Lori Bregman - The Mindful Mom-To-Be: A Modern Doulas Guide to Building a Healthy Foundation from Pregnancy Through Birth

This book is intended as a reference volume only, not as a medical manual. The information given here is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for any treatment that may have been prescribed by your doctor. If you suspect that you have a medical problem, we urge you to seek competent medical help.

Mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities in this book does not imply endorsement by the author or publisher, nor does mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities imply that they endorse this book, its author, or the publisher.

Internet addresses and telephone numbers given in this book were accurate at the time it went to press.

2015 by Lori Bregman

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any other information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

Illustrations by David M. Gutirrez

Book design by Christina Gaugler

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the publisher

ISBN 9781623363017 paperback

eISBN 9781623363024 ebook

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For all mindful moms and moms-to-be

I worked with Lori during my entire pregnancy with my son Brooks. It was a difficult pregnancy with a fear that went so deep because I just wanted my baby to be okay. She was with me every step of the way. Every step I took, I felt safe knowing that what I was doing was helping my baby.

Lori was my complete body, mind, and spirit support system from prepregnancy into new mommyhood. Her bodywork, transformative yoga, breathwork, and meditations helped calm me, ground me, and connect me with my baby when he was in the womb, while the monthly recipes she provided helped me focus not only on how to feed myself, but also on how to nourish my baby at each stage of development.

Loris program provided me with the tools, insight, and wisdom to journey into a new life phase, learning how to be more present and mindful. Lori made the 9 months a beautiful experience. She was truly my Bible throughout my pregnancy, birth, and beyond. I am now blessed with baby number 2 on the way, and once again Lori is by my side, supporting me every step of the way. The Mindful Mom-to-Be will give you the knowledge, peace of mind, and clarity you need to have a happy and healthy pregnancy, as well as the tools you need to transition into motherhood.

Molly Sims

C ongratulations! I am so excited for you. Pregnancy may be one of the most magical, exciting, confusing, stressful, and transformative times in a womans life. Over the next few months, your little one will be growing and developing inside of you. He or she will be as much a part of you as your lungs, heart, or kidneys. Just as a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, you are morphing into something new as wellyoull not only give birth to a baby, youll also birth a part of yourself that never existed beforea mother. Youre already starting to parent your child as you take care of yourself during pregnancy, and the healthier, happier, and calmer you are, the healthier, happier, and calmer your baby will be.

Im a pregnancy coach and birth doula, offering complete mind and body support before and during pregnancy, birth, and the first year after birth. My pregnancy-coaching program, Rooted for Life, helps build a solid and healthy foundation for moms and babies to grow from. I also offer an in-depth doula program for clients. Ive worked with hundreds of women and helped countless children come into this world, and Ive never seen two women or babies experience pregnancy, labor, and birth the same way. Its my belief that there is no right or only way to do thisbut there is a right way for you, your child, and your family. You just need to find, create, trust, and follow that wayand Im here to help you.

These days, doulas are a very popular choice among women to help with pregnancy and childbirth, as well as the postpartum period. Doulas are not a new concept; weve been working with pregnant women since ancient times! Finally, mainstream medicine is catching up with the idea and importance of having someone else, aside from a doctor or nurse, by a womans side to help support her mind, body, and spirit throughout pregnancy and beyond. The word doula comes from an ancient Greek word meaning woman servant or caregiver. (I prefer the latter!) Doulas can help you birth your baby at home, at a birthing center, or in a hospital, with or without pain medicationeven if you have a C-section, a doula can help wherever or however you choose to have your baby.

Ever since I can remember, Ive been drawn to working with pregnant women, new mothers, and children. Over the past 28 years, Ive studied all types of holistic healing, from yoga, energy work, intuition, bodywork, chakras, herbal healing, aromatherapy, meditation, spiritual guidance, breathwork, and the mind/body connection to the healing properties of food and more. As a healer, Ive traveled all over the world to work with celebrities, producers, directors, talent agents, rock stars, writers, billionaires, and CEOs, but my greatest joy and passion is working with pregnant women. There is nothing more rewarding than helping to bring a child into this world.

Its my belief that before we are born, we choose our parents and have a soul contract with them. My own birth was something I had to work back through spiritually and emotionally in order to understand my authentic self. My mother was young and unmarried when she had me. She was in denial about her pregnancy, went into a major depression, and considered putting me up for adoption. Her labor and delivery were traumatic experiences. She labored alone, as my dad and family members werent allowed in the room, was put to sleep before I was pulled from her, and was then prevented from seeing or holding me for days afterward, as I lay in an incubator. My mom cried as she explained all of this to me, and said, Lori, the fact that you survived that pregnancyyour soul was meant to be here.

Things were very different back then, and we still have a long way to go in how we help women approach and handle labor and birth. I love my parents beyond words. They did the best they could given what they knew at the time, especially being so young. My greatest wound turned out to be my greatest gift: Out of my own healing, life path, studying, and deep passion, my pregnancy-coaching and doula practice, Rooted for Life, was born! I share the tools and wisdom from my journey with others so they, too, can be transformed into whole and empowered people. I combine spiritual and intuitive life coaching and healing work with the practicalities of dealing with pregnancy. I believe that the more supported women are, the better they will feel during their pregnancies and the happier, healthier, and more at peace they will be as mothersand the happier their babies will be, too!