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BirthWays New Moms Group

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New Mom’s Group
May 9-June 13 2013
3-4:30PM

Take some time to give back to yourself and share the intensity and joys of new motherhood with other moms. This 6 week facilitated series will cover such topics as: sharing birth stories, finding time to heal your body and mind, feeding your baby, adjusting to your new identity as a parent, trusting yourself enough to know when not to listen to another piece of “good” advice, navigating changing relationships with partners and friends, going out with your baby, preparing to go back to work or stay home with baby, sleep… what sleep? And most importantly, realizing that you are not alone in this journey.

Price: $175.00
To register please go to www.birthways.org
Hosted by Meghan Lewis
www.meghanlewisphd.com

Increase Breastfeeding By Educating and Supporting Fathers

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A recent study from Australia reported that if a father was educated and supported about breastfeeding both pre and post natally, the breastfeeding rates went up. I wonder what would happen if we educated and supported every family, extended family member or community?

Pass it on!

J Hum Lact. 2013 Apr 19. [Epub ahead of print]

Education and Support for Fathers Improves Breastfeeding Rates: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Maycock B, Binns CW, Dhaliwal S, Tohotoa J, Hauck Y, Burns S, Howat P.

1School of Public Health and Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.

Abstract

Background:Studies have identified numerous factors affecting breastfeeding initiation and duration, including maternal education, mode of delivery, birth weight, socioeconomic status, and support of the infant’s father.Objective:The objective was to investigate the effects of an antenatal education session and postnatal support targeted to fathers.Methods:The Fathers Infant Feeding Initiative (FIFI Study) is a randomized controlled trial to increase the initiation and duration of breastfeeding that was conducted in 8 public maternity hospitals in Perth, Western Australia. A total of 699 couples were randomized within hospitals to either intervention or control groups. The intervention consisted of a 2-hour antenatal education session and postnatal support provided to fathers.Results:The any breastfeeding rate for the intervention group was significantly greater at 6 weeks: 81.6% in the intervention group compared to 75.2% in the control group, odds ratio 1.46 (95% CI, 1.01-2.13). After adjustment for age and hospital, the odds ratio for any breastfeeding in the intervention group was 1.58 (1.06-2.35) and for socioeconomic status (SES), 1.56 (1.06-2.30). The infants of older fathers were more likely to be breastfed at 6 weeks compared to infants of younger fathers (P < .01), and infants of fathers with high SES more likely than infants of fathers with low SES (P = .013).Conclusion:Even a small increase in breastfeeding rates brings public health benefits. In this study, a minimal intervention was found to significantly increase any breastfeeding at 6 weeks: 81.6% in the intervention group compared to 75.2% in the control group.
PMID: 23603573 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
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Early Intervention Services For Ages Birth to 3 Years

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Most of my professional career has been spent working in early intervention (ages birth to 3 years). First as a child development specialist for an HIV/drug treatment program in an inner city, then as a program coordinator for an early intervention center based program.

I learned an enormous amount from the staff in each of these settings. And I saw the results that occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language therapy could make even when the treatment was minimal (because sometimes that is all some little ones need).

The term early intervention has allowed families to think about therapies in a new way. A way that doesn’t stigmatize, but instead offers a more personalized plan for each child. Most programs also include the family, so services can be seamless between the center or therapist and the home.

This article recounts a mothers reasons for referring her own children to early intervention services.

http://www.weknowstuff.us.com/we-know-stuff/2013/04/the-gift-of-early-intervention.html

Although this is a Canadian based newspaper article (and the funding is a bit different), it also gives a summary of early intervention services and reasons for referrals.

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/News/Local/2013-04-29/article-3230013/Bringing-awareness-to-Early-Childhood-Intervention/1

Every city should have an early intervention system in the USA. In California, the referral would be to the Regional Center in your area. Typically, over the age of 3, you would refer to your school system for services.

If you have questions about your little one, start with your pediatrician and early intervention centers to get your questions answered.

Talking To Your Baby

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Talking to your baby seems pretty natural, right? We have learned that baby talk or babbling is actually not helpful to communication development. So what is? Everything that you describe, comment and joke about throughout the day! Its as simple as saying, “What should we have for breakfast today?” “Oh, look, we have oatmeal, milk and fruit. Lets put them all together to make a yummy oatmeal. Here is the pot….” Anything you can do to boost the conversation, even if it seems like you are just talking out loud, encourages baby’s brain to gather words and information. Its important to remember that these interactions must come from a live person, not a screen.

See what else research has shown in this NYTimes article:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/10/the-power-of-talking-to-your-baby/

 

Mom’s Day Retreat

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Sometimes its a nice to take a bath or a walk as a retreat from our busy lives, but how often do we celebrate ourselves for the job we do being a Mom?

Take time this Mothers Day to congratulate yourself in a small or big way.

Gina Hassan is offering a mini-retreat you might want to consider.

Mindful Mothers’ (Day) Retreat
Saturday May 11th 10:00-1:30
A gift to give yourself or a loved one for the day before mothers’ day

Come honor your motherhood with this half-day mini-retreat led by Gina Hassan Ph.D., mother, psychologist, and mindful parenting coach. We will practice mindfulness with guided meditation and other practices, including a yoga practice with Jessica Premsangha Prakasha, strengthen our intention and focus and explore the path of mindful mothering. Give this gift of care to yourself or a mother you know. We will cultivate spaciousness and connect with the powerful wisdom we can offer our children and families by taking the time to open our hearts to the present moment.

This half-day retreat will be led by Gina Hassan, Ph.D., director of Mindful Beginnings, which offers Mindfulness-Based New Mothers’ Groups, 2nd-Time Moms’ Groups, Mindful Mothering Groups, and individual and couples therapy. Gina has a daily meditation practice and strives to incorporate mindfulness into her own parenting as well as the lives of the mothers and couples she works with.

To register please call 510.644.1097 or send an email to
ghassanphd@aol.com

The cost for this half-day retreat is $70.00. If you sign up with a friend there is a $5.00 discount. Size is limited and it is necessary to pre-register. No prior experience is required. This retreat is appropriate for pregnant women and mothers of all ages.The retreat will be held in South Berkeley, location details will be provided upon registration.

Gina Hassan, Ph.D.
510.644.1097
www.ginahassan.com