Birth Boot Camp now has over 100 instructors spanning from coast to coast in the United States and a couple in other countries (and more to come!) We simply adore our birth instructors and are so glad they have taken this leap with us to help make birth better through education. Because there are so many of them now we are eager to introduce them to you! Our instructors are diverse in every way imaginable but have one thing in common- they were changed by birth and they want to share that power with you. Our birth teachers know that YOU can have an amazing birth. They know it.
Today I am pleased to introduce you to Shazia Lackey, one of our very first certifying birth teachers. She teaches birth classes in Arlington, TX. Below is an interview with this amazing woman. Check her out!
First, could you introduce yourself? Tell us a little bit about your own birth experiences and how they influenced your desire to teach birth classes in Arlington, TX.
Hi! I’m Shazia Lackey. I have one son and am currently pregnant with my second. I had my first baby in 2011 with the help of a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM). It was a great birth experience that set me up for an easy postpartum recovery. I also successfully nursed my son until he was 23 months. I know that my unmedicated birth set us up for breastfeeding success! Not to mention my son and I being healthy and complication-free, my birth was incredibly empowering! I knew I wanted to help other moms achieve that experience with their own births!
What first got you interested in the realm of birth?
I have been a registered nurse since 2008. I was fortunate that I had amazing instructors at the University of Texas at Arlington School of Nursing. One of my professors was even a CNM! I learned so much about evidence based birth practices during my time in nursing school that I knew it was the best option for me and my baby. My husband and I prepared for a natural birth by taking a comprehensive birth class. I was empowered by my own birth experience and I wanted to help other couples with their journey preparing for birth!
What are your particular passions concerning birth?
I am passionate about giving moms and dads all of the information that they need so they can make their own decisions to ensure the best birth possible. I also love that couples who prepare and plan for a natural birth are more likely to be successful meeting their breastfeeding goals. I am a huge breastfeeding advocate. I nursed my son for 23 months and have served on the lactation committee at a local pediatric hospital for the last 2 years. I have the privilege in my nursing career of helping other moms nurse their babies as a breastfeeding resource nurse for my department at work. I also am beginning to help lead a local mom to mom breastfeeding support group! I utilize this passion to help each and every one of my Birth Boot Camp students succeed with breastfeeding.
There are lots of different birth educator training programs out there. Why did you choose Birth Boot Camp?
Birth Boot Camp covers EVERYTHING! While my husband and I were well prepared for birth, I do feel that we missed out on some crucial information during our comprehensive birth class. I love that Birth Boot Camp also covers pregnancy, breastfeeding, postpartum, and newborn care. I also love the up-to-date and modern material we use to teach Birth Boot Camp curriculum.
Tell us a little about your Birth Boot Camp training experience. Where did you train? What did you like about it?
I trained to become a Birth Boot Camp instructor in April 2013 in Texas. I loved getting extensive information to help me teach my classes and be successful as an instructor. I also loved getting to network with other birth professionals from all over!
How is teaching your own classes going for you? What do you enjoy most about it?
I have been teaching for a little over a year now and am currently teaching my 5th class series. I love it! I love getting to know each couple during the 10 week series and especially love hearing about their great birth experiences! Many of my students have stayed in touch and I enjoy seeing their babies grow and helping moms with breastfeeding and newborn care!
In what ways did the Birth Boot Camp teacher training help prepare you for teaching actual classes?
I loved that I met moms at instructor training who have had all types of birth experiences! It was so helpful to hear their stories. I take much of what I learned from them and incorporate that into my teaching. For example, I haven’t had a home birth myself, but through the experiences of other instructors, I can confidently prepare my students who are planning a home birth.
Tell us a little about your students. How do you believe childbirth education is having a positive impact on them?
I have taught 17 couples since I became certified last year. I have seen first time moms achieve amazing, empowering birth experiences. I have seen second or third time moms finally get the birth experience they deserve! I have even seen moms who have had complications during birth and were well-prepared to handle them and still went on to have a great birth!
One of my second time moms was adamant about having a better birth this time around and her husband was totally not on board. He came to class each week but rolled his eyes and even fell asleep a few times! She ended up having an amazing birth experience! At our class reunion, her husband was a completely changed man! I have seen women be moved and changed from their birth experience, but never a dad! It was amazing. He spoke about her birth experience with such passion.
He admitted that he was totally skeptical going in to birth and afterwards said he tells all of his friends and coworkers with pregnant wives to take Birth Boot Camp! He was especially impressed with his wife’s postpartum recovery. He said it was amazing how much faster she bounced back after her birth than the first time. He also said he felt he bonded instantly with this baby that he attributes to being involved in the birth instead of sitting on the sidelines the first time around.
To close, tell us how you see natural childbirth education having a positive impact? Why does this work matter to you?
Our maternity care in the United States is suffering! Many women believe that all of the interventions are “necessary” and birth is painful and awful. I have encountered many women who have thought I was completely nuts for telling them my birth was amazing and their birth can be too. Natural childbirth education is not only preparing moms and dads to achieve a natural birth, but also to empower and encourage other women around them to do the same!
Where can we find you?
I teach birth classes in Arlington, TX. You can find my class schedule and contact information at www.AboveBeyondBirth.com
And you can hear from Shazia on our You Tube channel!
