Search

One of the overarching themes that we’ve tried to include in Plumtree Baby materials is the idea of thoughtfulness. To us, thoughtfulness is the idea of approaching each family, each topic and each activity with good intentions and well-thought-out objectives. Whether the objective is to...

It goes without saying that we here at Plumtree Baby are committed to the idea of making thoughtful decisions throughout pregnancy and labor. We also believe that this process of making decisions extends into the newborn period and one of the first decisions expectant parents...

Regardless of the type of classes you teach or if you offer in-person, online, or a combination of both, filling your seats is vital to the success of your business. Boosting enrollment isn't just a challenge for new educators. Even the most seasoned among us...

We strongly believe in the value of well-rounded prenatal education. One of the first resources we developed was a book called Thoughtful Decisions. It provided a tool to help parents understand their options, identify their preferences, and communicate positively with their birth team. We have...

If we know what kind of people we want our children to be - kind, generous, thoughtful and eager to help make the world a better place, then it is essential that we model those things for them, not just in our interactions with them,...

Your actions create ripples that spread outward and touch things that you can not see from where you stand. Every small choice makes a difference in this world. Joining together with others can create bigger change, especially if you are a thoughtful, intentional and determined group. 

It's hard to fit everything you need to do into the 24 hours a day that you're given. The pressure of trying to keep up can be overwhelming. A popular technique to keep you grounded is mindfulness. Mindfulness is a process of learning to be...

The incredible physical and emotional changes that a mother experiences after the birth of her baby, whether her first or her fifth, simply cannot be overstated. Birthing and caring for a newborn is one of the most profound and intense experiences of her life and...

PowerPoint has been used for years to enhance presentations and courses. Educators often use it to create a logical flow, stay on track and provide visuals that reinforce topics. Research shows that learners prefer slides with visuals to clarify information and bulleted lists to organize ideas. While...

There are many benefits to breastfeeding, for both moms and babies. Usually, we focus on the health benefits for mom and baby. However, one of the most incredible benefits of breastfeeding is the ways that it can promote bonding between mother and baby. If you are teaching...

Dads, we know that week in and week out, you work hard to care for and support your family. Your involvement in your family is vital and needs to be celebrated this Father's Day. You won't find corny references to drinking beer and barbecuing here; just our...

When someone is speaking to you in conversation, it is easy to become distracted and think about your response instead of fully listening to what they are saying. When this happens with clients, they may sense that they have not been heard and get frustrated, especially if...

Dear new parents, Having a new baby is one of the biggest events in your life. There will be days when you feel like your heart will burst with the love you have for this new little person. There will be other days when you...

Cartoons hold an enduring appeal—they've entertained us in childhood, made us laugh on social media, and even found their way into educational materials for childbirth professionals. Yet, while fun illustrations can make topics like labor seem gentler or add a touch of lightheartedness to serious...

Information from a recent article brings to light a new study which suggests that fewer babies are born on Halloween, but more babies are born on Valentine’s Day. These were the only two holidays that were examined, however, the research is suggesting that mothers may...

Most people who teach childbirth education do so because they have a passion for helping mothers and families become informed and empowered through the pregnancy and birth process. We have worked with many different types of families with many different goals and desires for birth....

We are not the first people or the first birth professionals to declare that the birth experience matters. In her article "A Healthy Baby Isn’t All That Matters" at Improving Birth, Cristin addresses many important points in the conversation. Many birth professionals have heard that a “healthy baby,...

For most women, the end of pregnancy is uncomfortable, not much fun and sometimes downright miserable. By this point, pregnant women typically can’t take a deep breath, feel like they are making a trip to the bathroom every five minutes, are likely not sleeping well, and have an aching back...

We are gearing up to attend a number of conferences this year and hope we will see many of you at them! If you are also gearing up for conferences, we wanted to share some tips we have learned over the years to help you...

Many independent childbirth educators think only of teaching classes when they are just starting out. We quickly realize there is more to it. As independent CBEs, we are also essentially running a business. Since teaching requires students, and getting students requires getting the word out,...