Amy Blain, RN
ICEA Certified Childbirth &
Lactation Educator

Fina Arnold, RN
Lamaze Certified
Educator Candidate &
AHA CPR/First Aid Instructor

It is a combination of training and personal experiences that led me to the founding of A Heart For Family in 2002. I am a registered nurse with a Bachelors of Science degree in nursing from USC and have completed the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) childbirth educator certification program. I have also completed the Lactation Educator program from UCLA. My work experience as a labor and delivery nurse has been at Good Samaritan Hospital.

I am also the mother of three children. I have a daughter born in 1998, son in 2000, and daughter born in 2003, all at Good Samaritan Hospital. I have found the transition to becoming a parent an awesome experience that has transformed my self image and my perspective on life. It is by far the most inspiring, challenging, and sometimes frightening responsibility that I have ever had. My husband and I are humbled at the gift our children are to us and take great joy in the life of our family.

While my children were born without medication, I understand and teach from the perspective that preparedness coupled with flexibility is key to approaching childbirth. We strive to teach unbiased facts about medical interventions; including pain medication choices, fetal monitoring and inductions. The curriculum that we’ve developed will give participants the tools they need to navigate the twists and turns of childbirth, balancing their hopes and values with whatever comes their way.

One of the things that I have discovered over the course of my nurses training, working as a labor and delivery nurse and becoming a mother – is my absolute love of birth. I deeply enjoy being a resource and support to women and families as they navigate the transition from being pregnant to being parents.

I am an ER trained registered nurse with a degree from Mount Saint Mary’s College. I am also a certified American Heart Association CPR / First Aid Instructor and am in the process of being certified as a childbirth educator by Lamaze International. I have enjoyed working with Amy to develop and improve the curriculum we teach to our clients since 2008.

Over the past ten years, I have gained a passion for supporting women on their journeys to motherhood. I have been privileged to assist multiple families as they prepare for labor and during the amazing moments of birth. Giving birth to my last child at home has deepened my conviction that women and their partners can move through this life-changing experience wonderfully when encouraged and prepared. I believe that women are designed and able to give birth and that they should be empowered to do so. A Heart for Family does a thorough and excellent job of providing couples with the needed resources for labor, birth and much more. It’s an honor to be a part of a team that provides so comprehensively for parents-to-be.

Becoming a mother has radically transformed my life. My four children have stretched me to be more flexible and prepared for the unexpected. From the moment they arrived until now, they have been a source of joy as well as personal growth and maturity. Parenting is an adventure that I take very seriously and I am daily challenged to do it to the best of my ability. Through caring for my kids over the years, my love for seeing and supporting others as parents has deepened. It’s an exciting honor to be a part of a couples’ journey into the adventure of parenthood.