Shelby’s Story
By the time I was pregnant with my third baby, I knew I wanted a different kind of birth experience—but I also knew I couldn’t just want it. I had to prepare for it, mentally and physically
My first two births were in the hospital. I was induced, my waters were broken for me, and I had an epidural both times. With my first, I didn’t question anything. I trusted the system, followed instructions, and felt okay with how everything went. But with my second, something shifted. I started to have preferences—about my birth, about my postpartum care—and that’s when I felt resistance. It was subtle at times, but enough to make me realize I didn’t feel fully in control of my own experience.
Going into my third pregnancy, I decided I wanted to do things differently. I wanted to be informed. I wanted to feel supported. And most of all, I wanted to approach birth without the fear I had carried for so long.
I grew up hearing women in my family talk about childbirth in a way that made it seem overwhelming and painful—something to endure rather than something your body was designed to do. That fear had quietly shaped my mindset in my previous births, and I knew if I didn’t address it, it would follow me into this one too. I had to intentionally reframe how I thought about birth.
That’s what led us to take a Bradley Method® class with Tania—and it truly changed everything for us.
Tania didn’t just teach us what happens during labor; she helped me understand why my body works the way it does. She gave me the tools to replace fear with confidence and tension with relaxation. And just as importantly, she equipped my husband with the knowledge and practical skills to support me in a meaningful, hands-on way.
During my third trimester, we practiced consistently. Every night, my husband would read through the relaxation scripts Tania provided. We worked on massage techniques and comfort measures until they felt natural. It wasn’t complicated—but it was intentional. And that made all the difference.
When labor began at 9 a.m., I felt ready.
Not because I knew exactly how everything would go—but because I trusted what my body was doing. I wasn’t fighting against the process. I was able to relax into it. My husband supported me the entire time with confidence, speaking encouragement over me and helping me stay grounded through each wave.
Just after noon, we welcomed our baby at home.
It was the most peaceful, empowering birth experience I’ve had.
I can honestly say that the preparation we received from Tania is what made that possible. She helped me rewrite the story I had believed about birth and replaced it with truth, understanding, and confidence.
If you’re considering a natural birth—especially if you’re carrying fear or coming from a previous experience that left you wanting something different—I can’t recommend Tania enough. This kind of preparation doesn’t just change your birth… it changes how you walk into it.