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- Birth & Parenting News: Breastfeeding & Returning to Work?
- Doula Business Advisor: Collaborative Business Models, Part II
- Community Spotlight: Barbara Robertson
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- On the Edge: Funding Source for Doula Programs
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Patty’s Blog: “Community Spotlight (Mondays)” posts
Community Spotlight: Barbara Robertson
On Mondays, I highlight upcoming community events, opportunities, and people of interest.
Each Monday (until 3pm), Barbara splits her time between co-hosting the Center’s Mothering Arts Support Group for new moms and their in-arms babies and waiting on customers in her onsite boutique, The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor. Barbara is an excellent international-board-certified lactation consultant, providing one-on-on support to breastfeeding mothers. She can help you troubleshoot any breastfeeding challenges you may be experiencing or assist in planning a strategy for returning to work while breastfeeding.
A free drop-in group meets every Friday morning from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Known as The Breastfeeding Cafe, this group provides an opportunity for breastfeeding moms to spend time together chatting and drinking tea and breastfeeding. Topics naturally tend towards whatever is foremost on everyone’s minds. Babies perhaps?
By calling Barbara’s store a “boutique,” I do not, by any means, intend to imply that it is over-priced and stuffy. Quite the opposite! Barbara’s ethics are such that she refuses to carry any items that she doesn’t believe breastfeeding moms actually NEED. She has vetted what is out there and has limited her selection to her trustworthy (in my opinion) personal recommendations, thereby simplifying life for overwhelmed new moms. There is a large selection of maternity nursing bras and tanks, including large sizes for those who are amply endowed among us. Certified bra fitters give personalized service. And all of this at competitive prices.
I am trying to help Barbara move out of being the best-kept secret in town. Why wouldn’t you want to get your bras, pumps, and top-notch professional support here?
Community Spotlight: Research Study on Postpartum Depression & Insomnia
On Mondays, I highlight upcoming community events, opportunities, and people of interest. Send items to patty@center4cby.com.
Volunteers Needed for Research on Postpartum Depression & Insomnia
Researchers at the University of Michigan are seeking volunteers with postpartum depression to participate in a non-medication insomnia treatment research study. You may be eligible if you are a woman 18 years of age or older, have given birth in the past 12 months, feel depressed, have difficulty sleeping, are not currently receiving treatment for insomnia, and are otherwise generally healthy. Participation in this study involves receiving a non-medication treatment for insomnia. You will be asked to keep daily sleep diaries and to complete questionnaires about your sleep and daytime functioning before and after treatment. You may be paid up to $175 for completing all portions of the study. Please call 734-764-2242 or email psych-sleeplab@med.umich.edu and refer to the “Postpartum Depression and Insomnia” study for more information.
Community Spotlight: Pre/Post-Natal Pilates Specialist Certification
On Mondays, I highlight upcoming community events, opportunities, and people of interest. Send items to patty@center4cby.com.
Pre/Post-Natal Pilates Specialist Certification
With Carolyne Anthony
August 27–29
Frog Temple, Chicago IL
Local (to Ann Arbor, MI) pilates specialist, Carolyne Anthony is offering these trainings worldwide. Add this specialty to your MotherBaby business. Carolyne is the mother of three daughters. She is a lovely person and very passionate and knowledgeable about women’s fitness. Be inspired! For more information and to check out Carolyne’s blog, check out her website, The Center for Women’s Fitness.
Community Spotlight: La Leche League Meetings
On Mondays, I highlight upcoming community events, opportunities, and people of interest. Send items to patty@center4cby.com.
Are you a breastfeeding mother with questions or concerns regarding your experience with breastfeeding your baby? It is common to wonder whether your baby’s sleeping patterns, tendency to spit up, or behavior at the breast are normal. Wondering about milk supply or how/when to begin introducing solid food are perfectly normal concerns shared by many breastfeeding moms.
Enter La Leche League International (“leche” is the French word for “milk”). The La Leche League (LLL) is peer-to-peer support for breastfeeding mothers. The group hosts monthly meetings lasting two hours. Breastfeeding mothers, often with toddlers in tow, come together to discuss a rotating series of topics. Group leaders/facilitators are trained breastfeeding mentors. Get your questions answered. Come and be in community with other breastfeeding mothers!
On Thursday, August 5, from 10am to noon, the LLL of Ann Arbor will be hosting their monthly meeting at Center for the Childbearing Year. There are two other groups in Ann Arbor as well. Click here for a complete schedule, including the topics of the day.
LLL is a nonprofit corporation. Meetings are free, though LLL membership is available for $40 per year and donations are accepted. The leaders of the group that meets at the Center (Ann Arbor 3) are Jill (734) 913-9177 and Kelly (734) 678-9535.
Do you need more information? Click here to learn more about LLL.
Community Spotlight: Doula Career Builder Package–Offer expires 8/7/2010
On Mondays, I highlight upcoming community events, opportunities, and people of interest. Send items to patty@center4cby.com.
Special Promotion on Comprehensive Doula Training
With doula business expert, Patty Brennan, author of The Doula Business Guide–Creating a Successful MotherBaby Business (2010)
Launch your new MotherBaby business with this limited-time offer on a discounted package of DONA International Birth and Postpartum Doula Workshops, pre-requisite classes, and bonus offers. Choose your own class dates combo. You get:
* Introduction to Childbirth for Doulas ($120 value)
* DONA Birth Doula Workshop ($375 value)
* Professional Education in Breastfeeding & Lactation ($75 value)
* DONA Postpartum Doula Workshop ($425 value)
* Small Business Development Training ($75 value)
* Plus 2 Free Listings, for 1 year, in our professional Online Doula Directory ($100 value)
Total value of this offer = $1170
Your investment = $867 (Make 3 monthly payments of $289 each)
Savings = $303
If you are a nurse, you can also earn up to 45 Nursing Contact Hours for these programs at no extra cost.
REGISTER NOW — Offer Expires August 7, 2010
Community Spotlight: Doulas Care Fundraiser
Save the Date for the Doulas Care Third Annual Silent Auction & Wine Tasting, November 5. This fundraiser in support of the community-based volunteer doula program will take place from 7-9 pm at Cobblestone Farms in Ann Arbor. Doulas Care matches low-income pregnant women and newly postpartum families in need of some extra support with a volunteer doula. If you are interested in being a Sponsor for this event or donating an item, please see email info@DoulasCare.org.
Community Spotlight: Breastfeeding Training Series
Helping Moms Succeed!
The Breastfeeding Network, Genesee County Breastfeeding Coalition, and La Leche League of East Lansing are sponsoring two breastfeeding training programs for health care and community support professionals who work with pregnant women and families. Topics include:
- Community breastfeeding
- Eliminating breastfeeding disparities for African-American families
- Ways of talking that make a difference
Fee is $45; pre-registration is required
Trainings offered on Wednesday, July 14 in Grand Blanc or Tuesday, July 20 in East Lansing.
4.5 CERP credits approved; application has been made for continuing education credits for registered dieticians, registered nurses, and social workers as well. If approved for RNs, this will work for doulas needing CEUs for re-certification purposes through DONA as well.
For more information, go to www.llleastlansing.com.
Community Spotlight: Workplace Lactation Awards
On Mondays, I highlight upcoming community events, opportunities, and people of interest. Send items to patty@center4cby.com.
The Breastfeeding Coalition of Washtenaw County will hold their annual Workplace Lactation Awards on August 20th to recognize local businesses that provide a breastfeeding-friendly environment for breastfeeding moms. This is an important event that allows the coalition to continue to promote, protect and support breastfeeding through professional and community education, encouraging collaboration among breastfeeding advocates, raising awareness of breastfeeding, and supporting breastfeeding families in the community. In order to continue to recognize those employers who go the extra mile for their breastfeeding employees and customers we need everyone to step up and help us make this event and these awards happen. Click here to make a nomination. The deadline for making nominations has been extended to August 10th.
Pre/Post Natal Pilates Specialist Teacher Training
Community Spotlight
On Mondays, I highlight upcoming community events, opportunities, and people of interest. Send items to patty@center4cby.com.
with Carolyne Anthony, Owner
July 9–11
Carolyne Anthony is a lovely woman who has been assisting, coaching, and inspiring pregnant women and new mothers with their fitness needs for many years. She is also an experienced birth doula and mother of three girls. Now she is sharing her passion with as many people as possible — training the trainers! If you have been considering adding a new dimension to your own business support services, check out what Carolyne is offering. This is a unique local opportunity.
Personal Renewal Group for Mothers with Kate Stroud
Community Spotlight
On Mondays, I highlight upcoming community events, opportunities, and people of interest. Send items to patty@center4cby.com.
The group of 5–10 women meet once a month for 2.5 hours for six months for support, nurturing and empowering. Designed especially for mothers with babies, young children, or grown children. If you are a mother and you feel this would be a good fit for you, we would love to have you join us. July 8th–December 9th, 7–9:30pm, 2nd Thursday of the month. Supportive, nurturing, and empowering, the Personal Renewal Group for Mothers is a program for moms created specifically to explore and learn:
- how to “reconnect” with who you are
- strategies for making self-care/nurturance a priority so you can live, love, and parent optimally
- how to experience greater life balance
The program is based on career/life balance coach Renee Trudeau’s book The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate, and Re-Balance Your Life.
Call Kate at 734-395-6900 or Email info@katestroud.com.