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Bini's vision is to connect new families to the birth community while
honoring each family's beliefs and backgrounds. Bini is committed to supporting birth professionals, and facilitating
dialogue and discussion between birth providers and pregnant women. It takes a village.
I was born and raised in Brazil and entered motherhood early, at age 21. My first daughter was born by cesarean section. In 1999, I moved to Los Angeles and that same year I had my second daughter and my second cesarean. Two years later, I gave birth vaginally to my third daughter who ironically was much bigger than my previous two babies. I was fortunate to have had an enthusiastic doula, a patient obstetrician and a loving husband by my side. One year later I had my second successful VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). My son weighed a solid 9 pounds at birth and yet my perineum was intact!
My first cesarean (with an epidural) was calm and the doctor was kind and compassionate. My second cesarean was rushed, cold, and scary. Finally, with my fourth child I experienced the natural birth that I had dreamed of. Each of these unique, rich and vastly different experiences taught me a great deal about the options available to women and birthing families.
With a wealth of childbirth experiences behind me, I was hooked. I became a childbirth educator and birth doula in 2002. I am now a certified doula with DONA (a leading Doula organization), a DONA approved birth doula trainer, and a certified childbirth educator through ICEA (International Childbirth Education Association). I am also the Director of Public Relations for DASC (Doulas Association of Southern California). I am a proud member of DONA, CAPPA, CIMS (Center for Improvement of Maternity Services), ICEA, APPPAH (Association of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Heath), CBI (Childbirth International) and Independent Childbirth Educators.
I live in Los Angeles with my husband and four healthy, happy, and vibrant kids.
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About My Philosophy
I encourage women to discover what they are comfortable with and what they dream about in a birth experience. I then inform them of all of the available options. Telling a woman how to give birth is not part of my curriculum. I do not believe there is one particular way to give birth, much less a right or wrong way. How a mother remembers her experience is what drives my classes as a teacher and practice as a doula. Does she feel heard? Does she feel validated? And mostly, does she feel supported and loved?
We do not follow a method but explore many different options in breathing, positions, and pain medications. Facts are presented with a research-based focus combined with the intuitive knowledge that we as mammalian have. Each participant will discover options in the hands-on exercises to discover what will work for her during labor and birth.
As I often say, the words "natural" and "method" do not go together. If you are following a method it is no longer natural. For some women natural is to breath in a pattern, while for others natural is to chant. Some are comfortable using yoga breathing, while others use hypnosis. Many see an epidural as a spontaneous option. In my classes, we explore coping methods from Bradley, Lamaze, Birthing from Within and others, and the workshops are designed for home or hospital births. We all enjoy and benefit from the conversation. Women birth best when they feel safe and comfortable.
I am formally trained and certified with ICEA and DONA International. I am a guest speaker or attend at least two conferences a year to keep my information up to date. I have been voted Childbirth Educator of the Year twice and Most Inspiring Doula twice by DASC. I am also a contributor at The Business of Being Born website in the "Ask the Midwife" session and in the recently published and best seller book Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein.
You can read some of my published articles on the Midwifery Today website.
Contact Ana Paula at info@BiniBirth.com
My Blog
BINI Birth on Facebook
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TV Appearances
About Kate
Kate Zachary, BINI's Event and Marketing Coordinator, feels incredibly lucky to have a job where she gets to talk about babies and birth all day long! She came to BINI Birth as a doula student, in Ana Paula's doula training in May 2011. Sitting in the beautiful BINI Birth Loft, she quickly realized that this is where she belongs and began working for Ana shortly thereafter. With a history as an event coordinator for Whole Foods Market, as well as experience as a wedding coordinator, Kate enjoys the loving atmosphere that comes with working with expectant mothers, new parents, and birth professionals.
Kate hails from Chicago and holds a Bachelor Degree in Nutrition from Illinois State University. She enjoys cooking, sewing, knitting and hiking Runyon Canyon with her husband, Buck.
Contact: Kate@BiniBirth.com |  |
About Rachel
Rachel Myers, Bini's Education Outreach Coordinator, is a mostly stay-at-home mom of
a kind-hearted four year old little dude and a two year old, ridiculously silly little girl. She
is a green nest and healthy family advocate. Rachel owns the company Green Hugs and
teaches classes that provide families with simple, economical and healthy ways to
green their nest. She believes that even the smallest changes that parents make in their
nesting choices can have huge impacts on the environment and health of their families.
Rachel thinks that sometimes the things we think we can't
live without are things that we should never actually be living with. She makes the learning process fun and pro-active, by creating a green support group in her classes.
In another life Rachel worked as a Community Organizer for the Sierra Club. She is also the
Vice President and Owner of Root Construction, an environmental, green building
construction company and does green home and business consulting. Rachel is thrilled
to be working at Bini and anxious to learn as much as she teaches from the dynamic Bini
sisterhood!
Contact: Rachel@BiniBirth.com
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