Lori’s birth philosophy is that birth is a natural expression of life and that in most cases it unfolds in a beautiful manner. However, her personal beliefs will not be a basis for judging any family’s birthing preferences. She also believes that this event is not just about the birth of a baby; but the birth of a family, and she continues to base her support on empowering all in attendance in their chosen rolls.

Lori’s goal is to help educate parents in birth and to help create the best possible birth experience within the goals of her clients and within each birth situation as circumstances arise. She encourages each family to stay healthy, low risk, and well educated so that they may make safe and satisfying evidence based decisions regarding their prenatal care.

Lori believes in the power of a woman to give birth and believes that birth works. Lori trusts that women are fully capable of bringing babies into this world in a peaceful, dignified and glorious manner. She will work with you to share her experience, trust, confidence and knowledge. Lori feels that it is an incredible honor and privilege to be invited to witness and participate in the miraculous event of each new life.

ABOUT LORI

Lori Ismail CBE (former AAHCC Bradley Method Instructor) encourages couples to feel empowered to allow themselves a safe and satisfying birth experience according to how they personally see their birth unfolding. She provides nonjudgmental and objective educational, emotional, and physical support to new families. Lori continues to encourage couples to prudently set their own goals and priorities together as a team in a way that will allow them to feel nurtured and respected during one of the most important times of their lives.

Lori has been working as a birth professional in the Bay Area since 1998.  She has been a certified childbirth instructor affiliated with the Bradley Method® of Natural Childbirth for 13 years (1998-2011).  She currently continues to teach ‘Birthing Naturally: Partner-Supported Childbirth’ classes, is a labor support Doula, and Lactation Counselor. She teaches her classes at Blossom Birth in Palo Alto and at Harmony Birth Resources in Campbell, California.

The Blossom Birth community sought Lori out to join their team as a member and staff in 2007. Harmony Birth Resources requested that Lori join their team as a member and staff in 2010. She is currently a member and staff of Blossom Birth and Harmony Birth Resources and continues to educate and support families throughout the Greater Bay Area.

Lori is intimately familiar with The Bradley Method® (having taught these classes for 13 years) and currently continues to teach ‘Birthing Naturally: Partner Supported Childbirth’ classes, standard childbirth preparation courses, childbirth intensives and refreshers. She works as a labor support doula and lactation counselor. She has continued her education by attending a twins training course, ’Advanced Doula Training’ workshops and ‘Advanced Breastfeeding’ seminars with Treesa Mclean and Audrey Kalman, ‘Tongue Tie’ training with Dr. Jessie Young, ’Pelvic Floor Training’ workshops with Leslie Howard, and ‘Spinning Babies: Easier Birth Through Fetal Positioning’ with Gail Tully.

Lori is a professional member of Bay Area Birth Information (BABI), Bay Area Birth Association (BABA), Blossom Birth, and the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS).  She is also a yahoo group member of BABI Families, BABI Peer Review, Bay Area Bradley, Family-Harmony, Blossom Families, South Bay Doula Pool and South Bay Birth Circle.

Lori currently resides in the Bay Area.