The Miracle of Birth: Uniting Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science

APPPAH (Association for Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Health) is delighted to announce the inspirational conference, The Miracle of Birth: Uniting Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science, from April 24 - 27, 2009 at the beautiful Asilomar Conference Grounds on Monterey Bay. APPPAH's vision is to illuminate the life-long impact of conception, pregnancy and birth on babies, families and society. This Congress offers gifted speakers and passionate participants from around the world.

The main conference offers eight distinguished Keynote Speakers, including medical anthropologist Robbie Davis-Floyd, PhD., presenting the International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative (IMBCI); famous researcher of energy fields Valerie Hunt, Ed. D., of UCLA addressing "The Frontier Bioscience of Prenatal Life to Old Age"; the noted pediatrician Marshall Klaus who made "bonding" and "doula" household words, will reveal new research on natural birth processes in the first two hours of life that correlate with positive outcomes at one year; Dr. Marsden Wagner, a long-time director of maternal health at the World Health Organization; popular ecologist Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D speaking on "The Ecology of Birth" in today's world and her own journey to motherhood; and Dr. Gladys McGarey, "mother of holistic medicine" on "Reclaiming the Sacredness of the Womb."

In addition, the conference will offer 36 breakout sessions to choose from six major "tracks": Ancient Wisdom and Cross-cultural Perspectives; Modern Science and Psychology; The Soma: Body, Senses and Sound; Spirit and Story; Preventing and Resolving Birth Trauma; and Parenting, Adoption and Abortion. Four renowned artists will provide balance, beauty, and contrast during the program: Children's Troubador Raffi Cavoukian, contemporary music maestro Gary Malkin, Lisa Rafael, innovative creator of transformational resonances from world cultures, and spiritual dancer-choreographer Arisika Razak!

APPPAH's outreach and sphere of influence is holistic, extending to countries around the world, and it is deeply personal to each individual, as well. In addition to the international conference, which takes place every two years, there are weekend regional events offered in various cities throughout the United States each year. Since I discovered APPPAH in 2001, my ever-expanding awareness of the impacts of birth combined with the availability of resources to make a difference in the world has transformed my life personally and professionally.

As a person born with spastic cerebral palsy, what I have learned about how the challenges of my birth experience have shaped my thoughts, feelings and beliefs as an adult has permitted me to change my beliefs about myself and about life, truly making anything I choose possible. Along with APPPAH, my vision is that one day most children will be consciously conceived into a world that knows every experience we have from the moment of conception lays the foundation for who and how we are in the world.