CBC a new resource for support
Pregnant women and new moms from Wayne and the surrounding counties now have a new resource for support, education and community. Located in Orrville, the Community Birth Circle (CBC) is an informational discussion and support group for pregnant women, their partners, and new parents.
As a group, the CBC explores all options available to birthing families, with emphasis on supporting each other and sharing resources that contribute to knowledge and understanding of available choices and alternatives.
The CBC was co-founded by Karla Brown Carnahan and Katie Immel, after Immel, a doula and natural childbirth preparation instructor, attended a childbirth education workshop last spring and met the executive director of a nonprofit in Athens called The Birth Circle. Immel became interested in starting a sister organization, and, after contacting several friends with a similar interest in pregnancy and birth, including co-founder Carnahan, the CBC was officially formed.
“Many women who become pregnant know that they want to look into their options but have no idea where to start,” Immel said. “My hope for the CBC is that we can serve as that starting point, that support, and that connection with other moms going through the same stages of life. We can be the resource for resources in this community and this area.”
As a mother of three boys and a student currently pursuing a degree in nurse midwifery, Carnahan has experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to know where to start when looking for pregnancy and birth related resources and information.
For Carnahan, the goal of the CBC is simple. “I want to provide a place where women can come to ask questions, find answers and support, and leave feeling empowered to make decisions for themselves.”
Through monthly meetings, the CBC promotes openness, encouraging women and their partners to share their thoughts, concerns, questions, wisdom and experiences in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting. However, the group has plans to offer the community much more.
“The possibilities for the CBC are almost endless,” Immel said. “We have plans to bring in guest speakers and specialists. We would like to host support groups for infertility and pregnancy loss, organize meals for new moms and offer prenatal yoga or other services. The list goes on and on.”
Currently, the CBC meets on the third Thursday of each month at the Orrville Public Library meeting room (on the lower level) from 6-7:30 p.m. The library is located at 230 North Main St.
To learn more about the CBC, or to see a list of upcoming meeting topics, visit http://www.communitybirthcircle.com. For questions or to learn how to support the CBC, email Katie Immel at katie@communitybirthcircle.com.
As a group, the CBC explores all options available to birthing families, with emphasis on supporting each other and sharing resources that contribute to knowledge and understanding of available choices and alternatives.
The CBC was co-founded by Karla Brown Carnahan and Katie Immel, after Immel, a doula and natural childbirth preparation instructor, attended a childbirth education workshop last spring and met the executive director of a nonprofit in Athens called The Birth Circle. Immel became interested in starting a sister organization, and, after contacting several friends with a similar interest in pregnancy and birth, including co-founder Carnahan, the CBC was officially formed.
“Many women who become pregnant know that they want to look into their options but have no idea where to start,” Immel said. “My hope for the CBC is that we can serve as that starting point, that support, and that connection with other moms going through the same stages of life. We can be the resource for resources in this community and this area.”
As a mother of three boys and a student currently pursuing a degree in nurse midwifery, Carnahan has experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to know where to start when looking for pregnancy and birth related resources and information.
For Carnahan, the goal of the CBC is simple. “I want to provide a place where women can come to ask questions, find answers and support, and leave feeling empowered to make decisions for themselves.”
Through monthly meetings, the CBC promotes openness, encouraging women and their partners to share their thoughts, concerns, questions, wisdom and experiences in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting. However, the group has plans to offer the community much more.
“The possibilities for the CBC are almost endless,” Immel said. “We have plans to bring in guest speakers and specialists. We would like to host support groups for infertility and pregnancy loss, organize meals for new moms and offer prenatal yoga or other services. The list goes on and on.”
Currently, the CBC meets on the third Thursday of each month at the Orrville Public Library meeting room (on the lower level) from 6-7:30 p.m. The library is located at 230 North Main St.
To learn more about the CBC, or to see a list of upcoming meeting topics, visit http://www.communitybirthcircle.com. For questions or to learn how to support the CBC, email Katie Immel at katie@communitybirthcircle.com.
Published: November 29, 2011
