Are you…

• Struggling with the idea of being pregnant?
• Feeling isolated and alone as your pregnancy progresses?
• Unsure of the role your partner will play or what they’re thinking?
• Unhappy with your current self-image and  uncertain what it will become as the months carry on?
• Struggling with your current diet and unsure if it will sustain you?
• The first in your circle to be pregnant, leaving you feeling like everyone is judging your choices?
• Afraid of the pain of labor as a result of all the delightful horror stories your friends and family like to share?
• Afraid of your own hormones and concerned your partner will think you’re crazy?
• Afraid of who you’ll be after baby is born, or concerned that you’ll become your mother or father?
• Afraid to touch your baby?
• Afraid to talk about what you’re afraid of?

If you answered yes to any of these, you’re in the right place.

I’m Hanako Gotoh, owner of Little Flower Birth Year. I blend massage therapy, Doula services, and birth coaching in order to educate and guide first time expecting parents in creating a deeper bond through the power of Skinship.

Iam both a certified massage therapist specializing in prenatal and infant massage, and a certified Doula. I’m also the mother of two beautiful children.

I was a young first time mom, having my daughter just a month after my 22nd birthday. Being that we were a very young couple, my partner and I didn’t have the communication skills to handle this news gracefully. I was scared out of my mind; becoming a mother was the last thing I thought I’d ever be. I didn’t feel secure in my relationship with my partner and we never talked about how we felt after blood tests, glucose tests, and ultrasounds. I was afraid I would be left alone. I was afraid I wouldn’t be a good parent. I was afraid of what would happen during labor. I was afraid my partner would never want to have sex with me again. I was afraid of not knowing how to breastfeed or what I needed to eatfor proper nutrition.

While my belief of being alone in the pregnancy was false, I didn’t know any better, and our relationship began to suffer because I didn’t know how to communicate my fears or express where I needed help and support. I, like many new moms, was afraid of a lot and the self-isolation compounded it all quickly.

I understand feeling isolated and hesitant to ask for support; I’ve gone through all of this myself.

You don’t have to go through this alone.

I’m here for you.
I’ve been through this… twice.
I’ve supported many new moms just like you.
I know how to support your partner too.
And I’ve learned so much over the years that I want to share with you.

I would be honored to be your resource and your support team.

The Birth Year Experience

The journey of pregnancy into parenthood is a unique and individual experience. The Birth Year Experience helps to make it a smooth and graceful transition for the entire family. At each stage of your journey, you’ll KNOW (not wonder or worry) you’re at your ideal level of food intake, exercise, sex, communication, touch, safety, and support. When you do go into labor, you’ll know you’ve done everything in your power to have a positive experience and that you’re fully supported in all the ways you need. Additionally, your partner will feel confident doing everything they can to best assist you. They will go above and beyond your expectactions as they support you and become a new parent themselves.

The Birth Year Experience has three main focus points:

• Prenatal Massage: Prenatal massage therapy provides many benefits. Not only is it a drug free method for relieving the normal aches and pains of pregnancy; it can also help a pregnant person better prepare for labor.  Massage helps loosen tension so the pregnant parent can go into labor as free of stress as possible. Additionally, proprioception (body awareness) is also developed during massage. This increased body awareness is helpful during contractions by enabling the laboring parent to better relax muscles that aren’t being used in the birthing process. This preserves strength and reduces unnecessary tension. Massage allows us to form an unspoken bond that becomes beneficial in labor, allowing me to recognize abnormal muscle tension and using that knowledge to target areas that need the most attention during labor.
• Doula Services Birth Coaching: Your prenatal time is most important in establishing the roles of your partner and myself during your labor. You will learn how to you Visualize your labor. We’ll develop a birth intention together and identify, acknowledge, and discuss concerns and fears about labor. Together, we’ll create a list of techniques to try while you’re in labor that you can use during pregnancy to help you through a stressful day. Your prenatal period is a time to discover a parenting style that will work for you and to start a routine that baby will expect when they arrive.  During labor, I’ll have the experience and expertise needed to help relive muscle tension that inevitably arises during contractions. Using my anatomical and muscular knowledge and experience, I have the advantage over a traditional Doula in bringing more relaxation to your labor. Additionally, I’m trained in areas regarding the positions and techniques to alleviate back pain, the common complications and interventions during labor, and effective breathing and relaxation techniques.
• Postpartum Support: I’ll be able to perform postpartum massage designed to help the body return to its non-pregnant posture and balance. Being trained in infant massage also allows me to teach you how to massage your baby to create deeper bonding for all.  Together, we will develope a postpartum support plan, useful during the four weeks or more postpartum, for your new family to have continual aid. My desire is to prevent self-isolation.  Recovery should feel nurturing not lonely. This is helped by talk support groups, family group exercise classes, baby wearing, breastfeeding, and more. I remind the postpartum parent about their ideas and check in with what actions they’ve taken.

The Birth Year Experience is for first time expectant families who are currently being assisted by some alternative form of healthcare (such as chiropractic, naturopath, homeopathy, or midwifery) and want to round out their support team. It’s also for partners who are ready and willing to learn how to provide quality touch to mom in order to assist in her emotional and physical wellbeing during pregnancy and labor, as well as for the first few months postpartum.

It is not for moms who are 36 weeks pregnant, or just looking for someone to tell them what to do rather than taking any ownership of their own labor and birth experience.

Your Birth Year will benefit most using the Birth Year Experience package.

Should you want to work with Hanako using these services individually, please click the following links. Hanako only gives her Doula and Birth Year Experience rate at your consultation. Call Hanako at 720-838-8037 to set up your consultation today!

• Prenatal Massage
• Postpartum Massage
• Infant Massage

Interested in learning about The Birth Year Experience?

Call (720) 838-8037 to book a complimentary consultation to see if working together is a good fit!