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Crystal Bowden Childbirth Educator |
 I
live in Douglasville, GA with my wonderful husband Michael & my kids, Haden &
Addison.
Although I originally got started as a doula in late 2007, I stopped attending
births in June 2009 when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. I also
enjoy volunteering my time to help expectant families & the birth community. I
enjoy teaching free classes on topics that I feel passionate about. How long have you been teaching? Since October of 2009. What is your training? In addition to being a certified Baby Steps Teacher, I am a certified DONA Birth Doula & an ALACE trained Childbirth Educator. Over the years I have taken advantage of many continuing education opportunities including conferences, classes & workshops. What is your birth philosophy? I became a childbirth educator & doula because I felt inspired to help share with women, information that I didn't have when I was pregnant with my son. I want to help women have a better understanding of the natural process of birth. I believe that knowledge is power. Birth is an immensely moving & life changing event. There is nothing that I find more inspiring than a woman's ability to give life and love. My ultimate goal is to help women through their amazing journey into motherhood. What do you enjoy most about teaching? What would you like to share about your own births?
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Jen Marlow Childbirth Educator, Labor Doula |
 How long have you been teaching?Since May of 2010. What is your training? I have additional childbirth education training with CAPPA and doula training with DONA. I have also attended a variety of continuing education opportunities on subjects ranging from optimal fetal positioning to anatomy and physiology of the female pelvis. What is your birth philosophy? I believe that expectant parents have a right to the information needed to make informed decisions, as well as a right to have the decisions they make for themselves and their children fully supported. What do you enjoy most about teaching? What would you like to share about your own births?
I am also a
certified labor doula with DONA International. |
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Christine Strain Childbirth Educator |
 How long have you been teaching?my teacher training was in the fall of 2010. What is your training? I am trained and certified as a doula through DONA, self-taught in fertility, pregnancy, and childbirth education (in addition to the Baby Steps teacher training), and have taken a Hypnobirthing class. What is your birth philosophy? I believe that birth is a normal physiological process, and that most women are capable of giving birth with minimal intervention if given maximum support. I think that women today have been conditioned by society to fear birth, and that this fear - along with the way too many care providers treat pregnancy as a medical condition - contributes to increasing dissatisfaction with birth, as well as an ever-increasing cesarean rate that is harming families. I believe that birth can be truly amazing, but it can also be traumatic, and that no matter how a woman gives birth, her birth(s) will change her for life. What do you enjoy most about teaching? What would you like to share about your own births?
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Jill Snelson Childbirth & Lactation Educator, Breastfeeding Counselor |
 How long have you been teaching?I taught my first series in March of 2010. What is your training? Besides being trained through Baby Steps, I'm a Certified Childbirth Educator through Childbirth International. I'm also a certified labor doula and lactation counselor through CBI and a Placenta Encapsulation Specialist through PBi. What is your birth philosophy? Birth is a very intimate, empowering event! I am humbled and honored to attended every birth I am invited into. I believe that I am there to inform parents of all choices and options available to them so they can make the best decisions for their family's specific needs. It is my job to support the choices made by the parents and to uphold them to the best of my ability. I want to help moms feel empowered to trust their bodies, themselves, and their instincts! What do you enjoy most about teaching? What would you like to share about your own births?
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Amanda Thum Childbirth Educator & Labor Doula |
 How long have you been teaching?I'm new to teaching in front of a class, but I've been sharing my knowledge with others since 2002. What is your training? In addition to the Baby Steps training, in 2002 I attended a DONA doula workshop, and in 2005 I took a Spinning Babies Workshop. What is your birth philosophy? Every woman's ideal birth is going to be different. Even the same woman will have different ideas of what is ideal for each of her births. I believe that every woman should be aware of all of her options, and then make the choices she feels are right for her and her baby. What do you enjoy most about teaching? What would you like to share about your own births?
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