Albany Family Life Center

Family Life Midwifery has been supporting birthing families for more than three decades, offering homebirth care, doula support, options for water in birth and childbirth education in our Downtown Albany center. We know that families are powerful and deserve guidance, support and love as they travel their birth journey and we have been blessed to witness the arrival of hundreds of babies. We are proud to provide hands-on, heart-centered care that reflects our philosophy that it is "Your Body, Your Birth". Please contact us if you are considering homebirth at (518) 465-0241.

Ask the Doulas!

https://www.bellybelly.com.au//7-amazing-pregnant-mamas-/

''Sometimes I wonder if Mary breastfed Jesus. if she cried out when he bit her or if she sobbed when he would not latch. and sometimes I wonder... if this is all too vulgar to ask in a church full of men without milk stains on their shirts or coconut oil on their breasts preaching from pulpits off limits to the Mother of God. but then i think of feeding Jesus, birthing Jesus, the expulsion of blood and smell of sweat, the salt of a mother’s tears onto the soft head of the Salt of the Earth, feeling lonely and tired hungry annoyed overwhelmed loving and i think, if the vulgarity of birth is not honestly preached by men who carry power but not burden, who carry privilege but not labor, who carry authority but not submission, then it should not be preached at all. because the real scandal of the Birth of God lies in the cracked nipples of a 14 year old and not in the sermons of ministers who say women are too delicate to lead.'' -Kaitlin Hardy Shetler Painting by Tim Okamura

Childbirth is everything. It’s all of the emotions. Challenge, release, love, perseverance, protection, surrender.

Updated schedule!!! Our next "Life With Your Newborn" Class is Friday, January 8, 6:00-8:30p.... This class addresses the family transition of the early newborn period - topics include: - postpartum period for birthing people and partners - newborn communication & soothing - typical newborn eating patterns & diapers - newborn sleep - self-care for new parents; sleep, communication, etc. - benefits of babywearing - support - informed decision-making $35, birthing person +1. Please contact Sarah at [email protected] to register. See Less

December Birth Prep Workshop Join us for this active birth immersion class and get all the information you need to confidently navigate your birth! Our popular one-day class is being broken into three sessions so you have a longer break from the screen and more time to digest the info.... We will meet: Monday, December 14 6:30-8:30p Tuesday, December 15, 6:30-8:30p Thursday, December 17, 6:30-8:30p Class meets on Zoom for the time being. $165 per family. Scholarships may be available. Contact Sarah Read, ICCE, CD(DONA) to register: [email protected], 518-727-3730 See our website for more detailed class information. albanyfamilylifecenter.org What are you doing to prepare for the birth of your baby? There are many benefits of attending INDEPENDENT Childbirth Education Classes. The Family Life Center has been assisting new families in the Capital Region for over forty years! That makes US the longest standing childbirth support center in all the Capital Land! Enrolling in our classes will provide you with the unbiased, evidence based information you will need to make informed decisions throughout your pregnancy, birth and postpartum time. Connect with other expectant families, get comfortable with your body, gain knowledge and have some laughs! Classes are appropriate for families birthing in all settings home or hospital.