Ceridwen Morris

New York City Childbirth Education & Labor Support

I am an author, childbirth educator and doula who has coached and supported thousands of expectant parents since 2004.

My approach is to offer clear, practical information to help ease any confusion and engender confidence about how the body works, how the hospital works and the many ways to cope with birth. I have no agenda about choices you might make in labor (epidural, no epidural, etc.) but I do have useful information to help you make them. This approach carries over into my work as a labor support doula where my deep knowledge of the body and extensive experience in city hospitals, is paired with a warm, intuitive support style.

Certified as an educator and coach via the Childbirth Education Association and Integrative Women’s Health Institute, I have supported births in New York City hospitals for nearly twenty yeaes: I ran the education program at Tribeca Pediatrics for ten years and have taught at Real Birth, Prenatal Yoga Center and City Births. I am the co-author of the pregnacy and birth guide, From the Hips, Random House 2007. I have researched and written on the topic of childbirth for years.

I teach private sessions in your home or online as well as group classes though City Births.

Labor Support Doula & Birth Coaching

Email for a free consult and let’s see if we are good match. I offer full doula support as well as pre-game preparation and personalized coaching in the days leading to (and from) birth.

CONTACT BUTTON AT BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Classes:

Thank you so much for an awesome class last night! We found it so informative yet very accessible and Ceridwen- you made it really engaging and fun. We feel empowered by the knowledge we received and are growing in confidence as we, very quickly, approach our due date! Alex March 2024 (Yelp)

Our childbirth class was amazing and we loved having it with Ceridwen. She was so kind and knowledgeable and it was also great that we were able to do the private class so we could really ask specific questions. We came away feeling so much more comfortable with the process and are so grateful to Ceridwen for being so great! Anne Feb 2024 (Yelp)

Ceridwen was outstanding. Super informative and very engaging and made the infant care class fun. Very glad we took this class! Brian August 2023 (Yelp)

I just wanted to say that our instructor today was absolutely incredible. I was worried about taking such a long class but the hours completely flew by. She was so easy to listen to, so we'll structured, informative but also personal. She made me feel like I have nothing else I need or want to research. She also made me feel demystified by the entire experience. We did talk mostly about best case scenarios - labor / birth going relatively smoothly, but that's honestly what I needed to hear about. How it can go smoothly and then of course the scenarios where it doesn't, without dwelling on them. It was totally empowering and made me feel like I can do this and made me excited (again and no longer scared) for what's to come. I really couldn't recommend Ceridwen enough. Amazing! City Births November 2022 (Yelp)

Taking your class was the single best thing we did for ourselves to prepare to be parents. We had read a decent amount prior to the course, but it was the time with you that shifted everything from a series of facts into a narrative that we could actually imagine and move around in. We knew what to do and what to expect from early and active labors… We were ready for the process of arriving at the hospital and moving through triage. We were just ready. And that was entirely the result of your class and your materials. We’re also still going back to the materials regularly. I will forever be grateful for all of them, but most especially slides on ‘weird normal newborn stuff’ and ‘support & new parent love’ from your Newborn Basics. “ - KO & AJ 202 Private class

She is so positive and energetic that all the fears about the birth experience went away!!  It was a real gift to be able to take this class with her! I cannot thank her enough!  - Chiara 2022

I came away feeling not like I would be going into battle against my body -- viewing labor as this big grueling war with one's body. Anna 2021

Ceridwen really gave a human view on the birth process rather than the clinical information you get from most books. - Bonita 2020

So great. So engaging. So informative. So attentive. Thoughtful and took her time with questions. 3 hours flew by. We had a wonderful time and would recommend to everyone we can! Thank you. - Sam 2017

Wonderful, kind, knowledgeable instructor. Kristen

Ceridwen is amazing. The way that she describes everything it's easy to understand. - Pauline

We took an intensive childbirth course with Ceridwen Morris. It was an awesome class, she was incredibly informative, helpful, and fun. She presented all the material without judgment and allowed for natural flow of conversation and questions, rather than have a hard, steadfast agenda that she plowed through. Ana

We found Ceridwen's course to be tremendously helpful. She demystified so much of this process for us with clear medical and scientifically grounded explanations about what is happening to the body. Ryan & Carolyn

Doula Love:

You made me feel safe, soft, you made me laugh, anticipated my every need, all while radically chill and kind to everyone on the team. You are joy. - Clare

Ceridwen’s ability to connect with both me and my husband and gauge what we wanted out of the birth of our daughter was incredible.  From the first time we met with her in our home she was able to ask the right questions to gain an in-depth understanding of exactly how we wanted the birth to unfold and what we wanted to avoid and she did everything possible to make sure we had the birth we wanted. - Lauren & Rick

When I interviewed doulas, I immediately knew Ceridwen was the person I should hire - her warmth, humor, and strength radiate even through the phone. I certainly made the right choice. Ceridwen was the physical presence and emotional support that both my husband and I needed. She helped me through my pain and helped us make decisions when we felt overwhelmed by the hospital and doctors. In the days after we came home from the hospital and I was dealing with a severe hormonal drop, she was the only outsider I wanted to see in person. Even now, 10 weeks later, when I think of her I feel calm. -Rachel

Ceridwen was my doula for the birth of our son. He was delivered 3 weeks early, via a scheduled C-section.  The delivery was a stressful one. We were obviously worried about our son's health, as well as  a very medical and intimidating surgery and recovery, in a hectic big city hospital. The moment Ceridwen walked into the recovery room, she filled it with calm and comfort. She transformed the experience into something as joyful, celebratory and intimate as the birth of a new child should be. She was able to comfort me - not just with her energy, but with her experience with protocols - that our son was 100% fine, and made sure he was in my arms as soon as possible, and guided us through some important first-hour decision making as we moved from surgery to nursery. She had a professional rapport with the doctors and nurses in the hospital, consulting with them as a respected colleague, and was able to communicate and ensure our wishes were implemented. She is extraordinarily capable, and has a special ability to make a new mother feel that same capability. She always felt like an engaged and caring guide, and never a remote authority.  Her understanding of the science, research and philosophies of newborn delivery and  care is extensive and current. When helping us navigate choices, she was never evangelical, but clearly laid out the options and evidence for us, making us feel empowered, supported and truly confident in the decisions we did make. She visited with us frequently during those first days in the hospital, and again when we came home for the first time. In hindsight, having Ceridwen was as essential as my medical care. Sammy & Sonny