Your Guide for The Parenthood Journey

How would it feel to have an experienced guide
to count on through every step of your parenthood journey?

Pregnancy, birth, & parenthood change you — forever.

No matter how you become a family, once you begin this journey it leaves a permanent mark on your heart.

It’s common to have LOTS of different feelings on your parenthood journey…

And while there are tons of information available about pregnancy, birth, and parenthood all at the touch of a button, what about that information? Is it current? Is it evidence-based? Is “Dr. Google” a reliable and unbiased source of support when searching for guidance about the realities of raising the next generation?
That’s where I come in…

With over twenty-five years of practical experience inside and outside the classroom, I can help you navigate all the normal twists and turns that might happen as you make your way through pregnancy, birth and parenthood.

My passion for all things bellies, birth and babies has been lifelong and I’m excited to share that passion with you! I’d like to be your confidante – someone you can trust to share the realities of what is means to raise the next generation and encourage you to trust that you already have what you need to do this most important work. I’d love for this to be a safe place for you and your partner to gain the skills and necessary information so that you feel truly prepared for pregnancy, birth, & parenthood.

The road ahead might seem super scary at times...

Working with a me as your guide will make all the difference! Together, we’ll determine which path is the right one for YOU.

Barb Buckner Suárez

Here are just a few comments from the many families I’ve guided through their parenthood journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m so glad to hear you’ve been referred to me! Former families are my BEST ambassadors! Check out my “Work With Me” page where you can schedule and register for the services that seem right for you. Still have questions? Schedule a free 15-minute call with me and we’ll figure it out together.
Schedule a free 15-minute call with me and we can talk about where you are in your parenthood journey and tailor something specific that will meet your needs. I’m certain that we can find a way to connect! Still have questions? Schedule a free 15-minute call with me and we’ll figure it out together.

How to work with me

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Destination:Parenthood

I'm Pregnant? Now What?

To get you started on your journey, I offer an online, on-demand webinar. This is perfect for those thinking about getting pregnant, actively working towards getting pregnant or still in their first trimester.

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Getting ready for the big day

My Childbirth Preparation Class 4-Week Series can be taken as a small group online offering during the lunch hour or as a private 3-Week Series at your convenience. It’s designed to help you approach the big day feeling excited and empowered rather than frightened and overwhelmed.

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What do I do again?

This is a class for those who have already given birth before and need a refresher or those who are wanting more hands-on practice for the experience of labor and birth.

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Tools for the Journey

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The Connection Bubble

No one can predict how your birth will unfold. In this Couples Connection Class, the focus is on helping couples strengthen the relationship they share prior to birth so their baby can be born into that shared connection – no matter what.

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Becoming Us

Becoming Us (Before OR After Baby) is a 4-Week Series of either small-group or private sessions designed to help couples navigate the normal challenges and changes that happen after starting a family. 92% of couples report increased conflict after the birth of their first baby. Becoming Us classes help babyproof your relationship.

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Re-prioritizing our relationship

These private Couples Coaching Sessions are geared for couples who are wanting to reprioritize their relationship. I work directly with couples on the unique issues coming between them so they can grow closer together as they learn communication skills and how to handle conflict better as a team.

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Trekking Ahead

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Who am I now?

Becoming a parent can have profound effects on your self-identity and the transition to parenthood brings both joys and struggles. These private sessions are designed to help you integrate who you were – with who you are now.

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Adding to Our Family

These private sessions are designed to help couples considering expanding their family (or already on their way) but could use a little extra support around what to expect. Part counseling, part mediation, the work we do in these sessions will help you prepare for what it means to add a new baby to your family.

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I need to tell my story

It's perfectly normal to feel grateful for having a healthy baby, and still need to process the challenging emotions of a birth that was not what you expected. Lingering feelings of anger, grief, frustration, and disappointment can prevent you from adapting to and enjoying your new role as a parent. Birthing people, partners (even birth workers!) who have gone through a challenging birth, can work with me in these private sessions to integrate one of life’s most transformative experiences.

Wanna go find some happiness in Finland, Berto? Can't think of a better way to celebrate TWENTY-SEVEN years of the "best decision I ever made!" #FindYourInnerFinn #Visitfinland @ourfinland
Ya'll, before kids were on the scene, you could walk away from a relationship and never have to see or talk to that person ever again. But after kids? That's an entirely different story.​​​​​​​​
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i mean, I'm sure there are plenty of folks who have walked away from the relationship no matter HOW many kids were involved... but it's important to know that starting a family means you'll likely be connected in some way for the rest of your lives.​​​​​​​​
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Why do I say this? Because that 1st year after they start a family together is a doozy for MOST couple relationships. And if you don't course correct, this might bring on even MORE conflict in the years to come.​​​​​​​​
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I think it's hard to believe that you won't be one of the "lucky ones" - the 8% who don't report increased conflict after the birth of their first baby. ​​​​​​​​
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EVERYONE wants to believe that they will somehow have the relationship that can withstand the sleep deprivation, massive shift in identity, steep learning curve for 100s of new parenting skills, and transactional communication that are NORMAL in the postpartum period.​​​​​​​​
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Becoming parents will do two things, guaranteed: magnify any weaknesses that your relationship might have & make you question why the you ever thought having a child together was a good idea.​​​​​​​​
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Now  I'm NOT a fan of folks staying together no matter what, or for the sake of the kids, or whatever... Ya'll, life is too short! ​​​​​​​​
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But if you ARE going to do life together (with kids!) then get in touch! Learning how to babyproof your relationship is not fast, or easy - it's going to take an investment in time and money & I'm here to help!​​​​​​​​
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#bbsuarez #babyproofing #couplerelationship #becomingus #couples #conflict #challenges #parenthood #couplegoals #connection #disconnection #reconnection #couplestuff #parentsandlovers #expectation #reality #preparation
Do ya'll know about the Birth First Education Center? You should.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There's a stellar group of educators who are teaching some of their best work out of BFEC and I'm one of them! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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My Couples Connection Class is unlike anything else you're going to find out there in preparation for becoming a family (or adding to it!)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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A combination of hands-on practice (with an intentional focus on the partner's REAL role) and some neurobiological "hacks" to create a unique "Connection Bubble" for you, your partner and your baby - this class prepares your for what REALLY matters.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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100% of the families that have taken my Couples Connection Class say that this class provided them with the tools to strengthen their couple connection.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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"I loved the class for taking a step back from all the practical and logistical concerns of pregnancy, to the truly important ones of connecting with my partner and bonding together with our baby." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For more information, head over to the IG page @ birthfirsteducationcenter and click play to hear my interview with Liz Farmer about the Couples Connection Class and why connection matters so damn much when you're starting your family!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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(And then register to take the class with me in person! I'd love to work with you!)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#bbsuarez #birthfirsteducationcenter #couplesconnection #creatingconnection #powerofconnection #scienceofconnection #connectionbubble #connectionmatters #connectioniseverything #itbeginswithbirth #classes #whatpeoplearesaying #parentreviews #fivestarreviews #quotes #happycustomers #vulnerability #parentingishard #goodenoughparent #childbirthprep #childbirtheducation #parentingprep #becomingus #babyproofing #couplerelationship  #comfortinlabor #couplescoaching #parenthood #support #yougotthis
There's just no short-cut to connection, ya'll! You've GOT to put in the time and effort if you want to feel connected and stay connected with the people you love.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This can feel nearly impossible in the day-to-day busy-ness of our lives, but just as self-care can be standing still to take in three deep, slow, belly breaths to calm your CNS or taking a moment - literally - to gaze out the window to watch the sun peeking through the clouds...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So, too, can these moments of connection with the people we love be short, small, and every day.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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In fact, I would argue that it is a lifetime of such moments that can add up to the unbreakable bond of connection that all of us crave to have in our lives.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I spent the afternoon today talking to seven families about how I believe that connection is EVERYTHING and that it begins with birth - this, in preparation for the most important work that they will ever do in their lives, in my opinion: raising the next generation.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Some of the folks might have wondered about they "why" of this Couples Connection class. They may have left wondering why they felt "different" from when they arrived 2.5 hours earlier.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It's because they got a tiny little taste of what it means to cultivate connection in preparation for their little one's arrival. They took the time and yes, I did ask them to do some effortful work, to create that connection bubble that I hope their little newborns will slide right into in the coming months.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Time & effort, effort & time...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#bbsuarez #creatingconnection #couplesconnection #classes #powerofconnection #scienceofconnection #connectioniseverything #beginswithbirth #goodenoughparent #childbirthprep #parenthoodprep #becomingus #babyproofing #couplerelationship #comfortinlabor #couplescoaching #yougotthis #parenthood #support #moresupport #bettersupport
Ya'll I just finished out my Feb/Mar 4-week series with families that are either awaiting the birth of their first babe, or in the throes of what it means to move from couple to family. ​​​​​​​​
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The commitment to work with me BEFORE or AFTER your baby arrives to babyproof your couple relationship is not without investment.​​​​​​​​
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In addition to the financial investment, it will also require you to invest your most precious commodity: TIME. In addition to the time spent in class together, there's about an hour's worth of "homework" to complete in between the 4 sessions. It's a lot, ya'll. For you as a family, and quite honestly, for me as your facilitator.​​​​​​​​
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But ANYTHING worth having takes time. For you, the idea of having a strong, healthy relationship for the long-haul where you learn skills to deepen and strengthen the connection you have now (and learn the skills of RECONNECTION - when it starts to break down...) may be YOUR why for investing in a Becoming Us Series with me.​​​​​​​​
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But what's MY why?​​​​​​​​
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What I share with expecting and new families through this series is the information that was missing when I first became a parent 23 years ago. I fully believed that we would be one of the 8% that do NOT experience increased conflict on the other side of having a baby - and I was wrong.​​​​​​​​
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That first year postpartum was WAY harder than it needed to be - and I'm passionate about making the transition from couple to family easier for ya'll. Raising the next generation takes time. Are you ready to invest? link in bio for more info​​​​​​​​
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#bbsuarez #becomingus #aprilseries #babyproofing #couplerelationship #investment #takestime #worthit #couples #conflict #challenges #parenthoodprep #love #couplegoals #relationshipgoals #connection #disconnection #reconnection #couplestuff #parentsandlovers #expectation #reality #becomingafamily #couplescoaching