Portland, the Land of Many Resources for Families

Did you know that we have a community resource list? Actually, it would be more precise to say that we have several resource lists. While they are by no means exhaustive, they each contain a wealth of links or contact information for many resources both in Portland and a bunch that are national yet still relevant. If you are searching for something, check out the lists. Please let us know if you know of a resource that should be on the list (info@nurturepdx.org)!

Community Resource List(s) Directory

• Adoption
• Crisis/Support Lines
• Emotional Wellness
• Family Friendly Businesses
• Family Networks
• Family Related Blogs, Books, Magazines, Films, & Websites
• Fertility
• Grief & Loss (Pregnancy, Infant, & Child Loss)
• Pregnancy, Birth, & Postpartum Support
• Physical Wellness
• Resource Sharing & Planet Caring
• Special Needs

The resources listed within these pages are of businesses, organizations, or people we know, know of, or have been given information about. The lists are meant to be resources not endorsements for a particular provider or business and are in no way exhaustive. We believe that finding the right fit is very important when it comes to finding a provider or service that is related to your health or well being. That is why we want to provide as many links to resources as we can. There is a wealth of services out there for growing families in our community. Many of the sites listed also have resource pages with additional resources listed.

Cesarean Scars Shared

For mamas who have had cesarean births, on CesareanScar.com you will find a place to share your story and a picture of your scar. This is a website much like The Shape of a Mother but is dedicated solely to cesarean scars. The creator of CesareanScar.com started the site to provide a space for cesarean scars to find their voice. The pictures and stories, as the site creator writes, tell "tender, painful, wonderful, awful stories".

ICTC Book Sale

ICTC Book Sale!

Wednesday, October 3, 2009
9am-11am
2823 N. Rosa Parks Way, Portland, OR 97217

Fabulous find on hundreds of books and magazines
(**Many from Barbara Harper’s private collection**)
Pregnancy, Prenatal care, Labor, Birth, Home births, Water births, Medical dictionaries, Breastfeeding, Postpartum care, Parenting, Twins, Triplets, Depression, Sexual abuse, Cookbooks, and much more

Hardbacks & paperbacks priced to go at .50 - $2!!

ICTC IS A NON-PROFIT AND NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY AND TRAIN DOULAS
CONTACT AQIYLAH AT (503) 460-9324
OR AQIYLAH@ICTCMIDWIVES.ORG
FOR MORE INFO

Postpartum Depression article on WebMD

Wendy Davis of Baby Blues Connection (BBC) and Postpartum Support International (PSI) passed this on this article, Postpartum Depression: More Common than You Know, found on WebMD. I particularly like this quote from the president of PSI, Birdie Gunyon Meyer, RN, MA, CLC, also the coordinator of the Perinatal Mood Disorders Program at Clarian Health in Indianapolis:

Even highly intelligent women don't recognize what they have, and when they do try to reach out, people just say, 'Yeah, that's motherhood. It's tough.'

I might add that sometimes even therapists and counselors, who are trained to recognize the signs of depression, do not recognize that they have a perinatal mood disorder. Hopefully with public education, more women and families will recognize the signs of it and get help. In addition to lack of information, there is quite a bit of fear and shame associated with postpartum mood disorders. Hopefully, that will change too.

Please pass on this article and get help if you or someone you know may have a perinatal mood disorder. It can be treated, the effects can be minimized, you will get better, there is hope.


Where to find help:
Baby Blues Connection

Postpartum Support International

Parenting Unplugged Radio

Yet another great parenting resource here in Portland, OR, Parenting Unplugged Radio. I found out about this radio show from another mama on a local mama yahoo group. The show airs every Tuesday at 10 pm, but you can also download it from the pdx.fm site. This week the show hosts, Laura and Todd Mansfield, interviewed Dr. Sears about the H1N1 virus.

ICAN's VBAC Webinars

If you have had a cesarean birth and are planning to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), please check out International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN)'s two part webinar on VBAC information.

ICAN Online Webinars

Journey to VBAC: What You Need to Know

Presented by ICAN with Gretchen Humphries and Rose St. John, Journey to VBAC: What You Need to Know is a must for women planning a VBAC and their partners. You will learn about the basic issues surrounding VBAC plus answers to common questions such as, "Am I a good candidate for a VBAC?" and "How can I maximize my chances of having a vaginal birth next time around?" We will also discuss one of the most important but often overlooked issues while planning a VBAC: the father’s role in preventing a cesarean.

This webinar is FREE to paid ICAN subscribers and has been approved for 1.5 contact hours* from CAPPA. There is no additional charge for CAPPA contact hours.

Non-subscribers: $30. There is no additional charge for CAPPA contact hours.
-or-
Become an ICAN subscriber at the Supporting ($30) level or higher: United States - Canada. (International: please contact the International Director for rates by country.)

Part 1: Planning Your VBAC with Gretchen Humphries
Sunday, September 27 - 9:00 pm EDT
90 minutes
•VBAC basics: history, risks, and success rates by birth setting
•Are you a good candidate for a VBAC?
•Cephalopelvic disproportion
•Vaginal birth after multiple cesareans
•How long should you wait between pregnancies?
•Single vs. double-layer sutures
•How to increase your chances of having a VBAC

Part 2: The Father’s Role in Preventing Cesareans with Rose St. John
Sunday, October 4 - 9:00 EDT
90 minutes
•What the father provides to the laboring mother
•The quantifiable impact of a well-prepared father
•Intangible benefits of a well-prepared father
•Giving fathers the preparation they need
•The impact of the father’s adrenaline levels during labor
•Best practices for the laboring father

*To receive CAPPA contact hours, participants must at least attend Part 2: The Father’s Role in Preventing Cesareans.

Click here to register.

Comments or questions? Click here to contact us

Mother's Advocate: Birth Information Packed Website

I came across this website by way of several sources, and I'd like to pass it on. There is a lot of information about birth available on the website by way of videos, handouts, and some links.

ICAN: Cesarean Prevention Birth Webinar

A Facebook friend posted about ICAN's (International Cesarean Awareness Network) Webinar. If you are preparing for birth, this looks like a great supplement to birthing classes or a great addition to your exisiting wisdom.

http://ican-online.org/none/ican-birth-class-cesarean-prevention

ICAN works to prevent unnecessary cesareans through education, VBAC support, and cesarean recovery.

Join us on Facebook!

Nurture on Facebook

Green Bean Books

Nurture warmly welcomes our new neighbors, Green Bean Books, a beautiful children's bookstore right next to Nurture. On their shelves I recognized many favorites and new favorites waiting to be discovered. Green Bean Books officially opened July 11th and will be having a grand opening celebration on July 30th during Last Thursday. Stop by and enjoy the celebration.

Compassionate Communication Practice Group Update

Join us for a monthly, self-led group to practice compassionate communication, with an emphasis on parenting/family.

The compassionate communication practiced in this group is a communication approach using techniques and ideas inspired by Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg. It is a way to communicate peacefully while addressing the needs of everyone involved and models gentle, empathetic, and assertive communication to our children.

This group is self-led, but coordinated and hosted by Nurture (http://www.nurturepdx.com/)

We focus on families who want to support each other with compassion and in giving our children tools in unconditional love and freedom. We are a self-guided group, providing support for each other using discussion, sharing, practice, role play, and the book Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids by Sura Hart and Victoria Kindle Hodson as a guide. We also have an on-line group for additional support throughout the month. Children are welcome to the group. All NVC levels of experience welcome. $2 suggested donation.

We meet on the 4th Monday of each month from 2-3:30pm

at Nurture 1614 NE Alberta St. , Portland , OR 97211

Contact Mychelle at mychelle@nurturepdx.com

For more information and other local resources on Compassionate Communication visit the Oregon Network of Compassionate Communication and Wise Heart. There is also a wonderful NVC parenting series offered in NE Portland called Parenting from the Heart, more info here: http://insideoutschoolhouse.wordpress.com/ and the Portland Unconditional Parenting yahoo group for those who want to connect with others who are parenting respectfully and compassionately: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UP-Portland/

Northwest Mothers Milk Bank KBOO Interview

(view this announcement as a web page)

TheNWMMB is thrilled to spread the word about their efforts to build the Northwest Mothers Milk Bank with an interview on Monday July 13th on KBOO Community Radio.

Monday, July 13th at 11:30 am PST, Anna Keith Soderberg will interview Dixie Whetsell, MS, IBCLC, board member of the Northwest Mothers Milk Bank. Listen in to KBOO in Portland at 90.7 fm, in Corvallis at 100.7 fm or in Hood River at 91.9 fm to hear about the importance of breastmilk, our efforts and how you can help. No calls will be taken due to time constraints, but if you have a question or comment please email beforehand to kboofamilybusiness@gmail.com

If you're out of the listening area, listen to the broadcast online.

Learn more about us on our website http://www.nwmmb.org/

Join the Northwest Mothers Milk Bank list.

From an e-mail sent by: Northwest Mothers Milk Bank, 3439 NE Sandy Blvd. #130, Portland, Oregon 97232.

BirthJourneys Doula Collective is hosting a meet the doulas night at Milagros on

Tuesday, July 21st from 6:30pm - 8:00pm.

They will provide information about doulas and answer questions such as:

• Why do you need doula support?
• How does a doula support a woman and her partner during childbirth?
• What does the research say about how doula support helps to decrease the use of pain medication and the risk of cesarean section?
• How do you find the right doula for you?
• How much do doulas' services cost (and how to afford one on a limited budget)?
• How are doulas different from doctors and midwives?

Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with our doulas one-on-one to learn more about the difference a doula makes. Refreshments will be served and we are having a raffle to win a basket full of labor goodies!

Milagros Boutique 5433 NE 30th Avenue, Portland, OR 97211 http://www.milagrosboutique.com/

POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL: Free "Open Forum" Phone Sessions

POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL


Free “OPEN FORUM” Sessions
On Mondays and Wednesdays Via 800 bridgeline


PSI Phone forums are available on
Mondays for Dads and on
Wednesdays for all callers.

Imagine the benefits of being able to talk with a PSI PPD expert about resources, symptoms, options and general information about perinatal mood disorders from the privacy of your own home. No need to arrange child care or transportation. No need to pre-register or give your name.


Sessions are informational only and open to anyone with questions and concerns about themselves, a loved one, friend or family member. Limited to the first 15 callers,
sessions are held every Wednesday.


Visit http://www.postpartum.net/ for call schedule and access codes, or call 1-800-944-4773 for further information.


Take the first step, or the next step. Call us and remember: You are not alone, you are not to blame, and with help, you WILL be well.

Postpartum Support International

P.O. Box 60931
Santa Barbara CA 93160
Phone: 805 967-7636
Email: psioffice@postpartum.net
Website: www.postpartum.net

Nurturing the Earth: May/June

On Earth Day this year, I made a pledge for my family to make changes towards more earth-friendly living. I pledged to use the computer three hours or less per day, have at least one car-free day per week, plant native plants on our parking strip, and find one new green change that we can make in our family, each month. How has it been going? The computer commitment has been difficult, but I have been close. I have been reading a lot more, which I am enjoying immensely! Having one car-free day each week was too easy, since we already do that; I may have to increase that to two days per week. The native plants are on hold, but I am going to replace that promise with another until I can look into a mini-grant through Portland Bureau of Environmental Services for our street.

As for the promise to find one new change each month: In May, I remembered that I had been given It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living, and I pulled it out for help in finding ideas. This book is a terrific resource for examining areas in your day-to-day habits and finding areas that can be changed or improved. The book has a ton of resources, tips, and a whole section of ideas for improvements with boxes to check off as "want to target", "currently working on", and rate your success. The ideas, or "tips", are broken down into categories such as work, bathroom, kitchen, energy, etc. The great part about reading this book, for me, was seeing how much my family is already doing, as well as finding concrete ideas for doing more. Having the ideas broken down, as they are in the book, helps me find one specific change that we can implement each month. I chose to create a box in our house to store batteries that need to be recycled. That way, when an opportunity for recycling batteries comes up, such as Swap-n-Play's Trash to Treasure, I will have them ready to go.

I couldn't pass up posting this video clip, which I found when searching for a link to It's Easy Being Green-the same title as this clip...


Courtney Jarecki and her partner have started a Facebook pledge to get rid of one thing in their house each day for 50 days. For my June commitment, I have joined that and have been doing a modified version by getting rid of seven things each week and making sure that I bring those items to a place where they can be repurposed or reused. I am also implementing a "buy nothing" days during which I will not buy anything for 3 day blocks. I plan to do this each month, if not more often. Courtney shared this video to inspire downsizing, and I would like to share it with you.

Free Craniosacral Therapy Clinic for Infants

Carol Gray announced that there are still a few openings for the next craniosacral therapy clinic.

Babies six months and younger will receive FREE Craniosacral Therapy treatments from Carol Gray and student practitioners of her Craniosacral Therapy for Infants training program.

June 15-19, 2009 - Workshop Clinic in Portland Oregon

Please contact Carol for available appointment times

This free clinic will be held in conjunction with the Craniosacral Therapy for Infants workshop Carol is teaching this week. There are openings throughout the week for babies whose parents would like them treated by Carol for demonstration treatments and also for babies whose parents would like them treated by student practitioners under Carol’s supervision. Infants coming to this workshop clinic will get a confirmation letter with the address and directions.

An appointment is needed for your one-hour treatment time, please call Carol Gray at 503-236-2999 or e-mailing Carol Gray. Please do not call or e-mail the clinic location for an appointment.

crafty/creative family: make garden markers

As spring begins (happy spring to all), we have been finding ourselves drawn to the garden more and more despite the crazy Portland spring weather. Every bit of shining without clouds and every cloudy-yet-dryish chance we get we grab our seeds, boots, and shovels and get out. Playing in the dirt feels so good. I have saved seeds from years past to give my son something to plant when we have run out of seeds that are ready to be planted. He has gardens all over our yard and who knows, maybe we will have an extra bounty this year.

But Portland is Portland, the weather is fickle, and some days we just don't want to tough it out through a hail storm. While we are indoors, art projects are the next best thing to freely being messy in the dirt. Making garden markers is an activity that ties together two of our favorite activities!

What you will need:

• tongue depressors or Popsicle sticks or something similar (the wider the better)
• medium sized smooth rocks also make cool markers
• paint/water proof markers
• sealant that can withstand the elements

optional:

• ribbon, yarn, etc.
• beads
• glue that can withstand the elements
• pictures from magazines, etc.
• bendable wire
• bits, scraps, toys, etc.

Decorate the garden markers anyway that you would like. Write the name of the plant, paint a picture of the plant, decoupage a picture of the plant, create symbols of the plant, write a poem, blessing, quote, or thought about the plant...the possibilities are endless.

If you do not have sealant on-hand, you can create plant markers for the indoor starts or houseplants. Other favorite garden markers are random toys/parts of toys and plastic animal figurines to "keep watch" over the plants.

(pictures coming soon!)

Sweet Tooth, Bitter Truth

Sweet Tooth, Bitter Truth

Sugar in the Bodies and Brains of Our Children

We all know that food affects how the body functions. Now it's time to take a closer look at how our diet affects the brain, and the mental health and behavior of our developing children. Studies show that sugar intake, in particular, corresponds to mood swings, diabetes and compromised immunity. This eventually increases the risk for depression, certain kinds of cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Yet sugar is more prevalent in our children's diets now than ever before. It's hidden in their morning cereals, pasta sauces, and snack foods. This class demystifies what sugar is, why it's a problem, and gives parents of school-age children the steps to make dietary changes, reduce or eliminate sugar intake, and lean more toward healthy alternatives. Children and the entire family will benefit!

March 29th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM

$25/person

15 person maximum

*note: this class is not at Nurture*

April 26th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM

$25/person

15 person maximum

*note: this is class is not at Nurture*

Taught and hosted by Andrea Nakayama,

a Certified Nutrition Educator

at ReplenishPDX in Portland, OR

Click here to reserve your spot now!

About Andrea
What you put on your plate impacts how you feel. In fact, food is even your best medicine when it comes to depression, anxiety, autism, ADD and ADHD, memory loss, fatigue, and the psychological affects of eating disorders. These conditions affect more of us than ever before. Statistics show that you or someone in your family suffers from the effects of one of these neurological conditions. I can help you decipher your unique nutritional path toward recovery.

I am a Certified Nutrition Educator and am also earning certifications as a Nutrition Counselor and Holistic Health Counselor. I consult with adults, children, and entire families to illuminate the connection between food and mental health in order to activate the body's innate healing potential. My work and studies focus on the link between food, mood, and energy--how what we eat, digest and absorb are an integral part of our ability to flourish.

I rely on a whole foods diet to support my clients through various treatments and to help them realize their greatest potential for health, happiness, and vitality. My love of, and expertise in cooking enable me to teach clients to easily translate my nutritional recommendations into tasteful, beautiful and nourishing meals. This is the essential change you've been waiting for.

Birth Trauma On-Line Community Support

We have written about birth trauma and the on-line community support, Solace, before. Solace is relaunching their on-line support. Below is a letter from Solace.

We are pleased to announce the Solace for Mothers Friends and Advocates Online Community which provides a forum for those who support mothers who have experienced birth trauma, have been impacted by witnessing birth trauma, or want to connect with others to advocate for gentler birth practices.

Solace for Mothers is committed to providing resources and support to professionals and loved ones supporting women through the difficult emotions following a disappointing, hurtful, or violating birth experience. Spouses, family, and friends of mothers who have experienced traumatic births are offered a space to find information, support, and resources through participation in the Friends and Advocates Forum. Birth attendants are also provided with the opportunity to process their own emotions in response to births they have attended. Birth professionals and birth advocates are provided a space to discuss the causes of birth trauma, how policies and programs can be enacted to prevent trauma from occurring to childbearing mothers, and methods of treatment when trauma has occurred.

The Solace for Mothers Friends and Advocates Online Community welcomes birth activists, mothers, families, and professionals, all of whom are stakeholders in providing healthy, safe, and empowering births that enable families to successfully transition to parenthood. Users of the online community are invited to contemplate and discuss the current state of birth and what evidence based practices best support childbearing women, their babies and families. Advocates who are interested in becoming involved in organized efforts to promote these practices are encouraged to participate and share their thoughts.

The Friends and Advocates Online Community can be entered from www.solaceformothers.org/advocates-forum.html. The forum is made public for browsing and registration is required to post and respond to topics. To view the online community, go to: http://forums.solaceformothers.org/mb/birthtrauma

Mothers are welcome to participate in the Friends and Advocates role but they are invited to register and participate in the Online Community for Healing Birth Trauma (www.solaceformothers.org/forum.html) which provides peer support to women who have had traumatic childbearing experiences. Birth professionals, family members, and friends please respect the privacy of the Community for Healing Birth Trauma and register only for the Friends and Advocates Community.

If you have something to say regarding childbirth and want to be a part of a larger conversation, please join us. We are interested to read your stories, thoughts, hopes and goals for the future! Please also feel free to pass this invitation on to organizations and individuals who would be interested in the topics of birth trauma and improving maternity care.

Warmly,

Sharon Storton, Founder of Solace for Mothers, Inc.

Jenne Alderks, Creator and Moderator of Online Communities

Jennifer Zimmerman, Creator and Moderator of Online Communities

Natural Parenting Postpartum Class

Having your first baby soon?

Come to our next Natural Parenting Postpartum Class!
on Wednesday April 1st, 2009
from 6:00 - 7:30pm
at Nurture (1614 NE Alberta St., Portland, OR 97211)
$15 per couple, resource booklet included

Led by DONA-trained postpartum doulas (and experienced mamas) Emily Troper and Juliette Authier
(to learn more about Emily and Juliette, see http://compassionatemothercare.com/profiles.html )

Topics include:
Getting organized before the birth – what you need, what you don’t

Protecting the mama-baby bond, importance of skin-to-skin contact, responding to baby

Mom’s recovery (nutritional and herbal resources for emotional and physical care), and coping with stress and change

Breastfeeding

How to calm a fussy baby

Sleep – where, what to expect, etc.

Diapering and/or Elimination Communication

Relationship/marital issues

Babywearing


to register please email Emily at emtroper@earthlink.net or call (503) 753-9091

crafty/creative family: make a terrarium

Terrariums are fun to create, educational, easy, and children love them.

You will need:

• a jar (glass or plastic) with a tight-fitting lid
• gravel
• charcoal (must be activated charcoal--can be found at most nurseries)
• sand
• moss or peat
• loose dirt/potting soil
• small hardy plants (water-loving)
• small objects for decoration

Start by cleaning the jar thoroughly. Add the gravel about 1/4 inch to cover the bottom. Add about the same amount of charcoal as you did the gravel. Combine the sand, moss/peat, and dirt and put the mixture on top of the charcoal. Add plants and decoration. We added moss on top of the dirt between the plants. Water the plants. Put the lid on...and that is it! You do not have to water it or do any other maintenance except an occasional pruning.

Succulent and/or cactus terrariums can be made with more sand in the soil-mix and no lid. This type of terrarium will need to be watered but not very often.