April's Private Childbirth Classes
These private classes are tailored to meet your individual needs and schedule. They are taught in your home and you can invite anyone who is going to support you at the birth to this class. We cover a lot of material in a short amount of time and it's explained so you understand it all. April teaches using visual aids, demonstration, drawings, handouts, practice of coping measures, and a touch of humor. This is a professional, current class where information is shared in an energetic way that is engaging and memorable. There is a class outline of topics to cover and you would review the topics prior to your class. Since it is your class, you can choose which topics/practice techniques you would like to emphasize. For example, some parents want a complete overview of labor and birth, including breastfeeding and newborn care. Others may have read many books and have a good idea of what to anticipate in labor and just want to concentrate on certain aspects of birth, breastfeeding or newborn care. Others still just want to concentrate on building a strong strategy for coping with labor pain. You can choose what is right for you.
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Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn - Award Winning Book
The book Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Penny Simkin, P.T., Janet Whalley, R.N., Ann Keppler, R.N., Janelle Durham, M.S.W, and April Bolding, P.T. is one of the most comprehensive books available, containing clear, up-to-date information on pregnancy, birth, the postpartum period and how to care for a newborn. The medically updated edition is out and receiving recognition.
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn is the 2009 winner of three awards, one each from the National Parenting Publications, iParenting Media, and Living Now Book Awards.
The five authors are currently working on a completely revised and updated edition that is expected to be released in 2010. This is a thorough and readable guide to the childbearing year.
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BabyTime Expo in Seattle June 28-29, 2008
April kicked off the presentations at the BabyTime Expo at the Qwest Field Event Center in Seattle on Saturday, June 28.  She spoke on "Making Informed Choices in Childbirth." Other presenters included Harvey Karp (author of Happiest Baby on the Block) and Armin Brott (author of seven classic how-to books on fatherhood). MobyWraps sponsored this event.
Great Starts Guide to hospitals, birth centers, and home birth midwives in King County
This is an excellent consumer guide to help you choose the birthplace and care provider that's best for you.
This 24 page magazine includes articles on types of care providers and birth places, survey results comparing the policies and intervention rates of local providers, and recommendations on what type of care you should expect and ask for.
The emphasis throughout the Guide is on informed choice. There is no one perfect place for all women to birth. Finding the best place for you depends on your values, priorities, and medical needs. The more information you have about your options, the better job you can do of finding the caregivers that will help you have the best possible birth experience.
The Education Committee at Great Starts Birth and Family Education published this. It is available for to download here.
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Northwest Women's Show, March 27-9, 2009, Qwest Event Center
April spoke at the Northwest Women's Show on Sunday, March 29, 2009 at the Seattle Qwest Event Center.
She presented "Woman's Work: Making Informed Choices in Childbirth." Northwest Medical Center sponsored this event.
What is a doula?
A labor support person, also called a birth doula, provides: - a continuous presence
- emotional support
- physical comforting
- assistance with non-pharmacological coping measures
- non-medical information
- anticipatory guidance for both the mother and partner
Women who had continuous labour support from a non-hospital staff doula: - had 26% fewer cesarean section births;
- had 41% fewer instrumental vaginal deliveries;
- were 28% less likely to use any analgesia or anesthesia;
- were 33% less likely to be dissatisfied or to rate their birth experience negatively, and
- had increased likelihood of being satisfied with their birth experience as measured by:
-- overall satisfaction and feeling that one coped well
-- finding labour to be as expected or better than one expected
-- feeling of personal control Having a labor support person may help the labouring woman to delay, reduce or avoid the use of pain relieving medication, thereby reducing the likelihood of experiencing the adverse effects that can be associated with these methods. For postpartum benefits...
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Our Bodies Ourselves Pregnancy and Birth
This is childbirth book is written by a collective of women for women. April contributed to two chapters: Preparing for Childbirth and Coping with Labor Pain. An excerpt from Coping with Labor pain chapter is here. On page 3 of the book, you can find a list of Informed Choice questions that April and Great Starts contributed to the book.
On April 27, 2008, Judy Norsigian, executive director of OBOS, joined Seattle-area childbirth advocates and birth book contributors at the University Bookstore in Seattle to celebrate the release of Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth. 
Seattle contributors are (left to right): Toni Weschler, April Bolding, Judy Norsigian, Penny Simkin, Janelle Taylor, Christine Morton. Other contributors not present: Heidi Raykeil, Caitlin Rothermel and Ann Keppler.
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