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Upcoming Berkeley Mom’s Group

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New Moms Group at BirthWays
Tuesdays 2-3:30 pm
January 5th –February 9th

According to Sara L on Yelp this is the “BEST MOMS GROUP EVER!! Fantastic facilitator, wonderful women, we’re still hanging out months later.  This group will save your sanity.”

This is a facilitated support group for new moms and their babies -(usually babies rage in age from 2 weeks to 4 months). We will gather at the BirthWays space to share the intensity and joys of new motherhood with other moms.

This 6 week 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.

For a lot of moms this is an opportunity to practice getting out of the house and feeding and caring for your babies in public in a safe space.

Brooke on Yelp says this: “I took a Birthways new mom class that started when my son was just two weeks old. It was such an amazing experience to be with about 12 or so other new moms going through the same things I was going through. I learned a lot about breastfeeding, sleeping issues, massage, and much more for my son, but also self-care for me. It’s been three years and our group still keeps in touch. I feel a deep connection to those kids, too. When I see those little guys at the Y or around town I think back to those early sleep-deprived days and actually miss it. Birthways is such a great supportive environment. Highly recommended!!”

Facilitated by:
Stacia Biltekoff ~Postpartum Doula, Co- Founder of Bun & Bundle and Mama
Cost: $175 per 6 week session
For more info and to sign up go to: www.BirthWays.org/classes

Using Slings Wisely

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I thought Jane Austin sums carriers up nicely in this comment….

“As some as you know, I’ve been teaching mamas how to use ring slings for over 15 years. I carried both my kids in the ring sling until they were two. I’ve also carried literally hundreds of babies 4 weeks to 9months in a ring sling (in my postnatal yoga class).

It is imperative that babies be positioned correctly!!! They essentially should be positioned in the sling as they would be if they were being carried in someones arms. The babes head needs to be positioned so that it is above the crook of the elbow and the face visible.

I’m not crazy about the pocket sling because it is difficult to position the smaller babes correctly as they tend to sink to the bottom of the sling.
I also know hundreds of mamas that have safely carried babes in the Ergo but that said I also know a mama whos baby was suffocated in the Ergo….with the infant insert!

I would never recommend something I thought was dangerous but I think
mamas need to follow their instincts! If a mom doesn’t feel right about a
baby wearing holder she should not use it, she should listen to that inner voice.

Again it is so important to make sure you have the baby positioned correctly and be vigilant about check to make sure the babies air way is clear. But most of all follow your instinct. It is so pain full to think about these sad stories. My heart goes out to all mamas who have lost babies regardless the circumstances.”

Jane Austin
Founder/Director Mama Tree Prenatal Yoga School
Director of Prenatal and Postnatal Program at Yoga Tree
janeaustinyogaspan>.com

All for Dads

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RAD DADS FATHER SUPPORT GROUP – FREE INTRO EVENING

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This is a group for Fathers, Fathers-to-be, and men who want to thrive in Fatherhood.

This will be an intro evening for a committed Men’s group that is forming January 22nd with the aim of supporting the journey of men around the Bay Area into and through Fatherhood.

The role of Fatherhood is being actively re-defined in our generation and many men are unprepared for the new demands that this is placing on them.

This FREE intro evening is an opportunity for men to gather together and support each other in exploring these questions:

-How can you embody to the fullest the Father that you want to be?
-How to balance Family, Work and Personal time in your life?
-How can you embrace Fatherhood before your baby is even born?
-How to recognize and transform unhelpful male patterns from your family history?
-How to breakthrough male patterns of isolation and expand into a larger community of support.

Rad Dads Matthew Cavanna (livingbridges.net) and Matthias Geiger (matthiasgeiger.com) will be facilitating this evening and the committed group.

The event is FREE but please let us know that you are coming so we can prepare for you.

Understanding your Baby’s Behaviors- Oakland Workshop

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I’m super excited that my friend, Rebecca Thompson, is coming to town and is offering a workshop for parents! Please join me as I host her class and private sessions.

Did you know that what happens to your baby from conception through birth and beyond has an influence over your baby’s ability to settle when upset, to sleep, and to feed well? Therapist Annie Brook calls this the “Hidden Story.”

Did you know that babies record what happens to them within their bodies and nervous systems? Babies don’t “remember” it in the way adults remember, but these implicit memories or body memories show up in their transitions, milestones, and at times of stress.

Did you know that your baby is showing her body memory story every day by the way she feeds (or has difficulty feeding), patterns of sleeping and waking, and in the way she settles easily or not?

Now you can learn techniques that you can use with your baby, based on the work of Ray Castellino, which will help you understand your baby’s communication and behavior.

Get an eye-opening glimpse into the secret life of your baby in this one hour workshop. You’ll discover what you can do to help your baby to be calmer, happier, and settle more easily. You’ll understand more deeply what your baby is communicating to you in the everyday moments of parenting.

Teacher: Rebecca Thompson, M.S., MFT, is a holistic counselor who has trained extensively with Ray Castellino. She is the founder of The Consciously Parenting Project and author of the series Consciously Parenting: What It Really Takes To Raise Emotionally Healthy Families. More information at: consciouslyparenting.com

Date: Sunday, December 6, 2015, 3:30-4:30pm

Cost: $20 per family

Who: Open to expectant parents and families with pre-crawlers. Babies in arms are welcome.

Location: Awaken Chiropractic, 3515 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94610

Registration/Appointments: Please email Kim Lyons, kim@tumetime.com/510.798.3089

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*Rebecca will also be offering private sessions Sunday, Dec 6 and Monday, Dec 7
Contact: Kim at kim@tumetime.com/510.798.3089
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LGBTQ Parents and Parents-To-Be Support

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LGBTQ Parents and Parents-to-be Support Circle at Natural Resources with Dr. Meghan Lewis

This group is offered for parents awaiting adoption, the birth of their child(ren) through surrogacy, or who are pregnant. Connecting with community, sharing useful resources, and unique experiences can be a helpful way to give and receive support during the early stages of your growing family. Share newborn care tips and learn simple mindfulness practices to increase ease during this time of so many unknowns and exciting transitions.Our next gathering is on Monday Nov. 9th from 6-7pm. Please register at www.naturalresources-sf.com. For more information visit www.meghanlewisphd.com, Integrative Perinatal Psychotherapy.