PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Empowering Fearless Birth, Attention: Sarah
info@empoweringfearlessbirth.com
801-805-1659

Provo, Utah
The Empowering Fearless Birth Event and Film Premiere will be held at the Walden School of Liberal Arts on September 21, 2013. An anticipated 750 people will gather for the opportunity to meet over 60 birth related professionals, attend some of over 50 workshops and classes, view 8 short films of incredible fearless births, enjoy a gourmet dessert bar and win some of the $10,000 worth in prizes. The vision of this event is to enlighten expectant families on how to prepare for a fearless and fulfilling birth.

The state of Utah has the highest birth rates in the nation (With Ogden having the 2nd highest in the nation and Provo the 3rd)*. We also have some of the youngest mothers.

Our purpose is threefold:
--To help women preparing for a fearless birth find the resources and support they need.
--Open the hearts of those who have suffered birth trauma so that they may find the way to heal.
--Support women in their mothering choices (diapering, baby wearing, natural remedies).

The event concept started in March 2013 as a small gathering of friends to celebrate the newly finished short birth films of two mothers and their babies. But to the surprise of the event planners, within 6 days of announcing the event date, 30 people had become 120 and the group had outgrown the intended venue. “The tickets were flying in! We had to shut down the sales because of the limit of the venue size. Facebook was a flutter with people scrambling to secure a ticket. After an emergency meeting, we decided to move the event to a larger venue and open sales again” describes Sarah Asay (The Touch of Life Birth Services), the event producer. When the event happened just 2.5 weeks later, over 450 guests showed up on the event night. “We’ve definitely tapped into something very needed! Moms and Dads need to be supported. They came to this event and find providers and resources for healthy pregnancy, birth and beyond” explains Laura Curtis (Hypnobirthing Utah). The goal of this event is to be the best and most accessible event of its kind in the nation.

Expectant couples can expect to learn about various subjects such as prenatal care, mental health, family-centered c-sections, childbirth classes, hormonal changes, natural healing, postpartum support and others. All day tickets can be purchased for $49/person and includes a gourmet lunch. A complete listing of classes can be found online at http://empoweringfearlessbirth.com/event_info/class_and_speaker_listings.shtml The evening time will bear resemblance to a grand gala with film premieres and an amazing dessert bar. A perfect date night for expecting couples! Anyone who is expecting or plans to support someone during birth should attend. Evening event tickets are $8.

We've assembled the "best of the best" in birth services under one roof for mothers (and fathers)-to-be, and have organized an event where attendees can plan their ideal birth, and transition into parenthood smoothly. “Women who struggle with postpartum are more common that the culture would like to admit. We believe that many struggles new moms face can be alleviated through support and education and a trauma-free birth” explains Ruthie Higbee who is one of the event planners. “We believe that to prevent birth trauma, mothers need access to providers and information that will help them feel informed and help them make choices to guide the process. Birth doesn’t always need to be a medical event. It’s a life event that should be celebrated and revered and a mother needs support before, during and after.”

The films shown at the event will help parents prepare for peaceful and empowering births. Sarah, whose services include film and birth services, describes her philosophy of birth: “My aim is to show birth as it isa sacred and life-changing event. I film respectfully and discreetly. I find that mothers who have their births documented find it deeply satisfying to see those incredible moments on film. My reason for presenting the films publicly is for other expecting mothers to see birth portrayed in a positive and empowering way. Too often the media portrays birth as a frightening and sometimes harrowing experience. It doesn’t have to be that way. Birth may be painful, but it doesn’t have to be traumatic.”
Beth Gray, a member of the planning committee says "I love what Dawn Thompson, founder of ImprovingBirth.org says. 'This movement isn’t about natural birth vs. medicated birth. It’s not about hospital birth vs. home birth or birth center birth. It’s about women being capable of making safer, more informed decisions about their care and that of their babies, when they are given full and accurate information about their care options, including the potential harms, benefits, and alternatives. Then, within that choice, they are treated with dignity and compassion.' We hope this event will help reach those who didn't realize all of the amazing choices thy have during their pregnancy and birth!"

From the caliber of workshops, vendors, the films and the dessert buffet, this is truly Utah's premier pregnancy and birth event!

Additional Info:
For all questions, please call: 801.805.1659

The event will be held at: Walden School of Liberal Arts, 4266 N. University Ave. Provo, Utah 84604.

Tickets are $39 for the full day (9am-7pm) and consist of 50 classes, workshops, speakers, film premieres
and panels (concurrently), vendor floor, gourmet lunch and the chance to win some of $10,000 in prizes.
Evening tickets are $8 and include the vendor floor, complimentary dessert buffet, film premieres and
giveaways.

Tickets available:
http://www.empoweringfearlessbirth.com/registration/attendee_registration.shtml

References:
*http://www.usnews.com/news/best-cities/slideshows/the-11-cities-with-the-highest-birth-rates/11