The Weekly Newsletter for Heart of Houston Birth and Wellness Families and Friends
Happy Monday dear ones! May is looking to be a busy month for your HOH crew! We still do not have a move date yet (grrrr) but we are starting to see it all come together. Check out our IG feed for some progress pictures!
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 annual Tay Sachs awareness walk on Sunday May 29th. This is a subject that is near and dear to Mary and I. Five years ago our friends the McDonalds lost their daughter Cora to this terrible and preventable genetic disorder. There is so much misinformation about Tay Sachs and which populations are more at risk. The truth is some groups have a higher risk than other but according to the Cure Tay Sachs Foundation, "Large and diverse family trees allow the carriers of the Tay-Sachs disease to go without expression for generations until unexpectedly a child is diagnosed and the family submits to carrier testing." For this reason we will never stop advocating for preconception genetic testing and we'll keep telling Cora's story until we find a cure.
Since we saw you last
I love my job. I'm like those adrenaline junkies that jump off cliffs or out of airplanes to get their fix, except I'm addicted to baby snuggles. Okay so maybe not exactly like them but I do have a serious oxytocin addiction. Another thing that gives me life is watching folks make connections with other families and hearing their takeaways from their birth and postpartum experiences. Breast/Chestfeeding is often a the biggest challenge folks face in the fourth trimester. You'd think that since we come equipped to make milk it would be as easy as babe to boob. Yeah, no. Last week in Latch Clinic Leah Jolly shared a great analogy with the group. Let's say you've never ridden a bike before and one day you decide to learn how to do it. Naturally, you'd know that it is an upright activity that requires a bike, pedaling and balance. Even if you've never been on a bike before you've seen others do it enough that your brain knows how to mount the bike, sit down and put your foot on a pedal. See where I'm going?
Before you began breast/chest feeding your baby how many times did you witness someone hold a floppy newborn with one hand while sandwiching their engorged breast with the other and aim it juuuuuust right for a perfect latch. Probably not very often if ever, unless you're a birthworker of course. Leah suggested that we invite our pregnant HOH folks to sit in on one or two postpartum groups before they deliver. I think Leah is an effing genius. So consider this your invitation to join us for a postpartum group or two before you meet your baby. Not only will you see what nursing and latching looks like you'll also see/hear some of the most common challenges new parents encounter with body feeding. Check out our calendar of events for date and times of our postpartum support groups. (This invitation is for expectant HOH clients and Whole Heart Collective members only).
Mother's Day weekend events
Sunday is the day many Americans celebrate folks who identify as a mother. I say identify because the word mother encompasses a spectrum of roles. Mother's day can spark a full spectrum of emotions as well so we just want you ALL to know that we honor you just as you are and we honor ALL the ways you mother. We had hoped to have a special brunch/grand opening at the new space but obviously that did pan out! Regardless, we hope the day is a gentle and filled with love for each and everyone of you.
Oh and if you happen to be one of those crazy families that enjoys running, we hope you'll check out this Mama Fun Run! 100% of the race proceeds will go towards Pregnancy House Project to provide housing and resources for financially disparaged first time pregnant moms.
Family dance party wrap up!
This is the final weekend of Frame Dance Family Dance Party. It's been really cool to see all the different types of families participating in this interactive event. Also, save the date for the final performance of FAMILY MANTRA on May 21 & 22 at 2pm. Seats are limited, so when tickets are released, move quickly! Follow Frame on Facebook to get notifications about future events.
Meet the Wrens
1. Who's in your family?
Chris, Amanda, Baby JJ, Beaux (dog) and Millie (cat) 2. What is your biggest challenge currently?
Our biggest challenge as a family right now is sleep! JJ has never been great at sleeping and it's always a question of "What can we try next?" 3. What's your best pregnancy, birth, or parenting tip?
My best tip for pregnancy, birth, and after is to take all advice with a smile and a grain of salt. Try out all the tips and tricks IF you want, but don't feel pressure and don't be discouraged if it doesn't work for you, your baby, or your family because all of us are different. 4. What's one thing you can't do without as a pregnant person or parent?
My support team! My friends, my extended family, and especially my husband all have played such a big role in keeping this family going strong! Don't ever let yourself feel like you're going it alone, because there are so many people out there who can connect with what you are experiencing. 5. How do you fill your cup when it's empty?
Candles, calming music, and a hot bath relax me and give me a chance for personal reflection and recharge. 6. Tell us about something (or someone) you love. I love to craft! Dyeing fabric, painting, sewing, diy toys for JJ - anything creative that I can try!
Birthday Bulletin!
Upcoming Events
Our calendar will look much fuller when we get into our new space!
Postpartum Support Group : Wednesday 5/4 10-12pm on ZOOM
Postpartum Support Group : Thursday 5/5 9:30-11:30 IN PERSON
Stretch and Dance for Birth: Saturday 5/7 10:00-12 IN PERSON
Latch Clinic/ Feeding Support: Wednesday 5/11 10-12pm on ZOOM
Postpartum Support Group : Thursday 5/12 9:30-11:30 IN PERSON
Pregnancy Group Core Class : Newborn Care and First 48hrs of Breastfeeding with Leah Jolly, IBCLC Sunday May 15th 2pm-4pm IN PERSON
Ongoing Events
Postpartum Support Group: Every Wednesday from 10-12ish and Thursday 9:30-11:30. Zoom link has been sent to all HOH clients and Whole Heart Collective members. Email Jessica if you need more information.
Latch Clinic: Twice a month during Postpartum group. Keep an eye on schedule for specifics
Queer Parent Circle: Second Sunday of every month 3:30-5pm Open to the public!
Birthworkers Circle: Second Sunday of every month starting Jan 2022 time 11am-1:30pm
Various Childbirth Education Curriculums starting soon: Rebel Birth weekly series or weekend intensive,and Bradley Method with Anne Zwicky. Birthing from within.
That's all for now! Have a great week everyone.
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