A birthing seminar, in the works for two years, will offer education and teach women how to empower their bodies to be as healthy and comfortable as possible during pregnancy, and how to allow their bodies to have a natural birthing journey to achieve an intervention free birth.

The Healthy Babies seminar, to be held in Hinton, will be co-hosted by Jolene Albrecht, who specializes in advanced pre/post natal care and Amanda Hamelink, a certified prenatal yoga instructor.

Albrecht said the seminar will provide a large list of local resources including local practitioners, contact numbers, and books centred around natural birthing, prenatal/postnatal care, and breastfeeding.

Albrecht, who has been specializing in her field for six years, said that over that time frame she has helped many women having subsequent babies (i.e.: they had had previous pregnancies and births where acupuncture and Chinese medicine was not involved) and the difference in their pregnancy, their birthing journey, and the behaviour of their baby is markedly different.  

“This response was too great to ignore,” she said. “Due to the fact that acupuncture and Chinese medicine assisted pregnancy and birth is not common in this area, I wanted a means of spreading education and awareness about alternatives to conventional medicine.”

A host of speakers will help to facilitate the not-for-profit seminar and all have donated their time to the cause.

Albrecht said that all the speakers agreed to donate their time so pregnant women and fathers would not have to pay to attend.

“I was not concerned about making a profit,” she added. “The goal is to spread awareness because of the significant difference I know is possible. I also wanted to essentially be not-for-profit and give back to the communities that have supported me for the last six years.”

Albrecht said that any left over donations after she and Hamelink cover the costs of the space, will be donated to the Japan Relief Project.

The workshop will be the first of its kind in the area, and Albrecht said the major goal of all involved is to help empower and educate women so they understand their bodies, become as comfortable and symptom free during pregnancy as possible, and realize that there are many techniques and resources to allow their bodies to embrace birth (rather than fear it) so they can do it as intervention free and natural as possible.

Along with Albrecht and Hamelink, Wendy McMillan RN MN, a registered nurse with a master’s in nursing and a specialty in midwifery will come from Grande Prairie to educate about hospital procedures during pregnancy, labour, and delivery, and will focus on natural birthing options. Jen Fanjoy, registered nurse and certified yoga instructor, will bring some of her past labour and delivery nursing experience, and tell about her personal birth stories having had two at home births, and one conventional hospital delivery.

Doulas, Jenna McGrath from Jasper, and Crystal Bourque from Edson, will also be on hand, introducing themselves and their resources for birthing. A Doula is a pregnancy and delivery coach and can be present in person to assist a labour and delivery.

The seminar will be held in The People’s Room at the Dr. Duncan Murray Rec Centre on  April 1.  Lunch will be each individuals’ responsibility, but snacks and beverages will be provided. 

Attendees will have to pre-register with Albrecht at 780-865-2583 (office), 780-865-7579 (fax) or by email at shanwellness@gmail.com

Attendees will be asked to make a donation to cover the cost of the room fee, and organic, hand-made Baby and Mama products are being donated by Albrecht and Hamelink to raffle off as door prizes.