A Weekly Newsletter for Heart of Houston Birth and Wellness Families.
Late edition: Thanks kids.
August 9th
Happy Monday, friends! How was your week? We were lucky enough to meet a sweet little girl on Friday and welcomed another couple into the world of parenthood. This got me thinking about how much we celebrate the birth of a new baby but let's also celebrating the birth of a parent! One of the most beautiful things about being a birth worker is witnessing the transition that happens to expectant couples/people between the first prenatal visit and their final postpartum visit. A true metamorphosis happens when a couple goes from being someone's child to someone's parent. It's a HUGE shift in roles and identities. The growth during the early postpartum or as we like to call it, the fourth trimester, can catch many folks by surprise. I'm big on planning for the things we control like who comes to help and when or how you're going to manage meals and housekeeping and even how to get restorative rest. Truth is it's going to be challenging in ways you can't really plan for even if you wanted to and that's okay. We live in a culture of quick fixes and discomfort is something to be nixed often times without discovery of it's source. The first few weeks postpartum are a strange cocktail of elation, exhaustion, insecurities, hormones (So. Many. Hormones.) and of course tons of love. Navigating your way through this new reality will not be simple or painless but it is necessary in the process of growing into a family unit. Like labor, it's hard work but it's work that results in true beauty and we know you can do it. YOU have to do the work but you don't have to go it alone. We're here to support you and cheer you on, because we've been there too and we believe in you.
Pelvic Floor in Pregnancy 101
Our friend and pelvic floor guru Karen Kowenski PT, DPT, WCS of Empower Yourself PT will join our pregnancy group on Sunday August 29th at 4pm. Karen is a Board Certified Women’s Health Certified Specialist and will walk us through the best ways to care for yourself before, during and after pregnancy.
Registration is open on our event page. This event is free to current HOH clients and Whole Heart Collective Members and $25 for non-members.
Doulas are the dopest.
Obviously I'm pretty biased about doulas having served hundreds of families over my career in birth work as a doula, but let's be honest, doulas are F-ing amazing. As I'm beginning to dip my toes into the world of midwifery I am constantly reminding myself that the roles are worlds apart. Mary Love often distinguishes the roles of midwives and doulas like this: Your midwife is the friend that assumes the role of the navigator. They research and prepare for the entire trip, they know about all the interstate road work you might encounter and the best way around it. Your navigator knows which route to take so you end up at Buc-ee's clean bathrooms. Their goal is to get everyone in the car, driver and passengers, from point A to point B the safest way possible so they are continuously planning 2, 3 and sometimes 10 steps ahead.
The doula is your BFF. She's the one who has the best playlists and podcasts queued up. She know everyone's favorite road snacks and packs all the things everyone else forgot like hand sanitizer, good toilet paper and emergency hair ties. She calms you when your road rage peaks and sings out of tune to make you laugh. She's your ride or die and you will forever remember how amazing she made you feel. So if you're on the fence about whether or not you should hire a doula for your birth just imagine a road trip where you get to your destination safely but it's just not the same without your BFF along for the ride.
Don't forget!
On Sunday August 22nd Kim Jones, LPC of The Center for Postpartum Family Health will join our pregnancy group: Introduction to the Gottman Method for Healthy Relationships. I love this class for expectant parents because it brings up really great topics for you and your partner to address right now, before the sleep deprivation of a new baby gets a hold of you. This introduction course will cover conflict resolution, making time for each other and skills for connection. Class is free to all HOH clients and Whole Heart Collective members and $20 for non members. Sign up here.
Happiest of birthdays to Rowan (8/13) and Mary (8/15)!
Upcoming Events
Unfortunately due to the rise sharp rise in COVID cases - gathering as a group to eat just doesn't seem like a great idea right now. We are working on putting together another family day mid fall when we can comfortably meet outside. We'll keep you posted.
Latch Clinic: August 21st, 9/1 & 9/15, 10am, Leah Jolly IBCLC will join our weekly postpartum support group to answer your feeding questions.
Pregnancy Group: August 22nd Kim Jones LPC of the Center for Postpartum Family Health will join us for a SUPER helpful info session on the Gottman Method and the classes offered for pregnancy and postpartum. We highly recommend you and your partner attend this meeting to get an idea of things you should start thinking about before you baby arrives. Even if you already have a kiddo or two at home, these tips will be beneficial!
**Infant CPR & BLS: Saturday August 28th 10 am, If you haven't taken a CPR class in the last few years we highly recommend taking a refresher before you bring your new baby home. This is also a great class for grandparents and potential babysitters. This class is an American Heart Association approved class. Sign up here. (This course is appropriate for expectant parents and healthcare workers) ** Please note the date change**
Pregnancy Group: September 19th 2pm Newb
orn Care Basics and First 48 of breastfeeding. Jessica will teach what to expect from your newborn in the first few weeks of life followed by Leah Jolly IBCLC reviewing the ways to establish a good foundation for breastfeeding in the first 48 hours of your new baby's life.
Ongoing Events
Postpartum Support Group: Every Wednesday from 10-12ish and Thursday 9:30-11:30. Come as you are, come late, leave when you need to.
Various Childbirth Education Curriculums starting soon: Rebel Birth weekly series or weekend intensive, and Bradley Method with Anne Zwicky.
That's all for now. Have a great week, friends!
