The Weekly Newsletter for Heart of Houston Birth and Wellness Families and Friends
Happy Monday dear ones! May is shaping up to be a very busy month here at the birth center. We had five babies in the span of four days and funny enough, all five were little boys. Welcome to the world little ones, we are so happy you're here.
This month is also Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month. Did you know that AAPI diaspora consists of about 50 ethnicities speaking over 100 languages, many of which are represented right here in H-Town. Check out the list of kids books we found to celebrate our AAPI heritage.
May is also Maternal Mental Health Awareness month. We'll be featuring local resources and tools to support you and you're growing family on our social media pages.
We're also preparing for our very first Heart of Houston and Whole Heart Collective Reunion! Saturday May 27th from 10am-12:30 at Mark McGrath Memorial park in Meadows Place. The park has a splash pad for the little ones and lots of big trees for shade for everyone else. Please reach out if you are interested in helping us organize the event. Can't wait to see everyone!
Let's Eat!
Last year as our first crop of HOH babies rounded out their first year of life we checked in with their parents about first foods.
Harriet and her mom Mary Alice:
"I listened to the original baby-led weaning book on audio and it helped me to feel much more relaxed about the whole process! It also gave me a lot of confidence about preparing foods safely. Once Harriet was sitting well with support and showing interest in foods I let her try anything she wanted. We started with avocado and explored from there. Have fun with it!"
Max and his mama Magdalen:
Max isn’t super interested in solids, so I have nothing to contribute aside from “let your dog clean up the mess.” To Mary Alice’s point – relaxing is a great tip. Multiple exposures to a food is important, so keep trying! Just because your baby doesn’t scarf it down immediately doesn’t mean they won’t like it in time.
Also, it’s helpful to make a game out of teaching them to open their mouth and stick out their tongue. You can see if they have any little bits of food stashed in their cheeks, and it's cute."
Ivy and her mommy Rachel:
"I didn’t feel comfortable with anything except bananas and oatmeal for a while. Until her first tooth came in and then it was easier for her to grasp the chewing method for some reason.
Showing interest in foods is a great sign, as MA said. We tried before ivy had any interest and it was a bit of a waste of time IMHO"
Evangelen and her mom, Virgina:
"I was very nervous about getting it “right” and probably over thought allergies. The biggest piece of advice I have is to take a deep breath and try not to over think it. Having fun with it is so important for both you and babe. There are so many easy foods to start with that so you can all get into the swing of solids (and lots of resources— solid starts was my fav go to app). Do the things that make you feel the best rather it be purees or more baby led weaning. We started with roasted carrots and avocado because I could wrap my head around how to give those foods. After a few days, we jumped right into ticking off the allergies, waiting a week before offering the next major allergy, because that was the thing I was most fixated on. After the first few, I got much more relaxed and just enjoyed the process. We had lots of fun trying new things and watching her response change over time.
Also, having buds to talk through it all is sooo important! Mary Alice and Harriett made both Chris and I more excited and more confident to try solids with E. It was after our first partners gathering that Chris really got on board with solids when he saw Harriet eat some bread!"
On Saturday May 13th 12:30-1:30pm Join registered dietitian Brittany Beaver of Stork Maternity for this information session on the Baby Led Weaning approach to the introduction of complementary foods. Register here!
Register now for these upcoming classes from some of our favorite educators!
Rebel Birth Weekend Intensive: May 20 & 21st Saturday and Sunday 9:30 am to 1:30pm Join the Rebel Doulas of Rebel Birth for a weekend series filled with everything you need to know before you head into your labor journey. You'll get hands on instructions to prepare you for your big day and all the days leading up. Class is $250 a couple, HOH clients and WHC members receive a 10% discount! Register here.
The Bradley Method: Thursday evenings June 22 - Aug 31 (No class July 6th) 6-8pm Though every class has a specific topic which is covered in detail, each class will also cover nutrition, exercise, positive communication, and coaching. A different relaxation technique will be demonstrated and assigned for practice each week. Classes may also feature a video presentation. Register Here
This Week
Monday Yoga with Bee!- Monday 5/1 10am donation based for members or $25
Core Class: Orientation/Mapping Out Your Pregnancy- Wednesday 6:45pm All HOH and WHC members are encouraged to take this Core Class.
Mindful Movement: Saturday 10:30-12 $15 for everyone, First class is free for HOH and WHC members.
Parents of School Age Children Support Circle: Sunday 11am to 1pm Open to the Public
Core Class: Newborn Care and Postpartum Preparation- Sunday 2-4pm members only
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.
