From Sandra Bardsley:

As a childbirth educator and midwife I repeatedly saw a disproportionate attention given to addressing physical and intellectual, left-brain concerns over emotional and relational needs during the birth and early parenting process. 

Although we have repeatedly seen how prenatal bonding with the baby forms a strong relationships and deep love and care, childbirth classes tended to focus on satisfying the desire for more knowledge of "what to DO", seldom addressing "how to BE". After several years of research, I discovered a fast, fun and easy way to address the creative right brain issues, and to sync the left and right brain divide. This approach incorporates the creative art therapy journaling work of my mentor, Lucia Cappachione, Ph.D, using art therapy activities such as drawing, sculpting, doodling, scribbling and writing with the dominant and non-dominant hands, which links both hemispheres of the brain. I will share a few of these journaling exercises related to birth and early parenting during this Monday LIVE!, which will surely enrich your work as PPN educators.

For more information, see Sandra's website at www.thejoyfulbirth.com .

About Sandra Bardsley

Sandra is a Registered Nurse and Midwife with over 40 years of experience in the field of Maternal Child Health. Her Masters in Psychology and Cultural Anthropology focused on Hispanic cultural beliefs and cultural influences concerning pregnancy, birth and early parenting. 

Sandra is a Fellow in the American College of Childbirth Education (FACCE) through Lamaze International (LCCE). While teaching childbirth classes, she discovered many wonderful colleagues during the formation of the Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology Association of North America in 1983, which later became APPPAH. At an American Holistic Nursing Convention Sandra learned that the greatest effect on pain management is reached when both hemispheres of the brain are stimulated and then synchronized, and began incorporating this approach in her practice at Co-Creations for Joyful Birth. Dr. Cappachione and Sandra co-authored Creating A Joyful Birth Experience: Developing a Partnership with Your Unborn Child for Healthy Pregnancy, Labor and Early Pregnancy (Simon & Schuster, 1994), and continues working with clients using her workbook, Create A Joyful Birth: Relax, Connect, Prepare.