“After labor, I felt alone as I had a feeling that no one care for me,” said Elvira, a mother who experienced baby blues after giving birth to her first son.

“My problem was that I found breastfeeding difficult. I realized later that breastfeeding involves the psychological state of the mother.

“I learned in a hard way that while expecting, instead of thinking a lot about baby clothes or stuff, educating ourselves is the most important.”

Elvira represents many first-time mothers in urban cities who lack preparation, and a support system, in her transition to being a parent.

Knowledge is the key to expecting parents in their preparation to welcome a new family member. It is, however, more than remodeling a room and choosing a special name for the baby.

Among the essentials are the physical and mental health of the would-be parents from before through to after giving birth that could be attained through a series of community activities and support.

Since May 2008, a group of childbirth educators provided support for pregnant mothers and their partners to be able to experience smooth labor and childbirth that is comfortable, less painful without mental trauma.

“We believe that mental and emotional support is important so we want to support our client whatever the labor method and healthcare provider they prefer,” said Sinta P. Joyosumarto, the co-founder of birth.imwithu in a recent interview with The Jakarta Post.

A school for birthing parents, birth.imwithu, or BIMU was born out of concern from the founders that motherhood was often a lonely journey and that informed choices would make raising a family easier.

The educational tools and information provided were designed to encompass all realms in the experience of labor and birth: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

As the tagline “Birth is wherever I’m with you” suggests, the classes offered in the school always involved the partner of the pregnant mother, other expecting couples, and a trained birth companion or a doula.

“The experience of witnessing and accompanying a family right from the prenatal moment can inspire the person and others as well,” said Sinta, a certified pre- and postnatal yogi, a doula, and mother of two.

The other two co-founders are Irma Syahrifat, who is certified childbirth and postnatal doula that is currently expecting her fourth child, and Natasha Samosir, a mother of two who is also a postnatal doula.

One of the reasons that inspired Sinta, Irma, and Natasha to establish BIMU is based on their birth experiences and journey.

“After giving birth, the couple will transform into new persons as they have ‘new duty’. The school will help them going through the transition,” said Sinta.

The school offers a series of programs that covers everything the birthing parents need during pregnancy, while in labor, as well as postnatal care.

Its main service is childbirth and postnatal doula which is integrated with several education classes.

The first program is holistic childbirth preparation, which is called the birth journey class, to help parents prepare for a conscious, fully-involved, and positive birth experience.

They would learn about the nature of labor, know their choices, build a birth team, recognize and release their fears, and be encouraged to communicate with the fetus as well to honor the process itself as a sacred rite of passage -- an initiation to parenthood.

“We are a mother, doula, and educator who are willing to educate and give service to accompany somebody’s soul journey with gentle birth spirit. It is a philosophy with a consciousness that is driven by self-help”, added Sinta.  

The after-birth journey class is about postnatal care, newborn care, and babywearing. Advanced classes on complementary feeding and baby exercise are also provided.

Aside from the classes, BIMU also offered home visits for postnatal care. “The most common problem our team met during the postnatal period is breastfeeding. It is a natural process, but it needs to be done right. While the mother learns how to breastfeed the baby, the baby also learns,” said Sinta.

Lastly, the classes for prenatal and postnatal workouts. During pregnancy, the exercise would reduce backaches, constipation, and swelling. As not many pregnant women could endure an intensive workout, yoga is a safe option.

The benefit of prenatal yoga also can boost mood and energy, relaxing the body and mind, and helping mothers to sleep well.

Mothers who already passed three months after labor are suggested to take the postnatal yoga class that is tailored to restore their mental and physical strength through different focus areas and movement every weekend.

“Besides the classes, we also document the birth experience for the parents who wish to save and re-feel the moment,” said Sinta, adding that BIMU partners with professional healthcare providers to accommodate home, birth center, and hospital birth couples.

Community building is a cornerstone of these classes as birthing partners come together in a safe, friendly, and sharing atmosphere with others in the same place on the birth journey path.

While during the pandemic BIMU arranged online classes only, the community compensated by intensifying their interaction through the chat platform WhatsApp group.

“Using the platform, we share information, educate each other and support all mothers and the babies,” explained Sinta.

“In addition to that, we facilitate meditating online class, our ‘nesting circle’ as part of our campaign #ibusayangibu [hashtag mothers care for mothers], for every pregnant mother and afterbirth mothers to remind them that they are not alone in their motherhood journey.”

Email to info@birthimwithu.com or visit @birth.imwithu on Instagram for further information and class registration.

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