4-Week Childbirth Preparation Series

The most thorough, transformative way to prepare for birth and parenthood

This immersive 4-week series thoroughly prepares couples for every dimension of the birth journey—not just the physical process of labor, but the emotional, psychological, and relational transformation of becoming parents.

Rooted in the Birthing From Within™ philosophy and enriched by Shelley’s expertise in Prenatal Yoga, Ayurvedic Postpartum Care, and 18+ years of experience, this series offers deep, embodied preparation for both birth and the immediate postpartum that follows.

Through a balance of practical lessons, hands-on practice, movement, breathwork, interactive lessons, and partner exercises, you’ll build the skills, knowledge, and emotional resilience needed to meet birth with confidence—and to emerge from it transformed.

If you are seeking preparation that builds your strength, opens your heart, and unites you and your partner as a powerful team

—this is the path.

By the end of the four weeks, you will not only feel ready to give birth—you will have formed a birth tribe. Lifelong bonds often form among the couples who take this journey together, creating a community of support that extends far beyond birth.

In the 4-Week Series, You’ll Experience:

In the 4-Week Series,
You’ll Experience:

Practical Knowledge

Understand the stages of labor and how to move through each one with confidence
Learn about baby positioning and labor progress
Explore the hormones of labor and how to work with them
Role-play exercises to practice self-advocacy and communication during labor
Binder with handouts to reinforce the lessons
Home-study component covering:

Embodied Practices

Practice labor positions, breathing techniques, and vocal toning for coping with intensity
Learn mindful pain-coping skills through intense ice-holding exercises
Receive hands-on guidance for partner support (hip squeeze, massage, counterpressure, etc.)
Partners learn how to be your “caregiver” for labor, birth, and postpartum
Discover how your partner can confidently enter the "birth energy" with you
Movement, breathwork, and partner practices to build body-based resilience

Emotional and Psychological Preparation

Examine your beliefs about birth and awaken your inner strength
Connection to ancient symbols like the labyrinth and Inanna's journey to guide you through the unknown
Deep, guided discussions about the transition into parenthood
Art processes to release fear and access your inner wisdom
A powerful closing ritual to honor your rite of passage into parenthood
A rich, supportive community—your birth tribe

Postpartum Nourishment and Care Preparation

Dive into nutrition for labor and postpartum recovery
8 essential healing recipes for after birth
Nourishing homemade foods served during class
Free 46-page postpartum recipe ebook
Practical postpartum planning for nourishment, rest, and loving care
…and so much more!

About Shelley's Approach

Shelley’s approach is about preparing for more, not less—leaning into the intensity of birth rather than avoiding it. In her classes, you won’t just learn about labor; you’ll embody the essence of it through movement, breath, communal support and embodied practice.

She guides you to find your steadiness in the unknown, resilience in the face of intensity, and the grit to stay present—and she teaches partners to do the same. Shelley doesn’t hold back. Her classes are a wild ride, mirroring the raw, powerful journey of birth itself. Because she believes the best way to prepare isn’t to watch from the sidelines—it’s to step in and embody it.

Allow Shelley to guide you—through movement, laughter, raw truth, and real connection—into the heart of your own strength.

$495 for 20 hours of instruction

Offered Quarterly

Classes held at A Family Affair Birth Center

Offered Quarterly

Classes held at
A Family Affair Birth Center

Choose Your Workshop Date & Register:

Have questions? Email Shelley at shelley@newmothercaregiving.com

Client Love

Words From Our Thriving Couples

Shelley came highly recommended from a midwife family friend and I am so thankful for that! We took her Birthing From Within classes and also hired her as our doula. Both were indispensable in my labor. I know that if I would not have taken her classes that the birth of my son would have gone differently. Making decisions during labor can be incredibly difficult because of unfamiliarity with the medical process and the stress of making the right and safe choice. I was one scared decision away from a C-section but stuck with my gut (my decision making was informed on a strategy I learned in her class) and I was able to birth my son the way I had hoped. While you can’t always stick to a plan in the labor room, you can prepare yourself to make informed decisions and her classes helped me to do that. What I really liked about her classes was that they combined a variety of different techniques and strategies to help prepare for birth in a way you would never be able to do alone. I tend to be a more logical and left-brained person, so I wanted clear, step-by-step techniques, but her classes also offered right-brain approaches which ended up helping me in labor more than anything else. She will show you massage and breathing exercises but will also teach you lessons through storytelling and it will all come together during delivery (and also before and after actually).

Emily G.

“We’ve been attending birth classes with Shelley, and couldn’t be more grateful for the guidance and support she’s provided. Her energy and wisdom have created a comfortable and empowering space for my wife and me to prepare for this journey. Shelley has a unique way of balancing intuitive insights with scientific knowledge, which has helped us feel both informed and grounded. Her approach has prepared us for the unknowns of birth, giving us confidence to trust ourselves and embrace the process. Highly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate and truly inspiring doula!”

Lee M.

Father/Husband

My husband and I took the birth class at the hospital (which was super informative and helpful) but taking Birthing From Within with Shelley really complemented our baby preparation journey. Shelley is amazing at what she does and has a way of connecting with people in a calming way. I thank her for many of the pain management, relaxation, meditation, and overall birthing process tips and tools my husband and I were equipped with during labor and childbirth. She also offered prenatal nutritional coaching and delicious lactation recipes that I attribute to boosting my milk supply!

Ediza D.

I was genuinely lucky to have the opportunity of attending the Childbirth Preparation Series hosted by Shelley Rahim. She was well-informed, entertaining, and both her food and energy were phenomenal! With almost three months of fatherhood now under my belt, I could not imagine how difficult this time would have been without her guidance. Shelly is, without a doubt, a birth warrior!

Memphis

Father/Husband

There is no way I could have had the empowering birth that I had without this woman's guidance!

Elie Prana

The birth of my son would have gone completely differently had my partner and I not taken Shelley‘s Birthing From Within classes. She masterly combined left and right brain elements that prepared us both physically and emotionally for birth. I was able to avoid a cesarean by drawing on lessons I leaned in Shelley’s magical birth warrior Birthing From Within classes. If you do nothing else to prepare for birth, take Shelley’s classes - it’s absolutely worth it for both mothers and fathers (and your baby)

Emily

Shelley's teachings touched the deepest places of my heart (and continue to do so). Her Birthing From Within style classes fully prepared me and my husband for whatever birth outcome may have unfolded (and I really needed it, to say the least). My husband was a solid rock through the entire experience and it's all because of Shelley's guidance and preparation. Shelley's birth classes helped deepen my connection to my baby, my husband, and most importantly my innate strength as a mother.

And most of all, Shelley is such a fun, sweet, caring, lovely human being, and she carries an uplifting energy that any pregnant woman would appreciate! I highly recommend experiencing her magic!

Destin and Elie

Shelley's class gave me so much more than the strength to bring a life into the world, it gave me the strength and support I needed to be a mother.

Alison Gantz

Shelley’s wisdom and encouragement proved invaluable to me and my family and I am forever grateful.

Sharon Camarillo

Shelley’s Birthing from Within™ classes gave me such great insight into what to expect for labor. I was worried I would not know what to do to support my wife in labor and honestly had NO idea what to expect. All that we explored and talked about in Shelley's classes prepared me much more than I expected for the process of labor. Shelley shared numerous techniques on how to massage and help guide breathing for the intense moments and I found myself using these techniques in the heat of the moment and thank goodness for them!

Each class was unique and different and I drew from all the lessons. Seeing how intense this was for my wife, I am so glad I had the confidence to know what to do (and what NOT to do) during labor to support her and having Shelley prepare us was invaluable.

Christian