The Weekly Newsletter for Heart of Houston Birth and Wellness Family and Friends
Season of renewal
Hello dear ones! I apologize for not getting a Bumpdate out last week, we've had a busy few weeks around here and I'm playing catch-up! Our February and early March were paced perfectly and I think we all needed that little breather to prepare us for the last three weeks! We've had eight babies in the last three weeks and they seem to want to show up in pairs. As hectic as things have been around here we are also having a ton of fun finding our groove as a team. Our newest midwife Kate has completed her orientation period and was rewarded with a weekend full of babies. Our student midwives, CJ and Carolina, are getting great hands-on practice during clinic days, assisting at births, and helping nurse Rachel around clinic when when things are busy. The work we do is already so rewarding but throw in an incredible team and we are living the dream over here.
Core Classes
Last week was also a busy week for our Whole Heart Collective. We had three Core Classes on one week! Sunday the 2nd, doulas Eleanor Prado and Paige Hopkins stopped by to help with our Comfort Measures Class. It's my favorite class to teach because I love watching folks really begin to visualize what labor day might look like for them. Intimacy in early labor is absolutely key in activating the hormones needed to keep things moving along. That time will look different for every birthing person. Some folks need to cocoon themselves away in the dark and some folks need busy work to keep their minds off things. If you attend ANY of our classes you'll hear me repeatedly encourage support folks to remind the laboring person to stay hydrated, rest by any means necessary and empty their bladder once an hour or more.
Once active labor hits and you can no longer rest, alternating working and resting becomes the goal. We reviewed the emotional and physical sign posts during our Stages of Labor make-up class on Zoom last week. While each person will experience labor differently, generally there are universal signs that will tip us off to where you are in the laboring process. It's one of the best things about birth; it is the great equalizer. As your birth team, these milestones or sign posts help us make recommendation about your care. The only certainty about birth is that there are no absolutes. Which is why much of our programming is designed to manage expectations about childbirth and the postpartum period.
Our When Plans Change class talks about possible deviations from your birth plan/preparations. We always want this experience to be as straightforward as possible and we want you to be a part of every conversation pertaining to your choices. This class gives you a basic understanding of the most common interventions and how they apply to birth in all settings. All these classes are part of our Core Class curriculum and are included in your care at HOH. They are also available to folks who join our Whole Heart Collective. Check out April's calendar of events to sign up!
New Event!
Dr. Kate Cleveland of Enso Momma PT is leading a new class this Sunday April 16th from 12-1 for newly postpartum folks. This class will focus on ways to care for your postpartum pelvic floor while working on your baby's developmental milestones. We hope you can join us. Be sure to register for the event. Space is limited. Event is for WHC and HOH members.
Class is Sunday 4/16
12-1pm
Please bring a mat and dress comfy!
Open to newly postpartum folks and their non-mobile babies.
Upcoming Events, Please Register
Baby Wearing Class: Long Woven Wraps- Saturday 4/15 4-5pm $25 per person Free to WHC and HOH families
Houston Babywearing Meetup- Saturday 4/15 5-6pm Free and open to the public. General questions and assistance with fit.
Floor & Core: Sunday 4/16 12-1pm Pelvic floor and baby milestone mat class. Free to HOH & WHC members.
Core Class: Bottle Feeding & Pumping- Sunday 2/4pm Leah Jolly covers pumping and bottle feeding. Free to WHC and HOH, $75 to the public.
Monday Yoga with Bee!- Monday 4/17 10am donation based for members or $25
Anxiety Group- 4/17 12-1pm Members only
Prelude Music for Pregnancy- Monday 6:30-7pm Free and Open to the Public!
From our Birthy Friends!
Our friends at the TLC Alliance are having an open house in a couple of weeks! We love TLC for so many reasons but a big one is their commitment to community! Houston is HUGE and the TLC crew is busy taking care of folks in North Houston/Spring/Woodlands area by offering a variety of services and support groups at their newest location in Old Town Spring. We love every single doula on their team and know many of our HOH and WHC folks do too! We can't wait to celebrate our friends! Hope you'll join us!
Aligned & Melanated!
Also on the 23rd our friend Katina Poe, CNM will again host a meet-up for BIPOC folks in the birth community. This is a great event for folks looking for community and ways to connect. Come shop and learn about health and wellness resources right here in our community! Entrance is free! Hope to see you there.
Interested in becoming a vendor? Register here!
Getting to know us: Mary's Day!
RSVP on all Calendar of Events page
New address 6550 Mapleridge Ste 100
Monthly Ongoing Events
Wednesday Virtual Postpartum Support Circle: Second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 10-12 on Zoom. HOH clients and Whole Heart Collective members. Email Jessica if you need more information.
Thursday In Person Postpartum Support Circle: 10-12 in the community room. Open to current HOH & WHC members. Feeding clinic first and third Thursdays of each month.
Queer Parent Circle: Second Sunday of every month 2-4pm Open to the public.
Parents of School Age Kids Circle: First Sunday of every month 11-1pm Open to the public.
Birth workers Circle: Second Sunday of every month 11am-1:30pm midwives, student midwives, doulas, birth assistants, Obs and L&D nurses are all welcome to attend.
Mindful Movements: First and second Saturday of each month 10:30-12
Yoga with Bee: Every Monday from 10-11am Open to the public members donation based register here.
Various Childbirth Education Curriculums starting soon: Rebel Birth weekend intensive or Bradley Method with Anne Zwicky
That's all for now! Have a great week everyone.
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