New Mom’s Group starting in Berkeley

*New Moms Group at BirthWays*

*Tuesdays 1:30-3pm*

*August 26th-september 30th*

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). *Tuesdays August
26th-September 30th from 1:30-3:00 *we will gather at the BirthWays space
to take some time to give back to yourself and 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

Laid Back Breastfeeding class in Albany

Laid Back Breastfeeding: Biological Nurturing taught by Beth Rago, CLC and co-founder of the BABMC.

Sept 14th 3-6pm in Albany. Sliding scale, donation based. Suggested donation $20/person. No one turned away for lack of funds. Includes phone support after your baby is born.

Take an instinctive and biological approach to breastfeeding in the comprehensive 3 hour breastfeeding class. Learn about your babies instincts, body language and enjoy your breastfeeding experience by letting baby lead. Topics covered include: 9 instinctive stages in the first hour of birth and how to recognize readiness to feed, breast milk composition and nutrients, body changes, how to know if your baby is getting enough, what to do if you are sick, self attachment/baby led latching, instinctive parenting, partner roles, hand expression, pumping and storage.

Mothers with new infants encouraged to come.

Beth Rago is a Certified Lactation Counselor trained by Healthy Children, and has been helping women with lactation since 2010 when she co-founded the Bay Area Breast Milk Cooperative to help local families gain access to breast milk. You can find out more about the BABMC on the facebook page or go to http://www.bayareabreastmilk.wordpress.com http://www.bayareabreastmilk.wordpress.com

email bethrago@yahoo.com to register

Paws to Read – Oakland Reading Celebration!

Oakland Public Library has a summer party going on this weekend at the Oakland Museum of CA. Remember, read early and often!

Free First Sunday | Summer Reading Celebration: Paws to Read!

Sunday, August 3, 2014, 11 am–5 pm; Celebration 12–4 pm
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Enjoy a free day at OMCA at the annual Summer Reading Celebration with the Oakland Public Library. Held in OMCA’s lush gardens, activities celebrate this year’s theme, “Paws to Read!” including Little Explorers Petting Zoo, and bear paw and bear snout-making with the California Historical Society. Watch Germar the Magician and Rad Sanza, the caricature artist, or play games and have your face painted by folks at Oakland Parks and Recreation. A ceremony will honor all the children who have completed the Summer Reading Program with a special certificate of achievement. With performances, storytime, hands-on arts and crafts, and more, the celebration offers fun ways to learn and celebrate a love of reading. The celebration lasts from 12 to 4 pm.

All day, don’t forget to check out the Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences, pick up a treat for yourself or a loved one in the OMCA Store, or enjoy a lunch or snack in Blue Oak café. Join an OMCA Docent for the Architecture Tour at 1 pm, the Gallery of California Art Tour at 2 pm, or the Gallery of California History Tour at 3 pm.

Postpartum Stress Support Group in Kensington

“I have a new Postpartum Stress (depression/anxiety) Support Group beginning (most probably) on August 16th and I am currently meeting with interested individuals.  I have run these groups for the past 10 years and really enjoy facilitating a space for connection, growth and community for women feeling isolated in their postpartum experience.  The group is appropriate for women experiencing anxiety, intrusive thoughts, depression, insomnia, birth trauma, overwhelm and/or problems with attachment to their child.

The group will run biweekly for 8 sessions with the possibility of repeating the group cycle depending on the needs of the group members.  For more detailed information and a flier, please go to my website, http://www.leesafran.com/psg.htm.  Please feel free to call with any questions about the group and to pass this information on to interested others.”

Warm regards,
Lee
Lee Safran, MFT
1562 Oak View Ave.
Kensington, CA  94706
(510) 496-6096
www.leesafran.com