| Before we were Birth Matters Charlottesville, we were Informed Birth Options (IBO) of Central Virginia. IBO was formed in 2002 as a result of a group of women recognizing that women in Charlottesville needed more information on birth and options surrounding birth. We have been here ever since offering information, support, and opportunities for women to find the birth that is right for them. In 2005 we joined forces with other groups from around the commonwealth with similar aspirations to create a positive culture of birth in Virginia in which all mothers experience informed and empowering birth,and in which their decisions are supported and respected by their care providers and community. Please join us in making this a reality for Virginia families.
Local Director: Cynthia Corby, cbcorby@gmail.com
Cynthia, a mother of four, first started questioning modern birthing practices after witnessing her sister's three very different births. When it was time for Cynthia to have her first child, she read as many books as possible to build her confidence in avoiding intervention during childbirth. At the same time, she was disappointed when she found a lack of societal support of her approach. Her passion for Birth Circle is from the memory of needing a place to find like-minded women as a first-time mother-to-be.
Since her first empowering birth at UVA Hospital in 2003, Cynthia has worked to build community support for women who want to approach evidence-based birth. Her second child was born at UVA and her third and fourth were born at home with professional midwives. She believes women need information and support to have the best birth experience possible. With information, support and then a mother-friendly care-provider, Cynthia believes a woman can have a beautiful, empowering birth at any location--hospital, birth center or at home.
Education Coordinator: Megan Bloom
Megan completed
a doctorate degree in Infant Development from the University of Virginia and
gave birth to her son soon after. Among the transformative experiences Megan
underwent with the birth of her baby, her personal and professional worlds
collided and led her to pursue birth work. She is enthralled with the
processes of pregnancy, birth, and childrearing, and committed to being with
families through the psychological, physical, emotional, and spiritual elements
of this tremendous experience. She has had the pleasure and honor of supporting
eight beautiful families in the births of their babies and is currently
completing labor support certification with toLabor (The Organization of Labor
Assistants for Birth Options & Resources).
In addition
to her doula work, Megan serves as the Education Coordinator for the Charlottesville
Chapter of Birth Matters. She draws on all of her education, experience and
dedication to bring a well-rounded Spring and Fall Birth Series to expectant
parents so that they may make their own best decisions about the birth of their
child.
Founding Director: Julia Weissman
Julia,
a mother of two, became a birth advocate after stumbling upon
informed choice at an interview with a homebirth midwife during her
first pregnancy. She took this experience and,
after relocating to Charlottesville in 2001, helped establish Informed
Birth Options of Central Virginia (IBO), an organization dedicated to
educating and sharing information with women to allow them a choice in
being fully engaged in the processes of pregnancy and birth. In 2006, IBO consolidated forces with several similar organizations in Virginia to become Birth Matters Virginia.
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