RealBirth.com

Erica Lyon - Founder, Director of Education, Educator
Erica has been teaching expectant and newly postpartum parents for over a decade now in NYC. Prior to opening Realbirth in December 2003, she taught at Long Island College Hospital, the New York Foundling Hospital and at the Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center. She served as Education Coordinator and Administrative Supervisor at the Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center. She was President of the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York (CEA/MNY) for four years.

She has been on a nationally syndicated talk show doing pregnancy prevention work with teens and Alphamom's films childbirth educational segment, a direct TV cable channel available in over 9 million homes. She has also been featured on the Today show teaching sibling preparation classes. Her book, The Big Book of Birth came out March 2007 from Penguin/Plume. In opening Realbirth, Erica wanted to create a center that provides solid information and support for expectant and new parents. Her philosophy is that it is crucial for parents to learn to think critically and stay connected to their children and their community. Erica considers herself incredibly lucky to have found the work she loves. She lives with her two amazing and ever inspiring children and husband Dylan in Brooklyn.

Caryn Neary Delgaizo - Director of Retail
Caryn Neary Delgaizo joined Erica in 2007 as a partner of Realbirth and is committed to developing the "green parenting" and retail part of the center. Caryn has a BA in textiles design and merchandising, and over 15 years of retail experience. Twelve of those years with Saks Fifth Avenue where she graduated their merchandise training program in 1993. After years in the fast paced commercial focus of corporate retail, Caryn was inspired to become involved with the pregnant community from the births of her two children. She wanted to apply her professional skills and experience to a meaningful retail commitment, supporting parents in the pregnant and postpartum time period find products that were actually useful, developmentally appropriate and eco-friendly. In 2007, Caryn & Erica opened the flagship midtown location which included "bump-to-baby" Realbirth's eco-friendly retail baby store and website. Caryn lives in Manhattan with her two children, Cameryn and Steven.

Education Staff

Bonu deCaires - Educator, Doula
Bonu deCaires has an Honors B.S. in Biology form Amherst and a Masters in Nutritional Science from University of Massachusetts where she graduated first in her class. Her master's thesis focused on herbs used in midwifery practice. She began attending births as a labor support doula in 1997, and continues to attend births. Bonu has a rich and varied background in teaching with experience ranging from high school chemistry, to horseback riding to nutrition for young children. She is certified as a childbirth educator by the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York (CEA/MNY) where she completed her training with Erica Lyon as her mentor. In addition to her work as a doula and childbirth educator Bonu spends her time caring for her young son, Seraj.

Ellen Chuse - Educator and Counselor
Ellen Chuse has been working with pregnant women and their families since 1984. As a Certified Childbirth Educator she teaches childbirth preparation classes to a wide variety of clients and provides postpartum and parent support for both individuals and groups. She has served as President of the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York and remains active on the Board of Directors. In 1993 she received certification in Holistic Pregnancy and Childbirth Counseling with Gayle Peterson, Ph.D. Ellen maintains a private practice as a Childbirth Educator and Pregnancy and Birth Counselor in both Brooklyn and Manhattan. She is has two grown daughters and lives in Brooklyn.

Lynne Feigenbaum, L.M.S.W - Postpartum Depression Support
Lynne Feigenbaum is a psychotherapist who works extensively in the area of maternal mental health. At Realbirth, she facilitates the postpartum depression support group, which she initiated six years ago at the Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center. In her private practice, Lynne sees women and couples who seek help with issues such as infertility, pregnancy loss, and perinatal and postpartum mood disorders. Lynn completed her M.S. W. at NYU. Her postgraduate training is in child and adolescent psychoanalysis from The National Institute of the Psychotherapies (NIP). Most importantly, Lynne is the mom of a terrific 13 years old son.

Susan Burger - Lactation Consultant
Susan Burger began working on breastfeeding promotion in the 1980s while running nutrition programs in developing areas of the world for a variety nongovernmental organizations and as a consultant to such organizations as the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When her son was born in 1999, she learned that practical hands on assistance from a lactation consultant was as important (if not more so) than her academic and public health background in breastfeeding and began the process of becoming board certified. She currently works with the Manhattan Lactation Group and also teaches classes and facilitates support groups at Realbirth.

Susanrachel Condon - Educator
Susanrachel Condon is a NY State licensed midwife and ob-gyn nurse practitioner. She is certified to teach by the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York. Susanrachel has also been a NY State licensed massage therapist since 1991. She served on the faculty of the Swedish Institute College of Massage Therapy &smp; Allied Health Sciences for over ten years and currently participates in their continuing education program. Since 1994, she has taught a pregnancy massage certification course for professionals. She has produced an advanced techniques video on the subject in addition to a separate DVD for couples and childbirth professionals. Susanrachel has also lectured widely as a private consultant at conferences, hospitals, birth centers, schools and spas. She holds a degree in Art Therapy and has studied birth counseling and counseling for pregnant survivors of sexual abuse. She is the mother of a daughter and two sons.

Jeremi Dilworth - Educator
Jeremi has been teaching childbirth classes and working as a labor doula since 1995. She is also a yoga instructor, licensed massage therapist and La Leche League Leader as well as a certified doula and certified childbirth educator. She is the mother of two amazing children.

Leigh Anne O'Connor - Lactation Consultant
Leigh Anne is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Leigh Anne began her breastfeeding experience with the birth of her first child in 1995, became an accredited La Leche League Leader in 1997 and is the current President of the New York Lactation Consultant Association (NYLCA), and a past member of the Bank Street Head Start Health Advisory Board. Leigh Anne has appeared on television, radio and in documentaries as an expert and advocate for breastfeeding, promoting its health and societal benefits. Leigh Anne has written many essays on mothering and breastfeeding and is the proud mother of three breastfed children.

Asha Curran - Educator
Asha is a certified childbirth educator and DONA-certified labor support doula who teaches Comprehensive Childbirth Education, Newborn Care, and Childbirth Refresher Classes. She also teaches VBAC preparation classes here at Realbirth, and serves on the board of CEA/MNY as President. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and two children.

Amy Ward Brimmer - Educator
Amy is certified by the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York. Prior to her work at Realbirth, she taught at the Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center and held private classes in Brooklyn. As a labor doula, Amy attended many births in a variety of settings in the NYC metro area. Now a resident of Yardley, PA, she teaches childbirth classes at The Birth Center in Bryn Mawr, PA. She is also a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique, a body-mind movement education method.

Meredith Fein Lichtenberg - Educator
Meredith Fein Lichtenberg is a certified childbirth and parenting educator, and sleep counsellor. As the director of A Mother Is Born Pregnancy and Postpartum Services, and as a Realbirth Educator, she has worked with over a thousand New York City moms. Meredith teaches classes on infant and maternal development; feeding, sleep, and time management issues; co-parenting; and returning to work. She teaches courses for childbirth educators and doulas in breastfeeding and maternal postpartum development. Meredith received a B.A. with high honors from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and two kids. Her focus is an intelligent exploration of women's changing identities through the childbirth years, and she favors a non-judgmental pragmatic approach to problem solving in the postpartum months.

Chantal Paz-Traub - Educator, Yoga Teacher
Chantal has been teaching and working with pregnant mothers for over 10 years. She is a (A.L.A.C.E) Certified Doula. She is also a Certified Childbirth Educator and Prenatal Yoga Teacher, and specializes in Bodywork for the Childbearing Year. In addition to her Childbirth Education, Chantal has studied yoga and anatomy extensively. She applies this knowledge to her understanding and teaching, encouraging her students to a deeper awareness of themselves and to find their own way with birth.

Catherine Stewart-Lindley - Educator
Catherine Stewart-Lindley has been working with families and assisting births since 1996 as a labor support doula, childbirth educator (private and group classes), birth photographer and founder of Labor of Love Childbirth Services. Catherine has a Bachelors and Masters in Fine Arts and taught high school, community college and college for a number of years. She is the mother of a precious daughter Allegra and she lives in New York City.

Ayelet Kaznelson - Lactation Consultant
Ayelet Kaznelson is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a Certified Lactation Counselor. Born in Israel, she moved to New York City in 1989. After the birth of her daughter in 1999, Ayelet started training to become a lactation consultant at Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center. When the Center closed in 2003, she was invited by her mentors to co-found a private practice, The Manhattan Lactation Group, and was also asked by Erica Lyon to join the original staff at Realbirth. She received her Lactation Counseling Certification in 2002, and after the birth of her son in 2004, Ayelet passed the International Board Certification exam. She relocated to Los Angeles in 2006 where she started a private practice, The Los Angeles Lactation Group, and was a staff lactation consultant at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Ayelet returned to Manhattan in 2007, and once again joined the staff at Realbirth where she currently teaches prenatal breastfeeding and newborn care classes, as well as runs a weekly breastfeeding clinic - primarily at the midtown location. Ayelet resides in Manhattan with her husband and two children.

Laura Tichler - Educator
Laura is a certified childbirth educator through the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York, where she also currently serves on the Board of Directors. Prior to teaching at Realbirth she was a program coordinator for HAI (Hospital Audiences, Inc.) where she ran theatre-based HIV and violence prevention workshops for underserved populations. Laura holds an MFA in directing from the University of Massachusetts and an undergraduate degree in theater from Smith College. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children.

Shara Frederick - Educator
Shara is a former documentary photographer and video editor. Following becoming a mother her career focused shifted and in 2003 she founded Tots-n-Tonic, a citywide happy hour that brings new moms together for socializing and support. Shara is an active Dona Certified Labor Support Doula and has been attending births since 2004. Through labor support and teaching, she is committed to helping families transition from pregnancy into parenthood. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, son and daughter.

Vanessa Anton - Educator
Vanessa has been working with families since 1995. She began over ten years ago as a labor support doula and assisted in running the local N.Y.C. chapter of International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN). In 2001 she completed her training as a Midwife Assistant at the Farm in Tennessee and became a N.Y.C. licensed Emergency Medical Technician. Following her passion to teach she became an American Heart Instructor and a Holistic Health Counselor. Currently she is a Riggio Writing & Democracy Fellow and furthering her degree in the politics of birth and women's health. She lives in Forest Hills, Queens with her teenage son and her three dogs.

Beth Kruger - Pre-natal Yoga Instructor
Beth began her study of yoga in 2000, upon moving from Vermont to New York City. She completed her 500 hour certification with ISHTA yoga in 2004. She completed a prenatal training with NYC’s Prenatal Yoga Center, in 2008. She has also studied with Master Iyengar teacher Glenn Black, and Master Ashtanga teacher David Swenson.Beth began teaching prenatal yoga in 2005 while pregnant with her first child. Her first daughter came along with her to teach Mommy and Me classes shortly after her birth.Welcoming two children into her life has truly been her greatest teacher.


		Realbirth opened in December of 2003 as a continuation of the many Education and Postpartum Support Programs that were previously offered at the Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center. Realbirth has grown rapidly into NYC's definitive pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and new parent community center. Realbirth's Founder, Erica Lyon is the Author of The Big Book of Birth (Penguin March 2007). We have been featured on national television and in major magazines. Our staff is diverse, expert and growing. We welcome applications of experienced childbirth educators, lactation consultants, counselors and baby and me teachers. Owners & Partners Erica Lyon - Founder, Director of Education, Educator Erica has been teaching expectant and newly postpartum parents for over a decade now in NYC. Prior to opening Realbirth in December 2003, she taught at Long Island College Hospital, the New York Foundling Hospital and at the Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center. She served as Education Coordinator and Administrative Supervisor at the Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center. She was President of the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York (CEA/MNY) for four years. She has been on a nationally syndicated talk show doing pregnancy prevention work with teens and Alphamom's films childbirth educational segment, a direct TV cable channel available in over 9 million homes. She has also been featured on the Today show teaching sibling preparation classes. Her book, The Big Book of Birth came out March 2007 from Penguin/Plume. In opening Realbirth, Erica wanted to create a center that provides solid information and support for expectant and new parents. Her philosophy is that it is crucial for parents to learn to think critically and stay connected to their children and their community. Erica considers herself incredibly lucky to have found the work she loves. She lives with her two amazing and ever inspiring children and husband Dylan in Brooklyn. Caryn Neary Delgaizo - Director of Retail Caryn Neary Delgaizo joined Erica in 2007 as a partner of Realbirth and is committed to developing the "green parenting" and retail part of the center. Caryn has a BA in textiles design and merchandising, and over 15 years of retail experience. Twelve of those years with Saks Fifth Avenue where she graduated their merchandise training program in 1993. After years in the fast paced commercial focus of corporate retail, Caryn was inspired to become involved with the pregnant community from the births of her two children. She wanted to apply her professional skills and experience to a meaningful retail commitment, supporting parents in the pregnant and postpartum time period find products that were actually useful, developmentally appropriate and eco-friendly. In 2007, Caryn & Erica opened the flagship midtown location which included "bump-to-baby" Realbirth's eco-friendly retail baby store and website. Caryn lives in Manhattan with her two children, Cameryn and Steven. Education Staff Bonu deCaires - Educator, Doula Bonu deCaires has an Honors B.S. in Biology form Amherst and a Masters in Nutritional Science from University of Massachusetts where she graduated first in her class. Her master's thesis focused on herbs used in midwifery practice. She began attending births as a labor support doula in 1997, and continues to attend births. Bonu has a rich and varied background in teaching with experience ranging from high school chemistry, to horseback riding to nutrition for young children. She is certified as a childbirth educator by the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York (CEA/MNY) where she completed her training with Erica Lyon as her mentor. In addition to her work as a doula and childbirth educator Bonu spends her time caring for her young son, Seraj. Ellen Chuse - Educator and Counselor Ellen Chuse has been working with pregnant women and their families since 1984. As a Certified Childbirth Educator she teaches childbirth preparation classes to a wide variety of clients and provides postpartum and parent support for both individuals and groups. She has served as President of the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York and remains active on the Board of Directors. In 1993 she received certification in Holistic Pregnancy and Childbirth Counseling with Gayle Peterson, Ph.D. Ellen maintains a private practice as a Childbirth Educator and Pregnancy and Birth Counselor in both Brooklyn and Manhattan. She is has two grown daughters and lives in Brooklyn. Lynne Feigenbaum, L.M.S.W - Postpartum Depression Support Lynne Feigenbaum is a psychotherapist who works extensively in the area of maternal mental health. At Realbirth, she facilitates the postpartum depression support group, which she initiated six years ago at the Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center. In her private practice, Lynne sees women and couples who seek help with issues such as infertility, pregnancy loss, and perinatal and postpartum mood disorders. Lynn completed her M.S. W. at NYU. Her postgraduate training is in child and adolescent psychoanalysis from The National Institute of the Psychotherapies (NIP). Most importantly, Lynne is the mom of a terrific 13 years old son. Susan Burger - Lactation Consultant Susan Burger began working on breastfeeding promotion in the 1980s while running nutrition programs in developing areas of the world for a variety nongovernmental organizations and as a consultant to such organizations as the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When her son was born in 1999, she learned that practical hands on assistance from a lactation consultant was as important (if not more so) than her academic and public health background in breastfeeding and began the process of becoming board certified. She currently works with the Manhattan Lactation Group and also teaches classes and facilitates support groups at Realbirth. Susanrachel Condon - Educator Susanrachel Condon is a NY State licensed midwife and ob-gyn nurse practitioner. She is certified to teach by the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York. Susanrachel has also been a NY State licensed massage therapist since 1991. She served on the faculty of the Swedish Institute College of Massage Therapy &smp; Allied Health Sciences for over ten years and currently participates in their continuing education program. Since 1994, she has taught a pregnancy massage certification course for professionals. She has produced an advanced techniques video on the subject in addition to a separate DVD for couples and childbirth professionals. Susanrachel has also lectured widely as a private consultant at conferences, hospitals, birth centers, schools and spas. She holds a degree in Art Therapy and has studied birth counseling and counseling for pregnant survivors of sexual abuse. She is the mother of a daughter and two sons. Jeremi Dilworth - Educator Jeremi has been teaching childbirth classes and working as a labor doula since 1995. She is also a yoga instructor, licensed massage therapist and La Leche League Leader as well as a certified doula and certified childbirth educator. She is the mother of two amazing children. Leigh Anne O'Connor - Lactation Consultant Leigh Anne is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Leigh Anne began her breastfeeding experience with the birth of her first child in 1995, became an accredited La Leche League Leader in 1997 and is the current President of the New York Lactation Consultant Association (NYLCA), and a past member of the Bank Street Head Start Health Advisory Board. Leigh Anne has appeared on television, radio and in documentaries as an expert and advocate for breastfeeding, promoting its health and societal benefits. Leigh Anne has written many essays on mothering and breastfeeding and is the proud mother of three breastfed children. Asha Curran - Educator Asha is a certified childbirth educator and DONA-certified labor support doula who teaches Comprehensive Childbirth Education, Newborn Care, and Childbirth Refresher Classes. She also teaches VBAC preparation classes here at Realbirth, and serves on the board of CEA/MNY as President. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and two children. Amy Ward Brimmer - Educator Amy is certified by the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York. Prior to her work at Realbirth, she taught at the Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center and held private classes in Brooklyn. As a labor doula, Amy attended many births in a variety of settings in the NYC metro area. Now a resident of Yardley, PA, she teaches childbirth classes at The Birth Center in Bryn Mawr, PA. She is also a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique, a body-mind movement education method. Meredith Fein Lichtenberg - Educator Meredith Fein Lichtenberg is a certified childbirth and parenting educator, and sleep counsellor. As the director of A Mother Is Born Pregnancy and Postpartum Services, and as a Realbirth Educator, she has worked with over a thousand New York City moms. Meredith teaches classes on infant and maternal development; feeding, sleep, and time management issues; co-parenting; and returning to work. She teaches courses for childbirth educators and doulas in breastfeeding and maternal postpartum development. Meredith received a B.A. with high honors from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and two kids. Her focus is an intelligent exploration of women's changing identities through the childbirth years, and she favors a non-judgmental pragmatic approach to problem solving in the postpartum months. Chantal Paz-Traub - Educator, Yoga Teacher Chantal has been teaching and working with pregnant mothers for over 10 years. She is a (A.L.A.C.E) Certified Doula. She is also a Certified Childbirth Educator and Prenatal Yoga Teacher, and specializes in Bodywork for the Childbearing Year. In addition to her Childbirth Education, Chantal has studied yoga and anatomy extensively. She applies this knowledge to her understanding and teaching, encouraging her students to a deeper awareness of themselves and to find their own way with birth. Catherine Stewart-Lindley - Educator Catherine Stewart-Lindley has been working with families and assisting births since 1996 as a labor support doula, childbirth educator (private and group classes), birth photographer and founder of Labor of Love Childbirth Services. Catherine has a Bachelors and Masters in Fine Arts and taught high school, community college and college for a number of years. She is the mother of a precious daughter Allegra and she lives in New York City. Ayelet Kaznelson - Lactation Consultant Ayelet Kaznelson is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a Certified Lactation Counselor. Born in Israel, she moved to New York City in 1989. After the birth of her daughter in 1999, Ayelet started training to become a lactation consultant at Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center. When the Center closed in 2003, she was invited by her mentors to co-found a private practice, The Manhattan Lactation Group, and was also asked by Erica Lyon to join the original staff at Realbirth. She received her Lactation Counseling Certification in 2002, and after the birth of her son in 2004, Ayelet passed the International Board Certification exam. She relocated to Los Angeles in 2006 where she started a private practice, The Los Angeles Lactation Group, and was a staff lactation consultant at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Ayelet returned to Manhattan in 2007, and once again joined the staff at Realbirth where she currently teaches prenatal breastfeeding and newborn care classes, as well as runs a weekly breastfeeding clinic - primarily at the midtown location. Ayelet resides in Manhattan with her husband and two children. Laura Tichler - Educator Laura is a certified childbirth educator through the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York, where she also currently serves on the Board of Directors. Prior to teaching at Realbirth she was a program coordinator for HAI (Hospital Audiences, Inc.) where she ran theatre-based HIV and violence prevention workshops for underserved populations. Laura holds an MFA in directing from the University of Massachusetts and an undergraduate degree in theater from Smith College. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children. Shara Frederick - Educator Shara is a former documentary photographer and video editor. Following becoming a mother her career focused shifted and in 2003 she founded Tots-n-Tonic, a citywide happy hour that brings new moms together for socializing and support. Shara is an active Dona Certified Labor Support Doula and has been attending births since 2004. Through labor support and teaching, she is committed to helping families transition from pregnancy into parenthood. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, son and daughter. Vanessa Anton - Educator Vanessa has been working with families since 1995. She began over ten years ago as a labor support doula and assisted in running the local N.Y.C. chapter of International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN). In 2001 she completed her training as a Midwife Assistant at the Farm in Tennessee and became a N.Y.C. licensed Emergency Medical Technician. Following her passion to teach she became an American Heart Instructor and a Holistic Health Counselor. Currently she is a Riggio Writing & Democracy Fellow and furthering her degree in the politics of birth and women's health. She lives in Forest Hills, Queens with her teenage son and her three dogs. Beth Kruger - Pre-natal Yoga Instructor Beth began her study of yoga in 2000, upon moving from Vermont to New York City. She completed her 500 hour certification with ISHTA yoga in 2004. She completed a prenatal training with NYC’s Prenatal Yoga Center, in 2008. She has also studied with Master Iyengar teacher Glenn Black, and Master Ashtanga teacher David Swenson.Beth began teaching prenatal yoga in 2005 while pregnant with her first child. Her first daughter came along with her to teach Mommy and Me classes shortly after her birth.Welcoming two children into her life has truly been her greatest teacher. Certification Currently, All of our Childbirth Educators are certified through the CEA/MNY, Childbirth Education Association of Metro New York which is a comprehensive two-year education certification program available only in New York City. Realbirth welcomes teachers of other certifctaion processes with prior teaching experience, a disinvestement in how a own makes labor her own and a willingness to go through Realbirth's training and continuing education. Realbirth's methodology is an "all-method" method; the philosophy being that often women need more than one tool to move through labor. The emphasis is on teaching a woman and her partner all of their choices and options. Many of our staff bring additional background and training, such as nursing, midwifery, massage, bodywork and some work additionally as certified labor support. All teachers are required to have previous teaching experience and have attended an extensive number of births. Realbirth conducts regular continuing education sessions for all staff educators.


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