Mary Lynn Fiske-Dobell
- Boerum Hill
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Reviews (17)
Review from the Spring 2022 Birthing Survey
Mary Lynn knows a lot, but the class (on zoom) was extremely slow-paced, very boring, and felt very haphazard. We never knew what we were going to discuss, she just dropped in information without good context, and most of all we were just bored spending two hours on zoom every week for 12 weeks! We wanted a class that was hands-on, and though she had us do some exercises on zoom, she didn't ask for us to be on camera so she couldn't watch and give feedback so we were never sure if we were getting it right. She didn't give a chance for folks to get to know each other (icebreakers, opening up the floor for experiences, etc) so even though we were with people for 12 weeks we hardly felt like there was a community. Overall, the message of "relax, relax, relax" was helpful, and there were several tips and tricks that were helpful too, but I keep thinking we could have gotten so much more from the class if it was run better.Review from the 2020 Birthing Experience Survey
I took Mary Lynne's Bradley Method class and would highly recommend it. It was all over Zoom because of Covid, which was obviously not quite the same as in-person but it still worked well. Mary Lynne is wonderful, very kind and calming, and gave both my partner and me confidence and practical tips to get through birth. I wasn't fully on board with some things covered in class, namely co-sleeping, which she seemed to endorse even though statistically it IS more dangerous than putting your baby in a separate bassinet, but besides that, I thought the class was really helpful.Review from the 2020 Birthing Experience Survey
Mary Lynn is such a lovely person and instructor. We took her Bradley Method class which is all about having a natural birth (no epidural/pain medication). The class covered the anatomy of a pregnant woman, what happens during the birth process, as well as many techniques that can assist you in labor. The Bradley Method also emphasizes how the pregnant woman’s partner plays a big role during labor. Mary Lynn made the class interactive and fun. It was something we looked forward to every week. The snacks definitely helped with that! I highly recommend this class to anyone who is pregnant for the first time, even if you are unsure if you want a natural birth!Childbirth Classes?
I can personally vouch for this class mentioned: "Mary Lynn Fiske - She teaches The Bradley Method, about which I have heard good things. has a class coming up May 09." I took her class in 2017 and it helped immensely. I am excited to refresh myself on the material and practice again before July!Childbirth Classes?
She teaches The Bradley Method, about which I have heard good things. has a class coming up May 09.Birthing Classes Recommendation - Bradley Method
I wanted to recommend instructor Mary Lynn Fiske. She teaches Bradley Method birthing classes in Boerum Hill. My wife and I took Mary's class while my wife was pregnant with our first child, and it was a game changer. Going to Mary's class as a couple helped my wife and I connect and stay aligned through her pregnancy and through the birth itself. I wanted to participate in supporting my wife through the birth itself, and Mary's classes made me feel well-informed about what to expect and confident in reading/anticipating my wife's needs. As it turned out, the birth of our son was complicated, and we used every ounce of what we learned in Mary's classes. My wife says that she wouldn't have been able to achieve a vaginal birth without the Bradley training. I'm so thankful we took the class. Mary has a page on the Bradley website: http://www.bradleybirth.com/marylynnfiske I just ran into Mary on the street today, and I almost starting crying. She's so good at what she does, and I wanted to post a recommendation so that other parents-to-be might benefit from her classes. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions - I'm happy to discuss!2018 Birth Survey
Mary Lynn is an awesome Bradley instructor. She's personable, funny, and ridiculously knowledgeable. Bradley class is lengthy and involved, but I left feeling much more prepared for birth than when I walked in, and ML was a wonderful instructor.Review submitted via the Park Slope Parents 2017 Birth Survey
We took an 8 week course with MaryLynne. We really enjoyed it. Both my husband and I learned a great deal of information, got to ask many questions, and felt very confrontable having conversations. Based on a 09/17 birthing experience.Review submitted via the PSP Birth Survey
Bradley Method This birthing class was incredible. I attribute my completely natural birth to the methods I learned in this class. Even though I didn't have a doula or a midwife, and I wasn't having a home birth or planning on going to a birthing center, I learned everything I needed to know despite having a traditional doctor, delivering in a normal L+D hospital. Have an open mind and go with the flow for your labor day! Based on a April 2017 birthing experienceReview submitted via the 2016 Birth Survey
Method: Bradley Review: I didn't get much out of these classes. They basically boil down to 'relax'. I kept waiting for more information.... I learned more about the childbirth process through my own reading than I did in the class. Member notes about insurance: No. Based on a February 2016 birthing experienceReview submitted via the 2016 Birth Survey
Method: Bradley method Review: The class was informative and she is a knowledgeable instructor Member notes about insurance: She provides a receipt which we were able to use for our health savings account Based on a January 2016 birthing experienceReview submitted via 2015 Birth Survey
Type: Bradley Method Review: The BM was exactly the method we needed to prepare for a natural childbirth. Both partners need to be really involved and practice the exercises on a regular basis. Being in a small group was nice and ML could spend quality time with each of us. If for any reason we had to skip a class, ML would organize a catch up session with us (at home). Insurance: 12 2 hours session cost 450 USD. We did not fill a claim and class was not covered by Cigna. Based on a December 2015 birthReview submitted via 2015 Birth Survey
Type: Bradley Method Review: Mary was great and the Bradley method was really what we were looking for. I am also still in touch with the other moms from the class, which is a great bonus. Based on a May 2015 birthReview submitted via 2015 Birth Survey
Type: Bradley Method Review: really enjoyed this class and the instructor overall. It's a great class if you are trying to prepare for a natural childbirth (even in a hospital). Mary Lynn crams a lot of information into each class. I appreciated that she relays information in a very non-judgmental manner--the clear goal of the class is to prepare you for natural childbirth, but there was no judgement for other birth experiences (c-section, epidural, etc.). There is so much information presented in the class, so it's really up to you as students to fully take advantage of it. Some of the bradley method material is pretty outdated, but Mary Lynn does a great job pulling out the relevant information. Met in brooklyn (cobble hill), which was very convenient for us. Small class (5 or 6 couples) so there was lots of room for questions and individualized attention. Highly recommend if you are considering Bradley Method or a natural childbirth, especially in a hospital! Insurance: not covered by insurance. Based on a December 2015 birthReview for Mary Lynn Fiske (Childbirth Education)
My husband and I took the Bradley Method course with Mary Lynn. As two people who knew little about birth and all the controversies around it, we found the structure and content of Bradley very helpful and it informed many of the choices that ended up in our birth plan. Though the time commitment seems daunting at first, I actually think the length of the Bradley course is part of what makes it effective: it gives you time to really process the information and commit to the birth you want. The real star of the program for us was Mary Lynn. She is incredibly knowledgeable, kind, compassionate and absolutely devoted to her work and her students. In her subtle, non-invasive way, she communicated the beauty and excitement of birth and that helped us chip away at our fear about it and feel prepared. Bradley is about natural childbirth, so obviously that is her bent, but I did not find Mary Lynn to be snarky, judgmental or political about medical interventions or other visions of birthing. Her support extended beyond the class. She was available to me for consult and follow-up when I faced an induction. Though I intended to birth "naturally" and ended up with just about every intervention in the book, the course was still very helpful to me in embracing what came and working with it, and interface with providers effectively (this was a MUCH bigger part of the experience than I expected). Mary Lynn's teaching and support throughout the process were instrumental and grounding.Review of childbirth educator for PSP website
Mary Lynn is a very knowledgeable and easy-going educator who is very welcoming to parents with all types of birth preferences. She teaches the Bradley method, but is aware of what else is out there and presents oodles of information that is immensely useful and comforting. Her classes are organized and paced-out well. You'll practice exercises on the spot, on the floor, and you'll have some reading to do between classes. The number of couples participating are less than some other popular Brooklyn places, so your questions are heard and responded to. Mary Lynn is an excellent listener and she truly cares about the couples she works with. I highly recommend.(no subject)
My husband and I can't recommend Mary Lynn Fiske's Bradley Method class enough. Her focus on relaxation (especially on the need to practice it) was enormously helpful during the lead up and actual birth of our first child. She also shifted our view of childbirth from a medical procedure to be feared to a natural event to be embraced. In addition, she taught us the importance of asking questions of our caregivers in the hospital so that the experience wasn't one of being a passive bystander but an active participant, which was very empowering. In addition to her expertise, insights and breadth of knowledge about so many aspects of pregnancy, childbirth and parenting, we also appreciated Mary Lynn's warm, generous and open demeanor. She was great about providing further reading material (she lent me a book I had expressed interest in) and information, and she also very kindly called to check on each of us after our births. The price of the class was also well worth it. We found every class (each focused on something different) to be extremely informative. But just as important as the information imparted, we also found the classes to be a focused time for us to contemplate this huge event ahead of us in a relaxed way. We had also initially worried that since we were having a hospital birth with a doctor, rather than midwife, that the Bradley Method (which focuses on the benefits of an unmedicated birth) might not be the best fit for us, but that wasn't the case. There was a range of birth plans in our class, and Mary Lynn's approach is to help you have a happy birth experience no matter where you choose to have it or by what means. Meeting the other couples in the class was also really nice, and a benefit we hadn't considered before signing up. Mary Lynn was a big part of our pregnancy and childbirth experience and we are enormously grateful to have found her class.
