Equipping Birth Professionals Worldwide

 Early Saturday morning, everyone is ready for a great day at the workshop… or, in Lauren’s case
(you can see her on the Skype screen all the way from India), a great night at the workshop.

Kristin Schuchmann sharing her passion about being a good listener and communicator.

Once again, we had a wonderful time at the Charis “Teaching Birth” Workshop!  It was such a treat to get to meet some of you face to face for the very first time and to see so many others again!  I am extremely blessed and honored to be part of these incredible ladies’ education!  A HUGE “thank you” goes out to my administrative assistant, Sheri Hunt, for making everything run so smoothly! ~ Kristin Schuchmann, Executive Director, Charis Childbirth, Inc.

Laura Hale is looking through all the great information in her workshop packet.

I really loved the segment on questioning versus telling.   I know it will bless my own family as well as the birthing families I serve.  I also loved the "Lending Library" part of our workshop.  It was wonderful hearing what the other ladies read and why they recommended it. ~Laura Hale, Charis CE/Doula student

Lauren Tardy, Charis CE/Doula student, all the way from India.
Modern technology makes it easier for our international students to fully participate…
if you consider having to stay up all night for a workshop easy!

During my time at the "Teaching Birth" workshop, writing an introduction to my childbirth class was such a wonderful learning project! I had already heard of coaching and I think it will be helpful to use this approach while working with clients.  It is hard to be a coach and not just give your opinions all the time.  I think this will be helpful to try and implement.  ~Lauren Tardy, Charis CE/Doula student

Anne Ohlman and Lauren Tardy are working together
to create a great introduction to present to the group.

I think that the most wonderful thing I learned, or really just began to learn, was about how to effectively communicate with clients.  Miss Kristin really had some wonderful insight on this and helped us to interact, laugh, and really learn this concept!  We practiced role-playing different games and activities that we can use in our childbirth classes.  I am so excited and feel so much more prepared to teach childbirth classes. ~Anne Ohlman, Charis CE/Doula student

Jannekah Guya and Holly Findley are listening to Laura Hale as she presents her introduction.

Holly Findley and Connie Keen working together.

Jennifer Goodwin and Nancy Prevatt putting some of their brilliance down on paper.
Oh, and baby Judah listening intently.

Midwife Holly Findley is working with her partner
and discussing how to present their part of the Effective Introduction.

Jannekah Guya, who traveled the farthest—all the way from Kenya!—taking notes.

I really loved learning about asking powerful questions.  I know this skill will help me not only to empower women and get to the heart of matter, but it will also spill over into bettering my marriage, parenting, relationships and ministry as a whole.  ~Jannekah Guya, Charis Midwifery student

The ladies are working together preparing attention-grabbing “hooks”.

Holly Findley and the rest of the class just learned about Hooks and she’s presenting a funny story about one of her birth moms in Africa.

This class has really helped me to take what I know about childbirth and present it in a way that is going to help clients learn.   I think the most important thing I learned was about how to ask questions and help someone come to their own decisions instead of jumping in to solve the problem and save the day.  Thank you so much for this class! ~Holly Findley, Traditional Midwife

Laura Hale, Holly Findley and Connie Keen listen to Anne Ohlman as she presents her “Hook”.

Connie Keen engaging the rest of us as she presents a great “hook”.

What I gained throughout this workshop is the realization that we often promote the idea to women that they can have a natural birth - yet, at the same time we don't empower them to solve their own issues.  Using "good questioning" helps them to come up with their own solutions.  Instead, we immediately jump to providing our own ideas of how to solve their problems, which doesn't solve anything! ~Connie Keen, Charis CE/Doula student

Jennifer Goodwin and Nancy Prevatt enjoying one of our breaks.

What did I learn during the workshop that will especially bless myself and the families I serve in my birthing community?  The how-to's of teaching so that students are interested and come away with the knowledge they need. ~Jennifer Goodwin, Charis CE/Doula student

Taking a contraction break!

Nancy Prevatt sorting her workshop packet.

Learning to listen and asking good (probing) questions are a couple blessings I gleaned from the workshop.   Also, the significance of cultural diversity, having fun and relaxing.  All around this world that God so beautifully created, women are in need of education on birthing their babies and we can all work together to help them have a blessed experience. ~Nancy Prevatt, RN, Charis CE/Doula student

Jannekah Guya, Laura Hale, Holly Findley and Connie Keen just received their bag of gifts from Kristin Schuchmann and they are watching Kristin as she shows all kinds of creative ways to use the knitted uterus with detachable vagina (skillfully knitted by Beth Thompson who eagerly awaits being old enough to start her Charis midwifery training).

Even though I'm not an aspiring midwife or doula, I love this workshop.  It's amazing to see the women working together and watching the bonds that form.  I witnessed their inspiration and courage while they received the tools to help educate women.  The nuggets of gold that I walked away with was getting to know the wonderful ladies that I met at the workshop.  The Charis students are near and dear to my heart and always in my thoughts and prayers. ~Sheri Hunt, Charis Administrative Assistant

Our dedicated babysitter, Joy Schuchmann, spent her day caring for baby Judah while his mommy, Jennifer Goodwin, composed introductions, developed powerful hooks and participated in the workshop.  Joy loves her job!!  And the children have always loved Joy.