Back to School Time- Learning to be an advocate

While I may not have posted lately, I have been very active in the birth/breastfeeding community over the past month. I had a fabulous time participating in the Latch On America event, the Breastfeeding Cafe, the Big Latch, the babywearing flash mob (all at the downtown library), and also at the Mother's Corner at the Davis County Fair. I'm now almost halfway through my series of childbirth education classes and absolutely loving it. I look forward to my class all week. I have awesome couples and I love sharing the important information with them as they prepare for the arrival of their little ones!

With the end of summer comes the beginning of school. Watching the back-to-school sales and hearing stories from my teacher friends makes me a bit nostalgic for the job I enjoyed for almost five years- that of an elementary school teacher. There are few jobs like it- no day is the same...and almost every day gives you a story to tell!

I am SO humbly grateful for the opportunity I have now to be a stay-at-home mom and be fully involved in my baby daughter's life. I hope I will continue to have that privilege for many years to come. I am also very grateful for the chance to teach childbirth education classes to expecting couples (usually just one night a week). It allows me to feel the joy of teaching, especially about a subject that I am so passionate about.

Remembering my years as a 5th and 6th grade teacher reminds me why I became a childbirth educator. I definitely preferred the "upper grades" of elementary school as a teacher- I loved working with students who could (basically) take care of their own needs, listen and follow directions (well, most of the time), and have a good conversation about a topic. However, there are some downsides to teaching older students. One of the downsides is the *drama* that comes with pre-teenagers (the note-passing, eye-catching, rumor-spreading age...).

The other difficulty is trying to help students at this age who are SO far behind in their academic progress. I worked in a very high-needs, high-poverty school. In my sixth grade class, each year I had students whose reading levels varied from above grade level to the BEGINNING reader level (like first grade level). The reasons for the deficiency were varied, and this post isn't intended to get into the politics of public education, but whatever the reason, the frustration and despair were real. Some students made impressive gains in their abilities, while it felt like others got farther and farther behind as the skills expected of a sixth grader were so far above their heads.

The parents, most of whom were facing huge pressures of trying to provide for a family in tough economic times with little education themselves, loved their children. I have so much respect for so many of the humble, loving families that I interacted with. I met parents who had sacrificed more for their children than I could even begin to imagine. They wanted their children to have a better life.

Many, however were not sure how to be advocates for their children. They did the best with what they knew how to do (and what they could handle at the moment). In those quiet moments, especially after meeting with parents at conferences, I really wished I could give them more. I wished I could pause the school year and sit individually with their child and help him/her to learn the necessary skills until he/she mastered them.

Even more than that, though, I wish I could have reversed the clock and helped these families have a better start. I wish I could have helped the parents advocate for their children long before they had a child in the sixth grade who was reading on a second grade level. I wished I could empower parents to learn the skills they need to help their children and advocate for their child's best interest.

In this midst of this teaching experience, my husband and I learned we were expecting our first baby. We took childbirth education classes, determined to give our baby the best start in life. In October of 2010, our little Molly joined our family in a beautiful birth-center birth. I don't profess that the decisions I made for my family are right for each person, but I do plead with parents to know their options and learn to be advocates for their child, even before he/she is born!

Did you know that many doctors/midwifes still routinely clamp and cut the umbilical cord immediately after birth even though repeated studies show that your baby benefits by waiting to cut the cord until it stops pulsing? These benefits can be shown immediately and even months after birth. By being informed of this practice, you can be an advocate for your baby and request that your baby's cord is not clamped or cut until it stops pulsing. Read more here.

Did you know that many school districts, including the Salt Lake City School District, have open school choice, which means that you can choose a school or program that is best for your child?

These are just two examples of how being informed can help you make the best decisions for your family and advocate for your children.

Dr. Sarah Buckley's book Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering discusses informed decision-making using the "BRAN" model. Dr. Buckley discusses procedures related to prenatal care and labor & delivery.

For each procedure, she outlines the:

Benefits to the proposed procedure

Risks (physical, mental, emotional)

Alternatives to the procedure

....and what happens if you do

Nothing

Once parents understand these four components, they are able to make an educated decision.

Obviously, this model could be used by all of us, whether we are making a medical decision during pregnancy or making a decision regarding our child's education. Wouldn't it be great if we were all this informed before we made decisions? With this type of information, we could truly be advocates for our kids (and ourselves!).

So, I became a childbirth educator because I'm passionate about birth and I believe it can and should be a sacred, significant, positive experience. Beyond that event, though, I hope to empower parents to become advocates for themselves and their children...starting now.

This post is a mix of my former (schoolteacher) and current (childbirth educator) opportunities--but I hope you will see how they are connected. Begin at birth to be informed and advocate for your children!

If you, or anyone you know, is expecting a baby, please check out my childbirth education classes!

Guest Post on SLC Breastfeeding Cafe Page

I'm proud to be the guest poster on Breastfeeding Cafe SLC's blog today--check it out and read other blogs on the topic of breastfeeding. Also, check out their events coming up soon!

LLL visit and LOTS of exciting events!

"My Visit to LLL"

First of all, if you have never been to a La Leche League meeting (LLL), you definitely should. It is a great idea for expecting moms as well as currently nursing moms. At each meeting, trained leaders (and other moms who may be in similar situations) are available to offer free advice and support.

Links to the various LLL groups in the area are available on my "Links" page (click above).

This week, I visited the LLL of Murray group. They meet on the first Tuesday of the month at noon at the Murray Park Church of Christ (494 East 5300 South Murray, UT 84107). This group has SO much going on. In addition to their monthly daytime meetings, they are also having summer evening family meetings (usually picnics or potlucks) as a chance for breastfeeding families to gather. Check out their website at http://www.lllofmurray.blogspot.com/ to keep track of all they have going on. 

At the meeting, I was able to get more information about some of the EXCITING events happening in SLC this summer to support breastfeeding and babywearing. These are some "can't miss" events! Read below for more details:

Upcoming Events:

Babywearing FlashMob- It's not too late to be part of a babywearing flash mob...coming somewhere near you, sometime soon. The event is sponsored by BobaCarriers and SleepyWrap (which means that you could have a chance to win a free baby carrier by participating!) in the Salt Lake Area, and is organized by Timbra Wiist and Claire Lindstrom. If you are interested in particpating, the two remaining practices are Fri 7/15 and Fri 7/29 at 4pm at the Murray Park Church of Christ (494 E 5300 S Murray).

Latch On America- A big pink bus sponsored by milkforthought.com is coming to visit Salt Lake as part of their nationwide tour! It will be on the SE area of the downtown SLC Main Library Square from 4-7pm on July 22nd. Come on down! This is a great opportunity to connect with some of the local breastfeeding resources and supporters in our area. *pending permit approval-I'll post if anything changes*

The Annual Breastfeeding Cafe will be running for two weeks at the SLC downtown Main Library from August 1-14th. Everyone is invited to come down to chat, nurse, learn, and socialize. There will be classes offered as well as informal chat sessions. Volunteers are still needed. More info at http://breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com/

The Big Latch On is a national event for nursing mothers and babies--counting the number of breastfeeding moms gathered--will they set a record?? SLC's event will be on Saturday, August 6, starting with registration at 9:30 am on the NE lawn of SLC Main Library Square.  The Big Latch On will count how many nursing moms are there from 10:30-10:31 am. Show the world that breastfeeding is normal and best for babies! They also need help from NON nursing persons, for official counting and are still looking for 5 or 6 people to help with that. Contact Timbra at lllofmurray @ gmail.com for more info about this event or to volunteer.

To keep up with all that's going on, you can follow the Breastfeeding Cafe or La Leche League of Murray on Facebook.

I am proud to say that I (Hailey @ Birth Utah) will be attending most of these events too! See you there!

New class starting August 2nd!

I'm thrilled to announce I will be teaching a twelve week series of childbirth education classes starting August 2nd and ending October 18. This series, which will be on Tuesday nights from 7-9pm, is perfect for women and couples with due dates in November, December, or January. I'm renting a space at Salt Lake Prenatal Massage, so the location is super easy to get to (28 E 2100 S, just off I-15). Click on "Childbirth Education" to learn more about the classes. Contact me today to reserve your space. Spread the word! This is the best gift you could give to a pregnant family member, friend, coworker, etc (or to yourself!)--the opportunity for a prepared and empowering birth experience!

Why I Breastfeed...from A to Z

NOTE: This post is NOT intended as an attack on anyone who does not breastfeed. Its purpose is to encourage those who do breastfeed already, and encourage expectant mothers to decide to breastfeed.

I am SO grateful that I am able to breastfeed my daughter! It's a special gift that only I can give her, and some days it feels like a super-power.

Well, I'll admit that I'm grateful 95% of the time...sometimes I have *those* days when I need a little reminder of how wonderful it is!

So, I sat down to make a list for that other 5% of the time when I need encouragement. My daughter is now 7 months old and I feel like we are at a "happy" stage of breastfeeding--past the painful struggles to get it right in the beginning. If you are enjoying it less than I, maybe this list will help you! Or, maybe you should make your own list to encourage yourself to keep going (something to do while nursing at 2 am...).

I know I'm not the first person to make an A to Z list of reasons to breastfeed, but this is my own personal list. It was difficult to choose which reasons to use, because there are so many reasons why breastfeeding rocks! There are many more reasons, but here is my list...next to each reason is a link to articles, blogs, documents, etc. that give more information on the topic.

Antibodies "Breastmilk contains lymphocytes and macrophages that produce antibodies and other immune factors."
Brain Development & Bonding Research shows that breastfeeding leads to optimal brain development, which equates to a higher IQ level, especially for infants born prematurely. Breastfeeding also promotes a stronger bond between mother and child helping to develop a higher level of trust.
Cancer, reduced risk (for mom & baby!) Prolonged breastfeeding significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer and this protective effect was supported by a dose-response relationship.
Diabetes, less likely Women who breastfeed even one month reduce their diabetes risk
Ear infections, less likely Your breastfed child will not only have fewer ear infections, but protection against other infections. 
Flavorful "Babies who are breast-fed tend to have a more adventurous palate when they start eating solids" (okay, this one is just kinda anecdotal, but cool!)

GI tract coating colostrum and breast milk coats the gut, passively providing

immunity during the time of reduced neonatal gut immune function

Half the risk of SIDS This study shows that breastfeeding reduced the risk of sudden infant death syndrome by ∼50% at all ages throughout infancy.

Interactive, living fluid Breast milk "constantly" adapts according to the needs of a baby

Just the right balance of nutrients The perfect nutrition only you can provide

Kangaroo Care Breastfeeding facilitates skin-to-skin contact, which has  proven successful in improving survival rates of premature and low birth weight newborns.

Lactational amenorrhea Breastfeeding can delay the return of your period

Moms are happier Breastfeeding also has an important role to play in mothers' postpartum mental health.

No waste  breastmilk is also the most eco-friendly choice for your baby’s world

Oxytocin and other helpful hormones are released Oxytocin triggers nurturing activity, which no doubt plays a huge role in baby's cognitive and emotional development.

Provides lower chance of childhood obesity Our results suggest that breastfeeding is associated with a reduction in childhood obesity risk

Quick- no need to mix, heat, etc...it's ready to go!

Relaxing- research has found that mothers who do not breastfeed are more stressed than those who do. 

Saves Money (for you and the healthcare system!)  One of the easiest ways to save over $1200 during your baby's first year of life is to choose breastfeeding.

Takes practice but it gets easier!  If breastfeeding is new for you, be patient.

Uterus contracts the hormones that help with breastfeeding also make the uterus contract

Vision- breastfed babies have better vision at 4-6 years old than babies who were with formula

Weight loss for mom- Breastfeeding helps by burning about 500 calories a day.

X-factor: It can't be duplicated. Not all the properties of breast milk are understood

You can 'wear' your baby and breastfeed at the same time  Imagine the possibilities!

Zzzzzzz-more sleep! Exclusive breastfeeding leads to more sleep, and it also leads to better sleep 

Remember, if you are having struggles, GET HELP! There are awesome resources out there! (see "Breastfeeding" on my "links" page above. There is even a 24 hour helpline staffed by LaLecheLeague volunteers!)

Is it easy? Not always. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

Share your reasons for breastfeeding! (Comment below)

The Influence of Women

Yesterday, I went to visit a friend who I hadn't seen in years. We were missionary companions in Arizona a few years ago, and while I always felt close to her and enjoyed her company, after our missions our paths took us to different locations for a few years. Now she has two kids and I have one (we both had babies last October!) and she is living just a few minutes from me.

We had an absolutely lovely day, catching up while changing diapers and feeding babies. She gave birth to both of her children at home, and she talked about how incredible those experiences were. We talked about our desires for women to understand their incredible abilities and be supported in the choices they have in their many roles in life, particularly in marriage, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and parenting.

When I was with her, the time just flew by. I wasn't afraid to talk to her about anything, because she is so supportive and understanding. She is so genuine. Her attitude, her intelligent children, her beautiful home; being with her makes me a better person. Every woman needs friends like that.

And I am very blessed in that department--almost every day this week I have been/will be in the company of amazing women- my mom, my sister, some of the other amazing childbirth educators in Utah, close friends from church, my mother-in-law, and my sister-in-laws. How lucky am I!

On the contrary, though, I have seen how the influence of women can not be as positive. I follow an online forum that is mostly comprised of women and have seen how bitterness and hurt can breed ugliness. I am hopeful, though, and have seen already, that many women with grace and love can meet that bitterness and anger, allow it it's moment, and move forward with compassion and optimism.

I have also seen (and experienced) women who tend to isolate themselves from other incredible women, for fear of being judged, or feeling like they don't "measure up." How sad it is to miss out on these experiences!

Days after my daughter was born, I was sitting at home in the middle of the day one day, in sweats, with no makeup and messy hair (and probably assorted baby fluids on my clothes). Someone knocked at the door. My house was a mess. I was tempted not to answer it, but I did. There stood a woman from church who I've always looked up to. She came over with a simple gift of diapers and wipes. She walked over with her dog and had not done her hair or makeup, and was also wearing sweats. I was grateful for the diapers and wipes, but even more grateful for her messy hair, lack of makeup, and the incredible wisdom she shared in just the few minutes we talked at the door. She spoke of her time as a new mom and totally validated my feelings (without me sharing anything!). I was so grateful I'd answered the door, despite my appearance.

All of these experiences and observations have led me to ask myself: what influence do I have as a woman? Do I lift others? Am I sharing my experiences in a nonjudgmental way that promotes choice and empowers women?

It is my belief that we do our best work at lifting others when we aren't afraid to share our real selves. I hope that I wouldn't turn away from helping a friend because of my insecurities.

These women help me define the woman I want to become. I hope that, with their influence and the support of my ever-loving husband, I will be able to become that woman.

As a childbirth educator, the question is often posed: who should I invite to be present at my birth? That question is a very personal one, and between a couple to decide for themselves. When my baby was born, the only people in the room were myself, my husband, and our midwife. It was perfect in the moment. However, I would encourage you to consider the strength that women give each other. I felt that strength from our midwife and from the women who I knew were offering their love and support and experience to me, even if not in the room.

I would encourage you, always, but especially while pregnant and as a new mom, to find women who lift you, and surround yourself with them. Hopefully, by doing so, we can all be a little bit better.

Better Late Than Never

Recently I took a field trip to a place I wish I'd known about when I was pregnant! Do you ever have moments like that when you say, "I wish I'd known about this when ________"?  It can be frustrating to find something later than you wish, but in this case, it's better late than never!

Where is this wonderous place, you ask? My visit was to Salt Lake Prenatal Massage, where I had a great conversation with the owner, Rebecca de Azevedo Overson, LMT.


My conclusion? If you are pregnant and in Utah, you should know about this place. Let me tell you why:

-First of all, their slogan is "pregnancy made comfortable." Umm....yes, please. You mean that's possible?? :-)

-While other providers may offer prenatal massage, Salt Lake Prenatal Massage is the only massage therapy clinic in Utah that focuses solely on childbearing women. Rebecca has received extra training and has tons of experience to know exactly how to help women in every stage-- those trying to conceive, those currently expecting, those recovering from birth, and those who are new(er) moms.

-According to Rebecca, women can receive massages in all stages of pregnancy. I was impressed how conscientious they are in this clinic--they will even work with your doctor to get the "okay" if there are concerns.

-There are NINE massage therapists who work at Salt Lake Prenatal Massage, and Rebecca has worked with each of them individually to make sure they know the best techniques and can provide you with an amazing experience.

-Since the focus is on pregnant women, the massage tables are well-equipped with cushions and pillows to accommodate blossoming bellies. That means you can safely lay on your belly to get a massage--that alone feels incredible for your body that is used to carrying the extra weight (see a pic of the table below).

-This clinic is gorgeous, from its home-like waiting area to the relaxing massage rooms, adorned with incredible artwork geared towards childbearing women (keep reading for the pictures...).

-When you come to Salt Lake Prenatal Massage, you are getting so much more than a massage--Rebecca and her other therapists can help you to understand the changes that are taking place in your body and assist you in making those changes as comfortable as possible.

-Not only does this location offer expert massage, but it is also becoming a hub for all things related to pregnancy wellness. There is an in-house chiropractor and a variety of childbirth classes are held in her beautiful location (hopefully Brio Birth classes will be held there soon!).

-Finally, I believe that when you are pregnant it is important to surround yourself with people who are positive and who believe in the power of women's bodies to give birth...and that is what I felt at Salt Lake Prenatal Massage. I was energized by my conversation with Rebecca, and I feel confident that you will feel better after a visit, too.


Good news! You don't have to be pregnant to go there- but childbearing women are their specialty!

So, wondering how to get there? It's just east of I-15 at 2100 S in Salt Lake--you'll see a building on the south side of the road that says "Skin Science" on the side--it is in that building!

The entrance is on the side of the building NOT facing 2100 S--go in the door marked main entrance.

 If you go down the hall, turn to the right, and keep going....you'll find it! Salt Lake Prenatal Massage.

This is the lovely waiting room...and classroom for childbirth education classes.

 This is a massage table that is not covered in sheets yet to demonstrate some of the amazing cushions they have to fit every woman's body comfortably--and check out the incredible artwork on the wall.

So, there you go...better late than never, right? I can't wait to get a massage next time I'm pregnant...or not pregnant. Either way, I'm sure it will be great!

Are you wishing you could visit? Well, definitely visit their website for more information. It has a great directory of providers who offer various services for expecting women--take time to look around this website. You can also read more about Rebecca and her journey to natural birth. If you are really lucky, you may even be able to hire her as your doula...wouldn't that be amazing!

Maybe you could hint to someone that a massage would be a wonderful mother's day present! Also, if you "like" Salt Lake Prenatal Massage on Facebook, you'll receive awesome updates about specials...and informative blogposts.

You can enter to receive a certificate worth $35 towards a 60 minute prenatal or postpartum massage! To enter, write a comment on this post about what you have done (or plan to do) to "make pregnancy comfortable."