Holistic. Inspiring. Inclusive.

A mindfulness-based childbirth class that truly empowers you on your own unique journey.

Sign up

There is no right or wrong way to give birth.

This class is for those who are ready to shift out of prescriptive “methods” for birth, explore your own values and preferences, and stay open to multiple possibilities, based on what your body and your baby might need.

If there is any goal, it is this:
To meet your birth experience with a sense of compassion and non-judgement toward yourself.

"I started out the class knowing what kind of birth I hoped to have, but fearing the pain and intensity.  Afterward, I feel calm, prepared and empowered, and am actually looking forward to giving birth!

Monica was both calming and encouraging. She provided a really helpful mix of information about birth physiology, emotions, and concrete pain-management techniques. The atmosphere is very supportive and Monica is truly non-judgmental, providing options that everyone can use in diverse birth experiences rather than suggesting there is a single right way to do things. This class is a must!"

​-Emily

​​Whether you're expecting a baby for the first time, or you're an experienced parent, this class is here to help you:

Fully understand the process and sensations of birth, and appreciate your body in a new way​

Develop a clear sense of your values and preferences, and how to communicate them

Become more comfortable with embracing the unknown, and less fearful of "what if" scenarios

Better embody calm, present-moment awareness, and understand how this helps in childbirth

Know when to rest and conserve your energy in labor, and when to be more active

Have a full "toolbox" with multiple techniques for coping with labor and embracing your experience

​Get informed about how to make the decisions that are right for you

Have you ever heard the birth process described both realistically, and positively?

Have you ever thought about your own birthing body as your friend and ally, and wondered what you can learn from it?

Welcome to Mindful Birthing.

What's inside the course

PART 1:
UNDERSTAND BIRTH

The birth process, demystified. You will gain a new appreciation of your body, what to expect from the sensations of labor, and how the birth process unfolds.

  • Mindfulness overview

    Self-reflection: Beliefs about birth

    Essential mindset shifts

    Embodiment: Releasing neck & shoulders

  • Anatomy of pregnancy

    Baby’s first home

    The amazing uterus

    The bony structures

    Physiological birth in a nutshell

    Cord clamping

    Fetal positioning

    Birth video

    Embodiment: connecting with your pelvis

  • Sensations and hormones of birth

    Preparation stage

    First stage

    Second stage

    Third stage

PART 2:
FIND YOUR FLOW

Everyone has their own coping style! By exploring a range of tools to help you enhance the flow of birth, you will learn how to move through labor in the way that's best for you.

  • Self reflection exercise on coping

    Everyday coping techniques

    Top 10 tips for birth partners

    Basics of comfort in labor

    Relaxation and attention

    Sound and voice

    Smell and touch

    Water and emotions

  • Five essential breath techniques

    Positions for labor and birth

    Optimal fetal positioning

    Using the birth ball

  • Embodiment practice: Grounding

    Meditation: Body scan

    Birth Video

PART 3:
EMBRACE YOUR EXPERIENCE

Birth can involve hard choices & unexpected experiences. We explore tools for informed decision-making, approaching your birth with self-compassion, and preparing for life after baby.

  • Tools for making choices

    Self-reflection: birth preferences

    Sample birth plans

    Self-advocacy in the context of health disparities

    Selecting a care provider & birthplace

    Meditation: Working with affirmations

  • Avoiding tearing

    Compassionate use of epidurals

    Induction options

    Cesarean birth

    Dealing with unexpected outcomes

    Birth in the time of COVID-19

  • Embodiment practice: Rooting up fear

    Embodiment practice: Finding balance

  • The fourth trimester

    Feeding your baby

    Resources for after the birth

    Lovingkindness meditation

Sign up

“This class gave us lots of useful tools. Afterward, we felt very well equipped to make choices that felt right for our family.

This course was the perfect blend of facts and information, hands-on learning, and internal work. I loved how comprehensive the material was, focusing not only on what happens in the body during birth but also what can happen in the mind and heart."

-Carolyn

As a student, you’ll receive:

  • 10 course modules

    And 50+ video lessons to work through at your own pace and come back to whenever you like.

  • Resource Library

    A curated library of additional online resources and information

  • Printable course workbook

    Including self-reflection exercises and essential resources, such as: affirmations, labor support scripts, and stages of labor at a glance.

  • Guided Meditations

    Downloadable guided meditation recordings to practice with and use at any time - even in labor, and beyond.

Embodiment practices are essential.

Mindful Birthing offers you multiple hands-on techniques for coping with the challenges of labor, including:

  • positioning

  • movement

  • touch

  • mindfulness

  • breathing

  • relaxation techniques

Grounded in professional expertise & experience.

Your instructor is Monica Basile, PhD, CPM.

This widely-beloved class is informed by more than 25 years of experience supporting families and attending births as a childbirth educator, doula, and Certified Professional Midwife, as well as her doctoral research on the history, politics, and practice of childbirth.

Monica is passionate about helping expectant parents gain confidence in their ability to give birth through evidence-based, non-judgmental, supportive childbirth education.

Learn more about Monica’s training and credentials here.

"Monica is a profoundly calming spirit and incredibly knowledgeable and supportive no matter what kind of birthing experience you want. Highly, highly recommend!

The pregnancy seemed to be going really fast and felt overwhelming and scary at times. The Mindful Birthing class really helped put things in perspective, demystified the birthing process, and instilled in both my wife and I a confidence and comfort that we hadn't been able to gain through reading and talking to other moms."​


-Kate

This class is an inclusive and judgement-free space.

Here, you will learn to work with the flow of physiological birth, and also become prepared for multiple birthing options: medicated, unmedicated, or cesarean birth; home, birth center, or hospital birth. This class is LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC-friendly, and uses gender inclusive language.

Monica is certified in Embodied Trauma-Conscious Reproductive Health and teaches from a trauma-aware, body-positive perspective.

What people are saying

  • This was a fantastic experience for both of us. This class helped me achieve a confidence and comfort with my own body and with the details of this remarkable process. We now have an array of resources ready at hand. I hadn't anticipated how good this would be for my husband and for our relationship - this class helped him feel included in my pregnancy, and helped him have a sense of where he fits and how he can help. Thank you, Monica!!! Just outstanding all around!!!

    Kira

  • I loved it. This is my first child so it was all new and good information to me. Just to be reassured of the process and learn coping is very valuable. I actually watched the videos twice, and thought they were wonderful.

    Stephanie

  • "This class was really valuable for us, even though we had already done a lot of learning about birth on our own. My partner gained concrete ways to support me and an understanding of the labor and birth process, and I had some great imagery to focus on from the class. This class helped remind me what my body is capable of doing, and that really served us as an anchor during labor. Overall, it was empowering to both of us and well worth it!"

    Crissa

  • "Watching your class took so much of the stress out of anticipating our baby's birth, and I felt so much more informed when making decisions. The way you explained everything was so respectful, and simple without being simplistic. I will definitely be recommending the class to every pregnant person I see in months to come."

    Nialle

  • "Monica has such a soothing and comforting voice that puts my nerves at ease, I appreciated her structure of the course with visuals and she had a great pace to follow."

    Victoria

  • "Mindful Birthing was seriously one of the best parts of being pregnant! The expert and respectful teaching, the research-based practices, the eclectic approach that lets different participants consider how they might best give birth -- I felt so incredibly fortunate to be part of the class. I can't say enough about Monica, whose training, knowledge about bodies and birth, and incredible gentleness toward the human body make Iowa City one of the best places to have a baby. Yay for Mindful Birthing! I would practically consider having a second kid just to get to do the class again!"

    Naomi

  • "This class provided so much information, but not in an overwhelming manner. I watched the videos on my own and then was able to watch them again if I couldn't remember something clearly. The class helped me ask questions during my prenatal appointments that otherwise I wouldn't have known to ask. The techniques surrounding pain and the birthing process are incredible, and I really appreciated the props Monica used during class. After the class, I feel much more confident in my body and the process of birth. "

    Maria

 FAQs

  • You have access to the course for a full year! There is no rush to work through the videos and exercises, and you can go back to them again whenever you like.

  • Yes! You are free to download any and all handouts, and I encourage you to print the course journal, and use it to write down your notes and self-reflections. Best of all, I have made all of our meditation recordings downloadable, so you can listen to them as part of your regular practice, or in labor, or beyond.

  • The entire class includes about 5 hours total of video content. (Each individual video lesson is between 2-15 minutes long - smaller bites of information are easier to digest!) There are also several self-reflection exercises, and lots of materials included for further reading. The time each person spends with these will vary.

  • Yes! This class is also designed to be informative and transformative for significant others and birth companions. If you are planning to birth with a support person, it's ideal to take the class together!

  • Yes! It's fantastic for anyone expecting a baby, whether or not it's the first time you will give birth

  • No, not at this time. All course materials are pre-recorded, so you can learn on your own schedule.

  • Yes!

    In childbirth, systemic racism, homophobia, and transphobia are the root cause of disparities affecting birthing people, especially those who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. This class is attuned to these realities, and I especially welcome BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals to use the coupon code JUSTICE when registering for a 20% discount.

  • Yes! This class will give you tools for navigating labor and birth in the way that feels best for you!

    You will learn multiple types of tools for working with the sensations of labor, as well as tools for working with more medical approaches, evaluating your own preferences, and communicating with your care providers. This class is a judgement-free space when it comes to birth options, and encourages you to release any self-judgement you may be placing on your own birth experience.

Learning about the transformative power of birth literally changed my life.

As a teen single parent, I was determined to give birth on my own terms. Through the prenatal class I took, the care I received from my midwife, and the connections I made with my community, I was able to create a birthing experience that was truly empowering.

It set me on the path to a close bond with my son, and a fulfilling career supporting families through birth.

​I know exactly what it is to feel overwhelmed by the immense challenge of bringing a child into the world, and I know how crucial it is to have a trusted guide in that process.

You already have what it takes to birth with courage and confidence. Mindful Birthing is a roadmap to your own inner wisdom and capabilities.

"I can't express enough about how fantastic this class is, and would love to take it over and over again!

Absolutely a must if you are expecting. So informative, comfortable, and fun! Monica is amazing, and it really feels good to be in a childbirth class that is rooted in evidence-based practices, support, and compassion."

-​Alea

Let’s get started!

When you sign up, you’ll receive immediate access to every module, the course resource library, your workbook, and all downloadable content.

$250

(or two payments of $125)

sign up

Questions? Feel free to email me: monica@ravenandmagnolia.com