Contact: Audrey McDonnell            
Cell Phone: 207-441-6389
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http://www.birthworks.org

Birth Conference Brings Together Women and Professionals to Transform Birth Practices through Exploration of the Role of the Spirit in Birth

Cherry Hill, NJ – May 21, 2007 -- With a rising cesarean rate of 30.2%, there is now, more than ever before in human history, a need for education around the physiologic influences of love-based versus fear-based birthing.  Birth Works® International is hosting a conference, Birthing in the Spirit, celebrating the spiritual aspects of birth, July 6-8, 2007 at the Clarion Hotel Conference Center in Cherry Hill, NJ.  The conference will explore the mind/body/spirit connection in birth and specifically the role that the spirit plays in empowering women during pregnancy, labor, and birth.  A conscious awareness of the spirit through the practice of human values can help transform birth practices and avoid risks from unnecessary medical procedures.

Keynote speakers:

1.    Michel Odent MD: World renowned obstetrician, writer of 50 scientific papers, author of 11 books printed in 21 languages, and international lecturer.  Odent is spearheading Primal Health Research, an undertaking that shows how early experiences in the womb and first year of life affect adult health.
2.    Ina May Gaskin: MA and Certified Professional Midwife, is founder and director of the Farm Midwifery Center in Summertown, TN.  She has attended more than 1200 births and is author of Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth.  
3.    Kerstin Uvnas Moberg MD,PhD, internationally known scientist at the prestigious Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, author of 400 scientific papers in obstetrics and psychology, animal husbandry, physical therapy, pediatrics, and child development.  She is one of the world’s leading experts of the hormone oxytocin and is author of The Oxytocin Factor.
4.    Bethany Hays, MD, FACOG, Obstetrician, Gynecologist, and practitioner of Functional Medicine, is founder of True North, the Maine Center for Functional Medicine and the Healing Arts. She has published numerous articles.
5.    Marcelene Dyer: Co-author of A Promise is a Promise with husband Wayne Dyer. She has birthed seven children naturally.

Birth Works® International is a non-profit organization whose mission embodies the philosophy of developing a woman’s self confidence, trust and faith in her ability to give birth and provides certification of childbirth educators promoting safe and loving birth experiences through education, introspection, and confident action.

For more information visit www.birthworks.org or to schedule an interview, please contact Audrey McDonnell, cell 207-441-6389 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

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