The HypnoBirthing Las Vegas Family
My name is Mandie Medford, and I was honored to become the owner of HypnoBirthing Las Vegas in June of 2008. I am called mom by my beautiful daughters Makenzie and Grace. They are the reason I do what I do. Both of my girls were birthed naturally with the profound relaxation and calm confidence of HypnoBirthing ®- The Mongan Method. My first birth with Makenzie was a hospital birth in October of 2007 and Grace was born at home in water in September of 2010. Both of my births were life changing experiences and have furthered my belief that birth is beautiful and sacred and can absolutely take place without unnecessary interventions.
I was born and raised right here in fabulous Las Vegas. I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2006, and taught first grade for 2 years before becoming a full time mom and HypnoBirthing ® Childbirth Educator and Lactation Educator. I also have Birth Doula training and have had the privilege of attending the births of some of the clients who took my HypnoBirthing classes. Because of my love of this wonderful city, I am giving back by helping parents take back their right to birth in the safe, joyful and comfortable way in which nature created all of us to birth. I believe that birth is a celebration of life. I am working to help all families create the birth that they believe is best for them, and giving them the tools to achieve this gentle, comfortable birth.
When I became pregnant with Makenzie, I was incredibly afraid. I was afraid of giving birth and the entire process surrounding my prenatal period. I was surrounded with horror stories and thought I would just have to jump in, and sit back while care providers took the reigns of my pregnancy and birth. Being from a very large family, I always knew I wanted to have several children, but wasn’t really sure about giving birth! I thought, “Oh well, I just have to tough this out like everyone else does.” I was convinced that all births were complicated and that everyone suffered complications during pregnancy and that I, like everyone else I knew, would have to be “saved” by medication during birth.
After having one conversation with a friend about her beautiful home birth with HypnoBirthing ®, I found out that my outlook toward birthing could not have been more inaccurate! It only took me one HypnoBirthing ® class to realize how wonderful and life altering giving birth can be. I was so happy to hear from my teacher, Anne Swanson (former owner of HBLV), that birth is the most natural, normal, healthy process that a woman can go through. Throughout that class I also learned that 95% of births can happen naturally, with little or no intervention. My husband, Larry, and I walked away from class each week feeling more passionately about the HypnoBirthing program and more confident in my ability to birth our child naturally. We also decided that becoming a certified HypnoBirthing practitioner would be a great way for me to share this information with others.
Our little angel Makenzie was born October 30th, 2007. We welcomed her into the world, using many of the techniques we learned in our class. I went on to become trained by a faculty member of the HypnoBirthing ® Institute and began teaching in April of 2008.
When I became pregnant the second time after having taught HypnoBirthing for a few years and attending births, Larry and I decided that home birth would be the best choice for our family. I had a peaceful and comfortable pregnancy. I taught HypnoBirthing classes throughout the course of my pregnancy and was able to bond with my clients who were all going through the same experiences as I was. Many of my clients were due around the same time as me! We looked forward to having our home birth and were so happy with the thorough care we received from our midwife April Kermani. Our care was centered on our needs and our family. On September 21st, 2010 after a smooth ten hour labor with no interventions whatsoever, our little Gracie was born in water in the loft at our home and received into the world by her Daddy. I was completely at peace as I “birth breathed” (rather than pushed) her lovingly into the world. I was supported in my birth by other professionals in the birth community including Marcie Webb, Sherry Hopkins and Allyson Butler along with my mom Ruth, and 17 year old sister Regina. Everyone was moved by the experience and I felt absolutely wonderful and invigorated after Gracie’s birth. She nursed perfectly and was absolutely calm and healthy.
Since I took over HBLV, I have had the honor of teaching over 300 families in Las Vegas. Each day that we spend with our sweet girls is an absolute joy and reminder of the beauty of pregnancy, parenting and childbirth. In our family, we value the gift of our children above else and want to pass that joy onto other families. I am so blessed to be able to share the joy of birthing with other parents-to-be here in Las Vegas and Henderson.
Marcie is a birth junkie! She loves all aspects of birth. She loves being a part of all the stages, from "I think I'd like to have a baby"...to placenta encapsulation (working for Placenta Benefits.info). She has been a massage therapist for several years and is certified in pre-natal, craniosacral therapy, mayan abdominal massage as well as most other modalities. Marcie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her practice as a doula. Inspired by the births of her granddaughters not being the kind of birthing experience she thought her daughters deserved, she became a doula to help give her family the best birth experience possible. Friends and others soon followed and she is thrilled to be a part of many birth experiences both hospital and home births. Being an advocate for mothers, fathers and new little ones during the birthing experience is one of her most favorite things and among her most cherished life experiences.
HypnoBirthing Las Vegas Beginnings
Anne Swanson discovered HypnoBirthing when she began searching the internet for natural childbirth information during her first pregnancy. She was completely intrigued about the possibilities of birthing naturally with minimal to no discomfort.
As she continued to research HypnoBirthing, she became convinced that the philosophy was accurate. Why would conception and pregnancy be incredible, wonderful miracles only to have the final phase of that miracle be painful and agonizing? She determined that there was a better way and she found it.
HypnoBirthing - the Mongan Method provided the philosophy,
information and methodology that is missing in standard childbirth
education. It only took one session of HypnoBirthing for her to be
absolutely convinced of the method.
Her first daughter's birth was incredible. She experienced no
discomfort and was completely involved in that final phase of the
miracle of life.
Her daughters birthing day was not only a celebration, it was a
life-defining moment. Because of that experience, she determined that
she needed to make a life change. She gave up her position as a Chief
Chemist in the cosmetic and personal care industry and became a
Certified HypnoBirthing Practitioner and founded HypnoBirthing Las
Vegas in 2003.
Annes first daughter's birth story was shared with American Baby readers (November 2006).
Here is an article Anne wrote about Trusting Your Body.