Birth-I-Con
AUGUST 23rd OFf-Site networking
August 24th-25th, 2024 Menorah Medical Center
Ticket Options and Prices
2 Day Pass: $100
- In-person and virtual options available
1 Day Pass: $60
- You must select which day you will be attending at registration, you will not be able to change this later.
In-person passes include:
- Lunch
- Off-site networking event on Friday evening for ticketed attendees plus one guest. Every ticketed attendee will receive a plus-one pass Location will be announced closer to time.
Active Birth it Forward Doulas receive 1 free ticket, please contact a Director if you have not received your discount code. Nurses, don’t forget to use your discount code too!
Schedule
Friday
Join Birth It Forward launching the conference with an off-site networking event! Join us at the Cedar Room at the Leawood Community Center
Saturday
Check in early and enjoy board presentations
This lecture will provide a comprehensive understanding of pelvic floor physical therapy and its role in the birth space. Participants will gain insight into the mechanics of breathing and pushing during labor and birth. The session will conclude with practical application, demonstrating how to implement effective pushing techniques in various birth positions, and exploring their direct impact on the pelvic floor.
Support Group Leader Training is a course developed by the Pregnancy and Postpartum Resource Center (PPRC) and updated by Birth It Forward. Certification is available upon completing parts one and two of this training.
Perinatal Mood Disorders is a course developed to bring awareness and education to medical staff and doulas on the signs of Perinatal Mood Disorders written by Jackie Asherman of HCA. This course covers:
- How to identify potential PMADs
- Communication and verbiage for those experiencing PMADs
- Next steps for treatment and recovery
Birth it Foward has partnered with MOCSA, Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, to provide a doula-specific training on how to support clients who are survivors of sexual violence. This course covers:
- Sexual Assault + Consent
- Neurobiology of Trauma
- Responding to Disclosures
- Sexual Assault + Pregnancy
- Trauma-informed care
- Application to services
Enjoy lunch on us! Please let us know in your ticket order if you have any dietary restrictions
When Birth Meets Bereavement is a course developed by Crystal Webber of Sharing Solace. This interactive course will include discussions of loss in the birth space and shortly after.
Enjoy our panel of birth experts discussing their roles in the birth space and how we can better work together to support growing families. Have your questions ready for the Q&A! Panelists include
- Dr. Ahmed,
- Amber Walla,
- Janice Ingram, and
- Kim Boote
Sunday
Check in early and enjoy board presentations
Breastfeeding Norms is a course developed by Mary Arthur, IBCLC. This course covers:
- the importance of breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, and maintaining a strong mother-infant bond
- essential skills to overcome common challenges, exclusively provide breastmilk to newborns, and respond to baby’s feeding cues
- the risks of feeding bottles, artificial nipples, and pacifiers, while prioritizing timely support and care for both parents and infants.
Substance Abuse Signs and Treatments with Pregnancy, Birth, and Early Postpartum is presented by Michaela Loxterman, Licensed Addiction Counselor, and Jennifer, KCC’s Program. This course covers:
- the importance and impact of SUD in growing families
- signs and symptoms of SUD
- next steps and what to expect
Enjoy lunch on us! Please let us know in your ticket order if you have any dietary restrictions
Standing Strong is a course developed by Birth it Forward’s Executive Director, Kristen Mason. This course is designed to help doulas and medical professionals advocate effectively and professionally in birth spaces. In this course we will discuss
- patient rights,
- a doula’s role with their clients in different scenarios,
- exercises to practice with clients during prenatal visits, and
- Birth it Forward’s policy in the event of a human rights violation.
Speakers – More Coming soon!
Mary Arthur, IBCLC
Mary Arthur is a highly experienced Registered Nurse with a passion for educating and supporting mothers throughout their breastfeeding journey. As an IBCLC-certified Mother/Baby Registered Nurse since 1997, Mary has been a tireless champion for mothers and babies. Her dedication is evident in her roles as the Prenatal Breastfeeding Educator at University Health KC, where she dispels breastfeeding myths and provides evidence-based education to expectant mothers teaching classes.
Mary’s expertise extends beyond the hospital as an Educator for Global Education of the Midwife, contributing to the professional development of midwives and doulas. Her commitment to education and personalized care is further reinforced through her ownership of El Shaddai Lactation Services, where she provides invaluable lactation support in the community. With Mary’s guidance and enthusiasm, mothers feel empowered and supported in their breastfeeding goals.
Janice Ingram, CD/PCD, CBE, CHW-C
Janice Ingram is an Associate Director with Birth It Forward, a highly experienced full-spectrum doula, and owner-operator of Blissful Beginnings. She has been a full service birth professional of 5 years. Janice is certified as an educator to teach on childbirth and community resources as a Doula for the BIPOC community. she contract with many non profit organizations to support families in being educated and getting the resources they need through herself or other organizations when there are grant funds available to do so. She installs and inspects car seats and typically like to provide car seats through a training program that she teaches for installing car seats. She is a safe sleep provider and educates on the proper ways to put an infant to bed and also the safe usage of pack and plays/cribs, which when available she also likes to give to those families in need based on completion of class. The one stop shop method helps her to reach many families being that she travels within an hour of her home to provide services.
Janice attends and speaks at vendor events for families in need. She has supplied equipment to community baby showers she attends along with education materials to schedule classes with attendees who have state based insurance plans and need the support that she is able to offer. She donates time to clients who need birth support through a non-profit, volunteer with the health department assisting in birth support for immigrant and refugee populations, and work with numerous nonprofits educating on how Doulas are helpful to clients through pregnancy.
Kelsey Beach DPT/PT, CMTPT
Kelsey Beach is the founder of enCORE Therapy & Performance, specializing in pelvic floor physical therapy, pregnancy, postpartum care, and birth preparation. Since earning her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Southwest Baptist University in 2011, she has been deeply immersed in this niche. In 2014, her passion extended to body biomechanics and functional mobility for athletes, particularly in Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa and Kansas City area.
Kelsey has always viewed patients holistically, understanding the interconnectedness of the body, especially focusing on the pelvic floor & core’s pivotal role in movement. However, it was during her first pregnancy in 2020 that she realized the significant lack of education available to pregnant women regarding their physical changes and preparation for birth. This led her to integrate pelvic floor rehab, functional mobility, and pregnancy education, culminating in the birth of enCORE Therapy.
Katie Russell
Katie is a PT Education & Outreach Specialist for MOCSA (Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault).
MOCSA’s mission is to improve the lives of those impacted by sexual abuse and assault and to prevent sexual violence in our community. Together we can create a community free from sexual assault and abuse.
Kristen Mason, SM, MSP, CBE, SBD
Kristen Mason is the Executive Director of Birth it Forward, a birth worker run non-profit organization that supports mothers and families, and the owner-operator of Childbirth Together Education and Doula Services. She is a student midwife with Sacred Song, a cross-certified full-spectrum doula through Bebo Mia and Stillbirthday, a hypno-doula through Hypno-Babies, Spinning Babies trained, a certified childbirth educator through Milestones Midwifery, as well as a certified trauma-informed coach through The Healing Centre.
Kristen hosts a podcast on YouTube with Birth it Forward, can be found on social medias including Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and Linked-in.