Be The Change - Elena Tonetti-Vladimirova, Chico

Elena Tonetti-Vladimirova believes that being born in a peaceful and loving way is every baby's birthright. "Giving birth doesn't have to be a fearful and painful disaster which a woman survives somehow with the help of drugs and forgets about as soon as possible. Birth is a powerful initiation - a rite of passage for all involved, which enables us to create a beautiful life on this planet."

Russian-born Elena has been at the forefront of a movement to help heal and empower women through positive childbirth experiences since the 1980's. Noting that "many complications at birth are preventable, and many of those that are preventable are in a woman's emotional and psychological landscape," Elena works with women to foster a process of conscious awareness. The process can begin before conception, and continues throughout the parenting journey.

Our Be the Change column mission is to feature those, especially from the North State, who are actively making a diffence in the lives of children and families. If you would like to nominate someone who is making a difference, please write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Based in Chico, Elena travels worldwide teaching "Birth Into Being" workshops for expectant and current parents interested in conscious birth and parenting. She also facilitates apprentice trainings for professionals who work with birthing families. Elena's methods of helping heal childbirth traumas are not focused on re-living the traumas, but on recoding the imprints in the region of the brain that governs feelings and emotions. "The basic settings in the nervous system are like the basic settings in a computer," Elena says. How a person perceives and reacts to external circumstances is based upon these "settings." She continues, "Feelings aren't necessarily logical. Even if we don't agree with them, we still have them." Elena explains that emotions, such as fear, can actually stop a woman's labor and can lead to complications. "The only way for the cervix to open is for the woman to relax."

Elena guides women in "updating their settings" through a wide variety of experiences, including specific breathing, movements and exercises which engage all parts of the brain, not just the verbal regions. "The whole system is involved. It's not just talking."

Elena reminds women, "Natural birth does require some preparation nowadays, because attention to the art of birthing has been in decline for many generations." She says that with conscious awareness, a woman "can go through birth with full awareness, and keep it in her memory as a most precious time of connection with the father and the child."

Elena is well known for her 2006 documentary film Birth As We Know It, which has been shown in over forty-eight countries. Elena attributes the film's success to the fact that "women are hungry for knowing their power." The movie offers what may be a first look at the possibilities of natural birth for some, and offers a deeper understanding of conscious birth for others. Eleven natural births by empowered mothers are shown in the film. The benefits of shorter, easier and less painful labors as depicted may be appealing for pregnant women, but Elena insists that "the main message of the film is about the babies" - she stresses the importance of the quality of the birth experience for not only the mother, but for the baby as well. "The main thing to remember about creating a short and smooth delivery is that it reduces chances of birth trauma for the baby dramatically. The lack of birth trauma means that the baby will start life right: strong and healthy."

With her full schedule, Elena takes care of herself with daily bike rides and long baths. She also personally practices what she calls "preventative maintenance," receiving regular bodywork such as massages and chiropractic care. She says that having a fabulous partner helps, and that she finds inspiration in her birth daughter Christina and adopted daughter Amber. "I learn a lot from them," she says. Amber is one of the mothers featured in Birth As We Know It.

Birth As We Know It will be showing continuously at the Green Baby Expo held at CSU, Chico on June 20; Elena's assistants will be available to chat with. Elena is teaching a two-day "Birthshop" in San Rafael July 11-12, and in Chico July 25-26. A ten-day apprentice training is being held in Chico August 6-15. For more information visit Elena's website www.birthintobeing.com.

Pamela Jorrick is a writer and mother who thinks all women should know about the many options, possibilities and wonders of childbirth. She lives with her family in the foothills of Shasta County.

Events Calendar

<< March 10 >>
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

North State Parent magazine

A Monthly Resource for Upper California Parents & Those Who Care About Kids

Events Calendar

March 2010

Our Mission

Testimonials

Imagine your business visible to thousands of parents who refer to us monthly. Advertise with Us!

Feedback