Having attended the births of over 550 women in the 14 years that Angela has practiced as a registered midwife, birth doula, and primary care provider in Canada, the US and the Caribbean, Angela has amassed an amazing wealth of information! The uniquely intimate window through which she has been invited to view women’s lives has afforded her the perspective on the vastly diverse, yet often also very similar needs of her clients; on many levels, these women became her teachers.

Angela learned that women who educated themselves about labour, and worked on their personal life challenges – their physical and emotional selves – before entering parenthood, had better births! The women who felt supported, educated and able to trust themselves and their support team, expressed much greater satisfaction with their experience even if it was nothing like the birth plan they had conceived of. Most of these women had lovely, uncomplicated, fast deliveries similar to their original birth plans…why/how?!...well, largely by letting go of expectations and following their intuition! The women who fixated on fear, self-doubt, and the opinions of others attracted the opposite: fearful, longer labours, higher rates of operative deliveries and less satisfaction with their birth experience (even when it was still an uncomplicated birth with a positive outcome).  Angela’s hope in creating the It Starts With Birth online childbirth series and lifestyle community is to equip as many women as possible with the knowledge and tools required to empower them during childbirth and beyond.

Angela is a mother of three – one born in the hospital and two born at home. She has experienced first-hand – with her first – what it is like to be pushed blindly, unprepared through the birth system. Of course it was not a joyful or loving experience despite being, by all accounts, a “normal” vaginal delivery. Angela knew she needed to educate herself and intuitively evolve in order to ‘create’ a better birthing experience with her subsequent babies; and it worked! She chose an amazing midwife who educated and supported her every step of the way; she looked after her physical body, created a positive birth team, and in so doing, fostered a fearless birth environment.  Contrary to the labour and delivery of her first child, the hours spent in her second and third labours were pivotal, empowering and life changing.  It was because of her own experience that Angela determined to become a midwife.

Women enter pregnancy with their own unique life experiences, some good, and some bad. For Angela, her role as a midwife has meant helping women work through issues like body image, sexual abuse, fear, lack of self-esteem/self- trust, and supporting their efforts to learn in anticipation of their best birth.  We all come to the table with some sort of barrier – even if it is just the damaging host of misconceptions around birthing that we have garnered from the media – but if we don’t let go, that hindrance remains with us and ‘sets up shop’ as that nagging thing in the background. We need to free ourselves of these things so that our experience can be one of love and fulfillment. Letting go of our expectations; trusting ourselves; letting our intuition guide us; evolving with new challenges and opportunities – these are some of the things that lead us to lives wherein we’re happy and whole! It Starts With Birth comes from a place of support and love – to make positive change in our worlds – beginning with birth!

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Your access to, and use of, this Website (collectively referred to as the “Site”) is subject to the following Terms of Use and all applicable laws and regulations. By accessing and using the Site, you accept, without limitation or qualification, these Terms of Use, and acknowledge that any other agreements between you and It Starts With Birth are superseded with respect to this subject matter. If you do not agree and accept, without limitation or qualification, these Terms of Use, you must exit the site immediately, not use the files herein, and/or not subscribe to this service.

Limitations of Use
The information and materials on this website are provided for general informational purposes. You may use this site solely for the purpose of learning about and/or purchasing It Starts With Birth services and products or for your personal use of any tools and downloads available on this site. You may not use, reproduce or distribute the text, graphics, downloads, tools or any other content on this website for any commercial, non-commercial or any other purpose not outlined in this agreement.

Privacy
Any personal data (for example, your name, address, telephone number or e-mail address) you transmit to the Site by electronic mail or otherwise will be used by It Starts With Birth in accordance with the It Starts With Birth Privacy Policy. Any other communication or material you transmit to the Site, such as questions, comments, suggestions or the like, will be treated as non-confidential and nonproprietary.

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It Starts With Birth may provide hyperlinks to third party websites or other resources solely for your convenience. It Starts With Birth does not control, and is not responsible for, the content or privacy policies on, or the security of, such sites. Without limiting the foregoing, It Starts With Birth specifically disclaims any responsibility if such sites:

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Revisions to the Terms
It Starts With Birth may at any time, and without notice, revise this Terms of Use statement by updating this posting. You are bound by any such revisions and should therefore periodically visit this page to review the current Terms of Use statement.

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Use of the Site.
You understand that, except for information, products or services clearly identified as being supplied by It Starts With Birth, It Starts With Birth does not operate, control or endorse any information, products or services on the Internet in any way. Except for It Starts With Birth identified information, products or services, all information, products and services offered through the Site or on the Internet generally are offered by third parties that are not affiliated with It Starts With Birth. You also understand that It Starts With Birth cannot and does not guarantee or warrant that files available for downloading through the Site will be free of infection or viruses, worms, Trojan horses or other code that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. You are responsible for implementing sufficient procedures and checkpoints to satisfy your particular requirements for accuracy of data input and output, and for maintaining a means external to the Site for the reconstruction of any lost data.

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LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

IN NO EVENT WILL IT STARTS WITH BIRTH BE LIABLE FOR (I) ANY INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INDIRECT DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF PROGRAMS OR INFORMATION, AND THE LIKE) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, OR ANY INFORMATION, OR TRANSACTIONS PROVIDED ON THE SERVICE, OR DOWNLOADED FROM THE SERVICE, OR ANY DELAY OF SUCH INFORMATION OR SERVICE. EVEN IF IT STARTS WITH BIRTH OR ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, OR (II) ANY CLAIM ATTRIBUTABLE TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR OTHER INACCURACIES IN THE SERVICE AND/OR MATERIALS OR INFORMATION DOWNLOADED THROUGH THE SERVICE.

Equipment.
You shall be responsible for obtaining and maintaining all telephone, computer hardware and other equipment needed for access to and use of the Site and all charges related thereto.

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You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless It Starts With Birth, its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, suppliers and any third party information providers to the Site from and against all losses, expenses, damages and costs, including attorneys' fees, resulting from any violation of this Agreement (including negligent or wrongful conduct) by you or your use and access of the Site.

It Starts With Birth reserves the right to release current or past member or Web site user information if It Starts With Birth believes that a member’s account is being used to commit unlawful acts, if the information is subpoenaed and/or if It Starts With Birth deems it necessary and/or appropriate.

Third Party Rights.
The provisions of paragraphs 3 (Use of the Site), and 5 (Indemnification) are for the benefit of It Starts With Birth and its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, suppliers, and any third party information providers to the Site. Each of these individuals or entities shall have the right to assert and enforce those provisions directly against you on its own behalf.

Term; Termination.
Either party without notice may terminate this Agreement at any time for any reason. The provisions of paragraphs 1 (Copyright, Licenses and Idea Submissions), 3 (Use of the Site), 5 (Indemnification), 6 (Third Party Rights) and 11 (Miscellaneous) shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

Special Admonitions for International Use.
Recognizing the global nature of the Internet, you agree to comply with all local rules including, without limitation, rules about the Internet, data, e-mail, or privacy. Specifically, you agree to comply with all applicable laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from the country in which you reside.

Dealings with Third Parties.
Your participation, correspondence or business dealings with any third party found on or through the Site, regarding the payment and delivery of related goods or services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between you and such third party. You agree that It Starts With Birth shall not be responsible or liable for any loss, damage or other matters of any sort incurred as the result of any such dealings.

Links.
The Site may provide, or third parties may provide, links to non-It Starts With Birth Internet World Wide Web sites or resources. Because It Starts With Birth has no control over such sites and resources, you acknowledge and agree that It Starts With Birth is not responsible for the availability of such external sites or resources, and does not endorse and is not responsible or liable for any content, advertising, products, or other materials on or available from such sites or resources. You further acknowledge and agree that It Starts With Birth shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such content, goods or services available on or through any such site or resource.

Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.

Some of the information on this Web site may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events of It Starts With Birth. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that the actual events or results may differ materially.

This website does not provide medical advice. Information published on this website is provided for information and educational purposes only, and is not intended to offer medical advice, or to be used for diagnosis of health problems, or used to determine treatment for health problems or conditions. It is not intended to be, and should not be used as, a substitute for medical advice or medical care provided by a licensed and qualified health professional. Due to unique individual needs and medical history, please consult your own personal physician, who will be able to determine the appropriateness of the information for your specific situation, and will assist you in making any decisions regarding treatment and/or medication.

Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it or medical attention because of something you have read on this website, in the courses offered on it, or information posted in our online forums or social network, or in any linked materials.

Links or references to specific products, processes, websites or services does not constitute or imply a recommendation or endorsement by It Starts With Birth, or its employees or agents. We do not verify, endorse, take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or quality of the content contained on this website or posted by third parties.

The views expressed on this website and in the courses in it have no relation to those of any academic, hospital, practice or other institutions with which the authors are affiliated.

This is a Canadian website. Its content is intended for Canadian residents only.

It Starts With Birth, its agents, owners and employees shall not be liable for any damages, claims, liabilities, costs or obligations arising from the use or misuse of the material contained in this website, whether such obligations arise in contract, negligence, equity or statute law. We do not guarantee or warrant the quality, accuracy, completeness, timeliness, appropriateness or suitability of the information provided. All information on this website is provided “as is”, without any other warranties or conditions, whether express or implied.

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