Laura Maxson - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Celebrating RC Fam’s Connections

Laura Maxson — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 14:05:42 +0000

Raíces y Cariño/RC Fam and the Mother’s Milk Bank California are excited to announce the grand opening of a long-awaited milk collection site on this side of the hill. The community is invited to join RC Fam’s second anniversary celebration and the Milk Bank’s Donation Drive on Saturday, Oct 19, from 1-3pm at RC FAM in Watsonville. Families will have an opportunity to learn about the milk bank and how to become a donor. The celebration will also highlight RC Fam’s steady growth in program, collaboration, and services, with a mini-health and family fair for all to enjoy. it will be an opportunity for RC Fam’s partner organizations to connect with one another and community members – and there will be cupcakes! The Milk Bank provides tested and pasteurized human milk to babies in hospitals and neonatal intensive care units (NICU) statewide, and beyond. The importance of human milk for preemies and other vulnerable babies is reaffirmed with each new study. By hosting the Milk Collection Site, RC Fam is helping to make a strong connection between the local community, the milk bank and ultimately, those many babies in need. Having a local Milk Bank connection will remind healthcare providers and community members alike to help spread the word about how easy it is to become a milk donor. Raíces y Cariño/RC Fam is committed to equity, inclusion, and wellness for all families and has become a hub where parents/families can connect to amazing support and collaboration from many different organizations. The website, and activities are available in both Spanish and English. Breast/chestfeeding parents will find Nursing Mothers Counsel on hand with information and support. A monthly, bilingual playgroup welcomes autistic and neurodiverse families of all ages. RC Fam is a safe and nurturing place for LBGTQIA+ families. The ongoing maternal mental health support group meets weekly. There are classes in yoga, pelvic floor strength building, parenting, mom & baby classes, and fathering support, as well as drop-in, bilingual play time, art experiences and special events – grandparents included! RC Fam has gradually expanded their programs, in part with the support of the Central Coast Alliance for Health. As a designated Medi-Cal provider location RC Fam is credentialed with Medi-Cal to provide Community Health Services. Their offerings now include community dental health day with Dientes, training and support for Medi-Cal doulas, and many classes and groups that are included in Medi-Cal’s covered care. The center serves not only the south county of Santa Cruz, but also families of Monterey, and San Benito counties. RC Fam was able to help many families affected by the Pajaro River flooding by providing food and clothing, as well as other resources. They stand ready to serve the community as a partner in all things. Raíces y Cariño/RC Fam – www.rcfam.com Celebration/Milk Drive – Saturday, Oct 19, from 1-3pm, 1205 Freedom Blvd #3B Watsonville Mother Milk Bank California – www.camilkbank.org

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It Is Always Hard to Say Goodbye

Laura Maxson — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 05:43:22 +0000

In January of 1998 I was invited to write a guest article for Debbie Friedman’s Growing Up in Santa Cruz column, Birth Matters. Debbie quickly, and generously passed her column on to me, where I have been fortunate to be able to share my thoughts on birth related topics in this space for over 25 years. I came to this column having given birth in a hospital, freestanding birth center, and at home. I already had 18 (of my 44) years as a La Leche League Leader under my belt, together with my work as a childbirth educator and doula I felt I had some insight into what mattered in birth. Around this same time, The Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative (MFCI) was created by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services. I was part of a local group who created Birth Network of Santa Cruz County, the first nonprofit to organize around the MFCI, and became its executive director in October 1998. In 2006, at age 50, I earned my LM and became licensed to practice midwifery in California, providing homebirth services to local families.I have recently retired from La Leche League, midwifery, doula work, and childbirth education. My children have grown. I am now a grandmother and through the magic of blended families a great-grandmother, as well. After 26 years of monthly columns, I find myself struggling to come up with new topics. It is time for a new voice to take up this column and continue the goal of protecting and preserving the importance of childbirth as a unique experience with the power to profoundly affect families. Our community has seen many positive changes over the past quarter century. Most babies now experience immediate skin-to-skin contact and delayed cord clamping at birth. All three hospitals now offer midwifery care, and we have a freestanding birth center along with homebirth options. The availability of lactation support through hospitals, local clinics, nursing mothers council and WIC have increased. Donated breastmilk is available to babies in need through the Mother’s Milk Bank. Families are finding new and inclusive areas of support in our community. As I continue as the director of Birth Network, and a member of the local breastfeeding, and perinatal mental health coalitions, I hope to continue with occasional contributions to Growing Up in Santa Cruz in the future. Thank you, Growing Up editors and readers, for your support through the years.I thought it would be fun to look back on an excerpt of that very first column. (*Note, my current writing is more inclusive of all families.) Thoughts of a DoulaAs a doula I see the special tenderness and loving exchanges between a woman and her partner and see the joy a new baby brings. I love to hear a woman say victoriously, “I did it!” after she gives birth.Moms will often tell me that they couldn’t have done it without me. Of course, she could have, and I tell her so, but I know what she means. She means that without my help she might not have been free to trust her body to birth her baby. She means that without my encouragement she might have forgotten to drink frequently to stay hydrated enough to avoid an IV. That she might never have tried that strange position that made contractions so much better. That without my moaning out loud with her, she might not have felt liberated enough to do it at all and it turned out that moaning was the one thing that helped her cope. When a dad turns to me with moist eyes and a big “thank you”, I know that he appreciated my calm presence. It can be a deciding factor in his calmness, as he feels the intensity of birth pulling at his confidence. Dads can be a little put off by labor, and while happy at first to sit and hold a hand, or whisper words of loving support, as labor progresses, he may find himself participating in levels he may never have considered possible without the subtle encouragement of the doula. And there are times when I see a shocked look in dad’s eyes as his wife groans loudly and sways with the intensity and power of her contractions. I can meet his eyes with calm reassurance and with one look let him know that this is normal, this is expected, this is birth. Birth Network of Santa Cruz County – birthnet.orgLaura Maxson – midwife @ scshop.com

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Breastfeeding Support for All

Laura Maxson — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 04:15:20 +0000

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. World Breastfeeding Week is August 1-7, with the theme, Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All. Mark your calendars now, to participate in upcoming activities next month. Recognition for Employers – Just thinking about leaving a little one to go back to work can be hard for many nursing mothers. Employers can play a critical role in easing the transition by encouraging breastfeeding through appropriate lactation accommodations. Knowing there are resources, as well as support for pumping at the workplace can help lessen the stress around returning to work. All California workers are entitled to breaktime and a designated space to express their milk at work, but not all employers are clear on how they can or should help. It is to the employers benefit to promote and support breastfeeding. Breastfeeding workers have fewer absences, experience lower healthcare costs, and have less worker turnover. Some bosses do the minimum expected and others go the extra mile to help lactating workers feel supported. Any employer in Santa Cruz or San Benito Counties providing lactation accommodations can be nominated to receive a certificate of recognition. Such a nice way to say thank you for supporting breastfeeding in the workplace and our community. Anyone can nominate a business for recognition by contacting Erika Costanzo at erikac@cbridges.org. Nominations should be made by August 31, 2024, and include the business name, along with the lactation accommodations provided. Breastfeeding Health Fair, August 9 – Community Bridges Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program will host their annual Breastfeeding Walk and Health Fair on Friday, August 9, from 3:00 – 5:30pm at the Watsonville Plaza Park in downtown Watsonville. This fun, family event includes giveaways, games, snacks, a live DJ, and free T-shirts, along with plenty of fun and information. Members of the Santa Cruz County Breastfeeding Coalition, as well as a variety of community services, and organizations will be there. Walk for Breastfeeding, August 9 – In conjunction with the Breastfeeding Health Fair, everyone is invited to join in a short walk downtown, complete with babies, strollers and signs to bring awareness to the importance breastfeeding. The City of Watsonville traditionally hangs a banner over Main Street proclaiming breastfeeding support. Lots of fun, pro-breastfeeding signs and chants, in both English and Spanish, accompany the horns honking back in support. Proclamations – WIC received a proclamation from the City of Watsonville on July 9, recognizing the importance of breastfeeding and honoring the dedication of the WIC program, serving Watsonville families for 50 years. Another proclamation in honor or Breastfeeding Awareness Month is expected in August from Santa Cruz County. Human Milk Donations – A donation station from the San Jose Mother’s Milk Bank will be available at the Breastfeeding Walk and Health Fair on August 9. Frozen milk donations of any size are welcomed at this event. Members of the Santa Cruz County Breastfeeding Coalition are joining with the Mother’s Milk Bank to promote milk donations throughout the entire month of August. Help is needed to spread the word about the importance of banked human milk for vulnerable babies, and the ease of signing up to be a donor Local Resources – Santa Cruz County has a variety of options for breastfeeding/chestfeeding support in the community. These include classes, support groups, and organizations such as Nursing Mothers Council. International board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLC), along with other trained counselors offer breastfeeding support. Local independent family resource centers, as well as county agencies, the Santa Cruz County Breastfeeding Coalition, hospitals, and other local clinics and programs offer support to nursing families. Birth Network of Santa Cruz County has listings for lactation resources online and in their printed guide. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months, with breastfeeding continuing for at least one year, and extending to two years or beyond. Help “close the gap” by recognizing the importance of breastfeeding all year long. By Laura Maxson

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Rhogam: The Miracle Shot

Laura Maxson — Sat, 04 May 2024 22:40:06 +0000

A pregnant person might not know their exact blood type, but they’ll usually know if it’s the kind that needs “the shot.” Calling it “the shot” doesn’t really convey the amazing protection offered against Rh isoimmunization by the injection of Rho(D) Immune Globulin (RhIG), also known as RhoGAM Why is the Rhogam shot needed? Just a few generations ago, over 10,000 babies a year were lost to Rh incompatibility in the United States. Until 1968 there was nothing to prevent this disease and the many sad outcomes related to it: miscarriage or stillbirth, and extremely ill newborns. What is Rh isoimmunization or incompatibility? Everyone’s blood type, A, B, AB, or O, is also typed as either negative (-) or positive (+). This indicates the Rh factor; the presence or absence of the Rhesus D antigen. If an Rh(-) person, pregnant with an Rh(+) baby, becomes exposed to their baby’s blood (most often at delivery), it can trigger antibodies to develop that will attack the antigens in the RH(+) blood. When exposure happens at delivery, that baby will usually be fine, as it takes time for the antibodies to develop, but if the mother’s body goes on to develop antibodies to the Rh antigens she will be considered isoimmunized or to have Rh incompatibility. Her antibodies will destroy any Rh(+) red blood cells that might show up in her body with a future pregnancy. Before RhIG injections were available, some families seemed to be plagued by pregnancy loss, often after a healthy, first child. The Rh factor in blood wasn’t identified until 1940, so they would not have known the series of apparently random pregnancy loss was due to Rh incompatibility triggered by a previous pregnancy. Many newborns died or had lifelong disabilities from the disease. Fortunately, the incidence of Rh incompatibility has decreased dramatically and treatment options have improved significantly. How does the shot work? The RhIG injection prevents the development of these antibodies. Researchers discovered that if the shot was given to an Rh(-) mother within 72 hours of giving birth to an Rh(+) baby, these dangerous antibodies did not develop, therefore future pregnancies were protected. It is now routine to immediately test the cord blood of every baby born to an Rh(-) person, so they can receive an injection to prevent isoimmunization if the baby is Rh(+). (If the baby is Rh(-) no shot is needed.) As additional prevention, any pregnant Rh(-) person is offered the RhIG injection at 28 weeks gestation, even though the baby’s blood type is not known yet, to protect against possible blood mixing in the last weeks of pregnancy. Occasionally, some people choose to skip the 28 week injection and wait to get the shot only if the baby is Rh+ at birth or there is an indication of bleeding/blood mixing before then. Parents should thoroughly discuss all options with their care provider as they make choices about their care. Another indication for an RhIG injection to prevent possible isoimmunization is anytime there might be fetal/maternal blood mixing, including miscarriage, abortion, ectopic pregnancy, abdominal trauma, amniocentesis, or chorionic villus sampling in a pregnant Rh(-) person. Today we are far removed from the danger and heartache of Rh isoimmunization that was common decades ago. What is now a routine shot was once considered the miracle of Rhogam®. By Laura Maxson LM

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Support Families in Need by Donating Milk

Laura Maxson — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 22:43:15 +0000

For 50 years the Mothers Milk Bank of San Jose has been providing human milk to babies in need, making it the longest running milk bank in the country. Milk banking has changed over time, with the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) instituting processes to make banked milk safer and more accessible. All milk is tested and pasteurized before use. On May 2, from 10am-2pm, Watsonville Community Hospital will be hosting the Santa Cruz County Breastfeeding Coalition’s annual Milk Drive in celebration of Mother’s DayThis free event will include an opportunity to make Mother’s Day related crafts, win a door prize, or other gifts. The Mother’s Milk Bank, along with WIC, and other member organizations of the Santa Cruz County Breastfeeding Coalition will be on hand to share their services and resources with families. While the Mother’s Milk Bank will be accepting frozen breastmilk donations at the event, all are invited to come learn more about milk banking – and maybe be inspired to become a donor. Usually, 100 ounces is the minimum accepted for a donation, however no amount of milk donated at the milk drive event will be turned away. Vetted milk will be processed and pasteurized before distribution to babies in need, and milk that doesn’t meet requirements for any reason used in research. Banked human milk is now often covered by insurance. Years ago, it was only available to the tiniest of preemies and sickest babies, but banked milk is now available to many more infants in need. The World Health Organization (WHO), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and many others recognize the importance of human milk, especially for the first year of life. Breast/human milk feeding exclusively for the first six months is particularly helpful in supporting optimal growth and development, and in protecting against many diseases, allergies, infections and more. The recognition of the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months has allowed the expansion of human milk donation to go beyond only treating ill babies. Now there is availability of this important resource to families who may not be able to provide babies any or enough of their own milk, including those in foster care, experiencing low milk supply, or medical indications/medications that conflict with lactation. While some parents weigh the risks and choose to casually share breastmilk between families, it’s important to know that HMBANA does not endorse casual milk sharing, instead striving to make donor milk available to all who need it. This means the more milk donors the better. Donated milk comes from those chest/breastfeeding parents who would like to contribute to the health and wellbeing of other babies. There have been one-time donations from a freezer stash of milk that is no longer needed, to donors who pump extra milk daily, specifically for the milk bank, sending their milk on a regular basis. A very special group of donors are those who have lost babies and when their milk came in, they looked to the milk bank to find some healing in a tragic situation. The 100-ounce minimum for donations is waived for bereaved parents and any amount of milk is accepted. Some donors get screened before collecting milk to donate and others decide to donate when they realize they’re producing plenty of milk or have a mega stash in their freezer. In any case, all donors begin by answering some quick questions online about their medical history (mothersmilk.org/donate-milk) or by phone (877.375.6645 (option 3). This is followed up with a few more forms and a blood test, with all costs paid for by the milk bank. The Mother’s Milk Bank would like to make it easier for Santa Cruz County parents to donate milk by locating a collection depot somewhere in the county to drop off frozen milk. Those who might be interested in becoming a collection depot can find out more at the May 2, event or contact the Milk Bank for more information. Human Milk Drive May 2, 10am-2pmat Watsonville Hospital5 Nielson St, WatsonvilleMother’s Milk Bank – Mothersmilk.org877.375.6645santacruzhealth.org – search Breastfeeding CoalitionBir By Laura Maxson LM

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Postpartum Doulas Help New Families

Laura Maxson — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 04:23:05 +0000

Sometimes there’s one miraculous moment of postpartum doula care that seems like a turning point in a new parent’s confidence. But more often it’s a series of small, almost imperceptible moments that together lighten the load; allowing everyone to take a breath, get their perspective back and continue learning how to be in tune with their new baby. Postpartum doulas are available to new families for a few hours, days, or weeks. Experienced with feeding support, they can offer encouragement through helpful tips and techniques that have been successful for many other families. They keep an eye out for situations that may seem beyond normal new baby transitions. While not a clinician a postpartum doula might be able to point out a possible problem brewing, so it can be attended to earlier rather than later. What every experienced parent knows, but most expectant parents don’t yet understand, is the intensity of the postpartum period. A postpartum doula can help get that shower in today instead of tomorrow – and during the shower, maybe they’ll quickly change the sheets. Once tucked back in bed with the newborn in arms, the doula might give the bathroom a quick wipe, empty the garbage and throw out that vase of dead flowers on the counter. A postpartum doula’s duties incorporate what’s important to each family. Making sure a new parent gets something nourishing to eat during the day and that there is a plan for dinner. Getting siblings ready for school or dance class. Entertaining the littles so the new parent might catch a quick nap with the newborn. Some tired parents might appreciate reminders such as: it’s the first of the month, are there bills they don’t want to forget about or that there is a pediatrician appointment tomorrow. Anything that reduces the pressures of the real world for a few minutes. Folding clothes, helping make the shopping list, and demonstrating effective burping techniques are all staples of postpartum doula care, but the real gift is the sense of calm that comes with a postpartum doula, and lingers long after they leave for the day. The first few weeks with a newborn are intense – there is no doubt about that. But the intensity should be a mix, with moments of bliss and bonding for the whole family that are unmatched and can be missed if they are overshadowed by ongoing anxiety, exhaustion, and stress. Those at risk for postpartum depression may especially benefit from the support of doula. So, how might you add one more expense into the price of pregnancy and birth? Look into postpartum doula care as soon as possible in the pregnancy. Get an idea of prices and packages, and then budget for it. Some insurance, including Medi-Cal, cover doula care now. Doulas are just now getting registered for payment so it may take some investigating to see how the program will work. Some families build a little nest egg toward postpartum doula care by putting some cash into a doula envelope every month during the pregnancy. Sharing the postpartum doula’s information on your shower registry allows people to contribute either to the family directly, to a friend who is coordinating the postpartum doula gift, or to the selected doula via a gift certificate found on some doula websites. Postpartum doulas aren’t aiming to replace supportive family and friends, but instead augment that care. Not everyone has family or friends ready and able to spend several weeks providing help with cooking, laundry, and baby care for a new family. In fact, many families are miles apart, if not in distance, then in temperament when it comes to planning for supportive care after birth. Postpartum doulas have skills, time and – most importantly – an air of calm confidence when it comes to being with new families. They don’t take over baby care; instead, they model, teach, and encourage parenting skills while helping to keep the household functioning. The gift of a postpartum doula helps prioritize people over things. Babies grow so fast and there are hundreds of beautiful, gently used baby outfits available for pennies on the dollar. But the value of a postpartum doula, especially for a first baby, can’t be matched. By Laura Maxson

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Help, It’s the Holidays!

Laura Maxson — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 17:52:35 +0000

The holiday season is a busy time. Parties and events with friends and extended family can leave pregnant and new parents feeling frazzled. Here’s some help to navigate some potentially stressful holiday situations. It’s not uncommon to be exposed to potentially traumatic or frightening birth stories during social situations. While a pregnant person can simply excuse themselves from a group if the topic gets too intense, a one-on-one situation can be a little trickier. One idea is to physically reach out and touch the storyteller’s arm. Say clearly, “Oh, I’m trying not to hear any stories about (getting an epidural, having a cesarean, a baby in the intensive care unit, etc.) right now.” Offer to hear the story after the baby comes, then ask a question about something safer like diapering tips. With extended family visiting for the holidays, free-flowing parenting advice often follows. It can be difficult for grandparents and others to hear how what they did years ago, often on doctor’s orders (wean the baby, make baby sleep through the night, start solids at a few weeks of age) is now bad advice. Assume that, however hurtful their advice may seem, it is given out of love, and perhaps ignorance of current guidelines, or your specific choices. Take a moment to see that defending your current parenting decisions might be seen as criticizing their past choices. Try to acknowledge the feelings behind the advice; “I know you are concerned about Sarah nursing so often, but…” or “I can tell you are nervous about Noah’s sleeping arrangements, but…” Give them concrete information and any facts that support your choices. You can always enlist your pediatrician’s advice. “I know you gave Michelle solids at two-months, but we agree with our doctor’s advice to do it this way.” Clearly state when a topic is not open to discussion. (Be united on this.)Take a hard look at holiday expectations. All the extras can be exhausting, especially when pregnant. • Take time out to rest. • Take advantage of online shopping. • Be sure to only eat buffet foods that are fully cooked, and served at the proper temperature. • Avoid eggnog that is not pasteurized or is made with raw eggs while pregnant. • Try not to skip meals.

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Ready or Not, Here They Come

Laura Maxson — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 20:51:20 +0000

There is so much to think about and do to prepare for a new baby. Nine months of pregnancy can seem like plenty of time, but it can go fast. Suddenly, the baby is here, and the to-do list goes out the window, exchanged for busy days filled with the many small demands of a tiny new person. Parents everywhere think, “What in the world did I do all day before this baby came?” So, while there is still time to sit and focus, here are a couple of tasks to move to the top of the to-do-BEFORE-baby-arrives list. One involves acquiring a skill you hope to never use, and the other is for one you hope to use day-in and day-out for months on end. First- learn CPR. Of course, your little one is unlikely to have a heart attack, but an obstructed airway is one of the most common reason parents to need to provide lifesaving action. A complete adult, infant, child, CPR, AED (defibrillator), and first aid class may take the better part of a Saturday, but it will provide great peace of mind – not only around a new baby, but maybe around the grandparents as well. Life tends to only get busier as children and families grow. Take a class now – ask anyone who has been around a near drowning or choking situation – it is a skill set to have readily available. A course that includes an instructor to check your technique is highly recommended, but there are on-line and mail order versions that also impart valuable skills. Some classes provide education only, while others offer a certification. Courses can range from free, to well over $100. Check out some of the many options for CPR instruction in our community: • American Heart Association (AHA) “Infant CPR Anytime” kit can be ordered for about $45.00. This includes an inflatable infant manikin (with extra lung for another user), DVD and more in English or Spanish – shopcpr.heart.org/courses/cpr-anytime • Defib This, in Santa Cruz offers AHA classes – defibthis.com • Above the Bar – Friends & Family CPR for $20-40 – abovebarcpr.com • The American Red Cross online class starts at $37. A variety of local in-person classes are also offered. – redcross.org • Central Fire District offers a monthly, free “bystander” CPR class. – www.centralfiresc.org/2221/CPR-Classes • Our local family support centers, such as Circle Family Center, RC Fam/ RC | Raíces y Cariño, Full Moon Birth & Family Wellness Center, as well as local hospitals and clinics periodically offer these classes. They are often interest-driven, so asking for a class may prompt one. Second, start learning about infant feeding before baby arrives. While many parents wait until baby is born to attend one of our community’s many feeding-support groups, many find they aren’t ready to get out of the house during those first tender weeks after birth. It can pay to get a head start on building skills while still pregnant to help things go more smoothly. While exploring a few different options in-person while pregnant, make a list of contacts including when each feeding-support group meets, to put on the fridge for after the baby arrives for easier scheduling. By Laura Maxson

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Birth Network – 25 Years and Counting

Laura Maxson — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 19:27:34 +0000

This year’s Pregnancy and Birth issue of Growing Up just happens to fall on Birth Network of Santa Cruz County’s 25th anniversary. Receiving their official nonprofit status in October of 1998, Birth Network’s mission to support parents and service providers with information, education, and advocacy for “Mother-Friendly” childbirth began. Birth Network promotes the goals and principles outlined in the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative (MFCI), a blueprint for optimal maternity care that was hot off the press in 1996. A quarter of a century ago, Birth Network was the first non-profit to organize around the MFCI, a document ratified by a coalition of 31 individuals and 26 major childbirth related organizations. Childbirth is a pivotal life event that benefits from accurate information about birth options, and education to make decisions based upon individual needs. The MFCI was poised to bring about critical changes to maternal/infant health in the US, and the world. While embraced by Birth Network and other grassroots organizations, the national momentum of the MFCI was stymied, in part by the refusal of ACOG, the national organization of obstetricians and gynecologists, to endorse the document – no doubt the promotion of midwifery and low-tech care over typical obstetrics for most births was a sticking point. As a static document, the language of the MFCI is dated and while it appears non-inclusive, nothing could be further from the truth. The principles and goals are clear and promote diversity, and inclusivity, acknowledging the burden minoritized groups carry when it comes to the state of maternity care in the US. Birth Network recognizes that Mother-Friendly care includes all pregnant people. In 1998 it was difficult to simply find a doula, homebirth midwife or other non-mainstream childbirth/pregnancy related service. Today a pregnant or new parent can easily find Birth Network’s website, their printed Pregnancy and Birth Resource Guide, as well as Meet the Doulas, and Bellies, Birth and Babies events, because these community resources have been present in our community for over a generation. A mainstay of the birth community, Birth Network is a founding member of the local Breastfeeding Coalition, a member of the Perinatal Mental Health Coalition, and has been involved in many community endeavors over the years. Recognizing early on that they couldn’t possibly oversee everything birth related, Birth Network instead works to be a catalyst in the childbirth community providing collaboration and support on projects and concerns. Some of Birth Network’s past projects have included: So, what’s in line for the future? Birth Network weathered the pandemic and rebuilt their board of directors. Their anchor events, Meet the Doulas, and Bellies, Birth, and Babies now include a south county location that will help support bilingual access to resources. Birth Network is working with other agencies and organizations to help both doulas and parents understand and access California’s new Medi-Cal doula program. Birth Network continues to support their professional members with ongoing Networking Lunch speakers and discussion topics, as well as marketing opportunities in their printed Pregnancy and Birth Resource Guide and on the Birth Network website. This year finishes out with Meet the Doulas on December 3, in Aptos; Bellies, Birth, and Babies on November 12, in Watsonville; and Networking Lunch for professional members on October 13. Those interested can find details on all the upcoming events at www.birthnet.org. It’s exciting to think that some of those new or expecting parents attending an event this year might come from a family who attended a Pregnancy Information Night way back in 1998. By Laura Maxson

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Bellies, Birth and Babies is Back

Laura Maxson — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 05:52:28 +0000

Birth Network of Santa Cruz County is excited to offer the first Bellies, Birth and Babies (BBB) event since 2019, on September 10, 2-4pm at the Circle Family Center in Aptos. This 2-hour community event offers expectant and new parents, as well as their support teams, education, skills and resources to enhance their childbirth and parenting journey. Birth Network will offer BBB events every two months with the next one planned for November 12, at the RC Fam/Raíces y Cariño in Watsonville. Next year’s schedule will see BBB events held in the Westside/Scotts Valley area, as well.Each Bellies, Birth & Babies will offer a panel of speakers and an activity or demonstration. The topics for panels and options for activities will change at each event, providing participants the opportunity to attend multiple events to expand their knowledge. Light refreshments will be available. The September 10th event will include:Vendors and Parent Networking – Vendors will include Childish Toys, Primrose & Lace Nursing Bras, and Little Trends Boutique. As attendees browse the offering of items for sale, they will also have an opportunity to connect with other parents. This is such a great opportunity to find other families who want to make a playdate at the park or get together for another activity. Support for Your Changing Body – Learn about how complementary health care such as chiropractic, acupuncture, pelvic physical therapy, and body work can help before, during and after pregnancy. This panel presentation will include: Krista Healy, DC; Taflyn Wilschinsky, DPT; Lee Ann Cuny, DO.Babywearing Demo and Fitting – Participants can try out different baby carriers and hear about how to safely wear babies. Baby carriers come in various sizes to support newborns through toddlers, can be casual or dressy, soft, or structured. There’s a baby carrier for everyone – dads and grands included. Taking some time to try on different carriers can make a big difference when it comes to comfort. Attendeeswill also find out about the local baby carrier lending library. Presenters include: Carolyn Eckman and Jay McMillin from Bay Area Babywearing, and Goldi Jaques-Moynes, DCThe Sept. 10th BBB will have a limited number of tickets available (30 total). This will help ensure that participants can have their questions answered and have ample hands on experience with the baby carriers. Those planning to attend should register early to secure a spot. And mark their calendars for the next BBB on Nov. 12 where the panel topic will be Preparing for Childbirth and the activity will be related to Breastfeeding. Due to the limited number of tickets offered for each event, it is important to cancel tickets if unable to attend so another family is able to go. While there is a suggested donation of $5 when registering for tickets, it is not required. As with all in-person events, people should stay home if not feeling well. Masking is always welcome but currently not required by the County. Bellies, Birth & Babies will always be a fun and informative event for new and expectant parents. The format of the current event will evolve over the next year as the Birth Network discovers what topics and activities most interest parents. Birth Network’s landing page on Eventbrite, birthnetsantacruz.eventbrite.com, has registration information on all their upcoming events – Bellies, Birth & Babies, and Meet the Doulas. Of course, Birth Network’s own webpage at birthnet.org has upcoming events listed, as well as listings for each of their professional members. By Laura Maxson

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