L I V E • PLAY • DO
magazine
THE BABY ISSUE
TODDLER IN TOW | YOUR GROWING BABY FINDING THE RIGHT CHILDCARE FIT BABY APPS
nwkidsmagazine.com
July 2015
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EDITORS’
Corner
Summer is the time for fun—and babies! As a lactation consult, educator, doula, and trainer, I can’t help but think that babies are the BEST focus, and as guest Baby Editor I am happy and honored to compile some wonderful resources into this beautiful issue written by local professionals and moms.
Moms, tuck this in your purse or diaper bag when you are out so you’ll have it when you are trying to remember that great place that was recommended to take both your baby and toddler on p. 24, or to the hospital with you when you are preparing for visitors after a new baby arrives on p. 22. Share it with your new mom friends who are looking for childcare on p. 23 or a user-friendly baby app on p. 8, or with the grandparents who are curious about your growing baby and what is normal for their specific age on p. 18. Sleep, or the lack of it, is always a favorite topic with new families, so if you are looking for options, make sure to check out our interview with a sleep baby trainer on p. 14, and some resources available to support tired families on p. 16. Dads and partners, you might want to check out the Stay at Home Dad feature on p. 10, or discuss the pregnancy care options on It Takes a Village on p. 28, and definitely talk about the options for secret codes in Visitors Beware on p. 22! (It might save you a heap of trouble with a sensitive new mom.) I’m excited for the gorgeous summer weather calling us to get outside and enjoy our beautiful city, and all the local expectant and new parents I have the privilege to teach this summer. I can’t wait to hand them this issue full of little cuties and great tips, share this with one of your ‘new parent’ friends too! Kimberly
Cover and contents photography by CAMPBELL SALGADO STUDIO campbellsalgado.com
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Contents JULY 2015
8 Just Have a Baby? There’s an App for That 10 Feeling the Love as a Stay At Home Dad 14 Can My Baby be Sleep Trained? An Interview with Natalie Willes (The Baby Sleep Trainer) 16 Sleep Support Resource Guide 18 Your Growing Baby Beyond the “Fourth Trimester” (Babies 4-9 months) 22 Visitors Beware: Nudity, Hormones, and Secret Codes 23 How to Find Childcare That Fits Your Family 24 Getting Out with Your Baby and Toddler in Tow 28 It Takes a Village
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Listings ABC Doula.............................................................15 All Families Surrogacy..........................................13 Andaluz Waterbirth Center...................................32 Baby Boot Camp...................................................27 Barre3......................................................................2 Bella Stella..............................................................7 Bennett Suzuki......................................................15 Birthingstone........................................................29 Black Wagon.........................................................13 Blue Bee Farms.....................................................21 Brain Balance..........................................................9 Cascades Raptor Center........................................25 Coffee Kids............................................................11 Cotton Babies..........................................................7 Dr. Pike Dentistry for Children.................................2 EGHarrop Photography.........................................17 Farber Swim School..............................................26 Fit4Mom...............................................................17 Fremont Fest.........................................................15 Glendoveer Tennis.................................................21 Goodtime Chinese School....................................25 Just Between Friends............................................25 Kati Dimoff............................................................21 Laughing Planet....................................................25 Legacy Health.........................................................3 Little Fruit Farm.....................................................21 Nelson Pediatric Dentistry......................................9 North Portland Wellness Center...........................13 NW Surrogacy Center...........................................17 Portland Aquarium...............................................26 Portland Early Learning........................................11 Portland Trampoline.............................................19 Propagize..............................................................13 Safe Splash Swim School.....................................31 Seahorses..............................................................11 Sit Still...................................................................21 Slumber Time Solutions........................................17 Small Friends School............................................27 Spielwerk Toys.......................................................27 Starcycle................................................................27 The Bull and the Bee...............................................7 The Kids’ Backyard Store.......................................19 Tidee Didee...........................................................15 Urban Farm Store..................................................29 USTA Pacific Northwest........................................31 Very Important Babies.........................................17 Westside Montessori International......................29 WeVillage..............................................................13 Willow Tree Wellness............................................13 World of Smiles.....................................................29 Zenana Spa...........................................................30 CORRECTION: In the June issue Cascade Raptor Center should have been Cascades Raptor Center. Learn more at eraptors.org 6 | NW Kids Magazine
magazine Publisher / Advertising Director Michelle Snell michelle@nwkidsmagazine.com Editorial Beth Friesenhahn beth@nwkidsmagazine.com Kelley Schaefer-Levi kelley@nwkidsmagazine.com Guest Baby Issue Editor Kimberly Bepler kimberly@abcdoula.com Account Manager Laurel Ackerman laurel@nwkidsmagazine.com Client Services Coordinator/ Client Ad Design Karel Chan karel@nwkidsmagazine.com Design Robyn Barbon robyn@folkloremedia.com Advertising Inquiries: 503-282-2711, ext. 1 sales@nwkidsmagazine.com Accounting & Business Services Heather Rex heather@nwkidsmagazine.com Connect With Us: • Phone: 503.282.2711 • email: contact@nwkidsmagazine.com • Facebook: facebook.com/nwkids • Twitter: @nwkids • Pinterest: pinterest.com/nwkids NW Kids is published monthly by Miche Media, LLC. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy; sometimes we make errors. Please let us know when we do and accept our apologies. Printed locally; Please recycle. Kimberly Bepler photograph on p. 4 courtesy of Campbell Salgado Studio.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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JUST HAVE A BABY? THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT! by CRE’SHEA HILTON As a postpartum doula I get asked a lot by my clients which app I prefer most for having a newborn to manage the new baby’s life. As a person who just came into the smart phone world less than a year ago, I found myself at a loss, so I decided to do some research.
BABYCONNECT has 10 timers that can cover all your basic needs: Last nursing side, dirty diapers, bottle feed, etc. It even has a start/stop/pause feature. BabyConnect is great if you’re into an app that is visually appealing.
Isn’t it a bummer though that the baby doesn’t come with an organizer of some kind? I think the baby box they send you home with at the hospital should have a planner in it, so that you know that baby needs to block out all visitors for that 3rd week because she’ll be crying and cluster feeding instead! (Oh, and Tuesdays are no good for him either because, those are her poopy blow out days. Who knew?)
TOTAL BABY has 14 timers that cover a variety of needs including baths, pumping or the design your own category, which I find to be a great feature. Total Baby holds unlimited data and that data can be exported in numerous ways. It isn’t as visually attractive as I’d imagine a baby app could be, but it does allow you to sync other devices to the one account.
I entrusted the ever-faithful Internet to help me track down the most popular apps and find out which of them really did what new moms are asking for. There are tons of apps to sort through, some free some not, but it’s easy enough to take the word of other mothers when they say, that an app saved their life in those new weeks as a parent. Here are 3 popular and frequently used apps among the “I have a new baby and I need to remember when he ate or pooped last” consumer. A small checklist of things an app should have: Timers (a variety), diary/log, appointment reminders, syncing abilities with other phones, visual graphs/charts and they have to be user friendly. The top apps being used by moms (from my own research) are BabyConnect, Feed Baby and Total Baby. These apps are very similar in nature, but a few discerning features separate them from one another. 8 | NW Kids Magazine
FEED BABY has a free and paid version. The free version does a great job tracking feeding, baby statistics and medicines. It’s great if you are on a budget and want to try out an app before purchasing. What did I learn? Not all apps are created equally. Some apps are more in depth than someone may need. Some apps are worth that $5 if it saves your sanity. But here’s the best part, millions of moms before us did it without an app and survived and so did their babies. If the thought of buying and using an app is more overwhelming than say, using a piece of paper and pencil, then go with what feels right. Sometimes doing it the simple way is the easiest. Cre’shea Hilton is a practicing Postpartum Doula with Salem Birth Support Doula Services in Salem, OR. When she isn’t offering support to new families you can find her chasing her own brood of 2 boys around--children who both survived without her using a tracking app (just her trusty “mom brain”).
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FEELING THE LOVE AS A
STAY AT HOME
DAD Photographs by LADELLE PHOTOGRAPHY
Chris Routly considers himself to be a “Full-Time Dad.” He’s also a local Portland children’s book author and illustrator, blogger, ”accidental activist” and Director of Marketing & Communications for the National At-Home Dad Network. Chris initially fell into his role for practical reasons. Six years ago in the middle of her maternity leave, he and his wife were both laid off. They’d already discussed how Chris would get “more personal fulfillment in playing with toys with small children.” But the reality was that his wife’s job held the best potential for relocation, cash flow and insurance. Having Chris stay at home as primary caregiver made the most sense for their family…but not everyone felt the same way.
by BARB BUCKNER SUÁREZ
Going to the park with his son in his native Pennsylvania meant he often got the cold shoulder or even a few nasty comments, which only encouraged him to stay home. When he did venture out, his attempts to strike up conversations with Stay At Home Moms (SAHMs) weren’t very successful. Once they discovered he was a Stay At Home Dad (SAHD) the conversation would become awkward or end abruptly. Chris had to work extra hard to find moms who were really supportive of him, but it was worth it. “If you have the support of your local moms, you have a much easier job as a SAHD,” Chris shares. The number of SAHDs has nearly doubled since 1989 to two million in 2012, and depending on what counts as full-time continued on p. 12
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caregiving, that number could be much higher. The recession played a part in that increase, but long-term growth is attributed to the rising number of dads who are home primarily to care for their family. This growth is representative of the increasing number of SAHDs in Oregon. But challenges remain for men making the choice to be the full-time caregiver for their children. Chris shares, “Lots of guys don’t claim this as what they do, they talk about what else they do, or what they used to do.” For too many dads, they’re fighting the stigma of not being the breadwinner. Being a man means having a “real” job making money. For Chris, once he claimed his role and realized that caring for his son was his job, things changed. He felt more confident and wanted to get really good at it. According to Chris, the biggest supporting factor for SAHDs “is having a partner that values what they do.” SAHDs really need to feel that caring for their children is a valuable and important contribution. 12 | NW Kids Magazine
Chris thinks the biggest struggle for SAHDs remains the issue of isolation. For moms there’s an infrastructure of support already built in, but for men, not so much. “With dads, there’s this lack of support and messages that we get our whole lives that if you’re reaching out for support, then you’re not a real man.” Men who choose to be the primary caregiver will really have to push themselves to find community with other SAHDs who can provide understanding and support because of the unique challenges they all face. Things have become easier since Chris and his family moved to Portland 3 years ago. “I see SAHDs all over the place now. People here are into it. They think it’s cool.” If you are considering being a SAHD, Chris believes, “This role is…being more and more valued every day.” Chris runs a local dads only group at pdxdadsgroup.com on MeetUp in the Portland Metro area and he’d love to connect with you. Outside of Portland connect via the National At Home Dads Network at athomedad.org. Find a group there, or even start one of your own. Knowing that you’re not the only SAHD out there is super important. Chris adds, “The best way to change the stigmas that are associated with SAHDs is to be out there in the community and to be seen.” You can read more about SAHDs and what else Chris Routly is up to at his blog: daddydoctrines.com. Barb Buckner Suárez teaches Childbirth Education for Legacy Good Samaritan and OHSU. She has a passion for including dads and partners in the birth process, and is currently writing a new book for expectant parents. Hear her full interview with Chris on her blog: birthhappens.com.
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Can my baby be sleep trained? An Interview with Natalie Willes
(The Baby Sleep Trainer) Photographs by CAMPBELL SALGADO STUDIO SLEEP TRAINERS SOUND A LITTLE SCARY. HOW DO YOU HELP BABIES SLEEP? My job is to help parents find a way to get from helping their child to fall asleep with help, to having the child put herself to sleep completely on her own, and I help the parents decipher the method that will be most effective for both their child’s temperament and the parent’s comfort level. “Sleep hygiene” can also be improved: things like appropriate nap and bedtimes, nursery or bedroom set ups, pajamas, room temperature, etc. The best way to learn about a sleep consultant is to read reviews. I have several on Yelp that clients report are very helpful. WHAT AGE DO YOU RECOMMEND GETTING SOME SUPPORT? The earliest is about 14-16 weeks of age. Although there are exceptions, it’s tricky and often unwise to attempt any type of real sleep training while still in the newborn stage. When the parents feel ready is a good time to start; some parents don’t feel comfortable considering it until their baby is closer to 1 year. It tends to be the easiest before 6 months then becomes exponentially more difficult each month through 12 mo. After that there is more “drama and trauma” so it’s best to tackle sleep issues before the toddler months, but it really never is too late. 14 | NW Kids Magazine
by KIMBERLY BEPLER
MY CHILD IS THE WORST SLEEPER EVER; DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU CAN HELP US? If I can’t help your child, he would be the first. Not all children are perfect sleepers, but just like with any skill, it takes consistency and practice. Barring a serious medical issue, he can become a well-rested child who falls asleep on his own, sleeps well at night, and gets on an age-appropriate daily nap schedule. DO YOU COME OVER AND WATCH WHAT WE DO? DO YOU STAY THE NIGHT? It may seem like a good idea to hire someone for 48 hours, but sometimes when the emotional investment from parents isn’t there, it’s difficult to do what is necessary to maintain positive sleep habits. Instead, I have families fill out a questionnaire on my website, and then I meet with them in their home, or via a video conference. We spend 1-2 hours going over their child’s sleep problems, the parents’ goals, and then sleep training methods themselves. We discuss everything in explicit detail and I modify my recommendations from family to family as needed. Families get their written plan and then we work together very closely via text, email, and phone for 1-2 weeks. It is this intensive hands-on support that makes the real difference. Sleep training continued on p. 16
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is sometimes more of a marathon than a sprint (or it can feel that way), so I offer plenty of emotional support to help parents be successful. WHAT IF IT DOESN’T ‘STICK’… WHAT DO WE DO? Sleep training works as long as families are being consistent AND when they are working with a good plan (either theirs or a professional’s). If a parent is consistent and sticks with something as long as needed, they will be successful. HOW MUCH DOES THIS PROCESS COST? HOW LONG A WAIT IS THERE FOR HELP? From $299 for a video conference consultation to $349 for an in-home consultation. This includes evaluation of the questionnaire, the consultation itself, and all of the extensive follow-up support. I can generally see clients within 7 days.
Sleep Support RESOURCE GUIDE NATALIE WILLES Baby Sleep Trainer 503.488.5455 babysleeptrainer.com MARIE-EVE GANON Slumber Time Solutions Providing sleep support for expecting services for expecting parents and families with children 0-6 years by offering classes and working one-on-one to address specific sleep needs and goals. Trained and certified as a Gentle Sleep Coach®, this approach is attachment and breastfeeding-friendly, gentle and developmentally appropriate.” 503.869.4103 meg@slumbertimesolutions.com slumbertimesolutions.com
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SUZANNE HANSEN RN BSN Ruby Sky Baby Sleep Coaching Ruby Sky Baby Sleep Coaching has been offering compassionate and customized support to families since 2006. Suzanne offers personalized plans for families from newborn to 6 years of age. 503.406.8683 Suzanne@BabySleepCoaching.com BabySleepCoaching.com CRISTIE MARCH ABC Doula Service As a doula working with hundreds of families in the past 10 years, Cristie focuses on smaller babies (4-9 months) before bigger sleep problems arise; helping families find balance in their everyday sleep challenges so the whole family can sleep better long term. 503.381.6064 info@abcdoula.com abcdoula.com
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Your Growing Baby BEYOND THE “FOURTH TRIMESTER” (Babies 4-9 months)
Photograph by BLUEEGGPHOTO.COM
by MARY BREITHAUPT
The early weeks with your newborn (and even longer with a preemie) are often a blur. Endless cycles of long feedings, pooping, crying, changing, holding…but everyone says, “It will get easier at three months!” So does it? Let’s review: At the end of the 3rd month you have finally mastered feeding, no longer fear baby’s head will fall off, can do diaper changes in your sleep, are out of the house before noon, have had a few longer stretches of sleep and are looking less at the books and the Internet and more to your baby for direction as confidence builds. Getting a little easier? Congratulations! The next few months, however, are amazing. You will have a rolling (surely), sitting (likely), crawling (maybe), carrot-munching, opinionated little person in your house very soon! MONTHS 4, 5 & 6: Be ready for that first giggle. And bring out those toys. They can now bat at them and hold them and stick them in their mouth, along with everything else… including your cellphone. And even on their tummies! They love watching people…and pets… and being outside. The world around them has become so exciting and stimulating that sometimes they forget or refuse to eat and nap because of distractions. Don’t worry – they will catch up at the next feed and are much more efficient now, often done in 5-10 minutes. Naps will become more regular in the second six months. Pooping may be less frequent, going a few days in between. As long as they are feeding well and content, you only need worry about the impending bigger blowout. continued on p. 20
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MONTHS 7, 8 & 9: Most babies are sitting well and start moving now, crawling, rolling, scooching, commando body crawl and the baby proofing challenge begins! Borrow a friend’s toddler and you’ll quickly learn what needs modifying in your home for safety.
Photograph by CAMPBELL SALGADO STUDIO Sleep is the most common topic at this age for moms in my support groups. Our hopeful expectations of more settled sleep may be shattered by more night waking as baby experiences increasing developmental leaps: learning to roll over, the drool-y hints of teething (so that’s what all those bibs are for), adjusting to other caregivers as mom returns to work, starting solids, and budding social and emotional growth. Psst, I’ll let you in on a secret, based on 18 years of teaching classes with new families and from what thousands of babies have told me (via their moms), it is NORMAL for babies, especially breastfed babies, to wake and feed at some point in the night throughout at least the first year. It is a biologically based instinct for survival and helps to maintain breastfeeding longer. Not what you wanted to hear, right? Lots of sleep advice is available but YOU get to decide what is best for your family. The topic of feeding solids may come up at your 4-month well baby visit as many docs are moving back to a 4-6 month introduction period. Traditional baby food (purees first) versus “baby-led” (whole pieces of soft foods) is another decision for new parents. Wait until 6 months if you use the baby-led approach. Teeth, by the way, are not required with solids. (Making messes is.) 20 | NW Kids Magazine
Emotionally, this age is exciting and challenging. They are discovering they are separate from you so being too far away or out of sight can bring tears. Reassure them and practice coming and going in small doses. Peek-a-boo gives them opportunity to rehearse that emotional swing of worry to relief. Growing assertiveness also appears with refusal to get in the car seat or hold still for a diaper change. Distraction and singing are helpful tools for managing resistant moments. Their developing cognitive or “thinking” skills mean they will try imitating things you do, talking on the phone, petting the kitty, putting on your sunglasses. They will practice cause and effect as they throw their broccoli off the highchair and watch the dog eat it…again and again! Try to ignore them (without laughing). Did you just hear “Mama” or was it just babbling? Smile and respond and soon it will be your new name through association and reinforcement…for the rest of your life! These are just a few of the changes ahead with your growing baby. So…is it easier? Maybe. Is it a whole lot of fun? Absolutely! Mary Breithaupt is a Maternal/Child Health Instructor for Providence Health and Services. She has been teaching prenatal and postpartum classes for parents for 28 years in the Portland area, primarily New Moms’ Support Groups at St. Vincent’s and Providence Portland locations.
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Photograph by CAMPBELL SALGADO STUDIO
Visitors beware: Nudity, Hormones, and Secret Codes by KIMBERLY BEPLER
When you are planning for early visitors after a new baby arrives, consider your special needs during this time. New moms often have pain in their most sensitive parts and need extra care that is not easy to ask for. Newborn babies need little other than access to food (translation for breastfeeding moms: lots of potential nudity), warmth (best done skin to skin: see note about nudity) and frequent diaper changes (um…messy nudity?), these are not best accomplished with visitors who want to hang out with you but aren’t comfortable supporting you with naked and potentially messy or painful situations.
so we don’t need to ask. When your body is recovering from birth, your mind and heart are wrapped around that tiny little bundle, and time feels like it is passing in a fog, you can’t think about managing big people.
Visitors are wonderful when you have found your groove with nursing and recovery, and your partner has returned back to work (often between weeks 2-6). By 6 weeks many moms are feeling stronger and ready to bring their baby out into the world a bit more, attend a moms group or exercise class, even head out shopping with their little ones—which can be really therapeutic.
Factor in the natural crying curve, where babies are calmer from weeks 1-2, fussier up to the peak between weeks 6-8, and then become more calm again (and more FUN) between weeks 8-12. Calm baby time means helpers for parents, fussy baby time means a mix of helpers and visitors, and fun baby time means more opportunities for visitors to interact and get to know your tiny one.
What is needed in those early days? HELPERS. Helpers are people whose sole goal is to support you as you welcome your new baby and recover from birth. They don’t hold the baby (unless asked) but rather bring you food, do your dishes or laundry, take the dog for a walk or mow your lawn. They run errands for you so you can stay at home and rest, and when they come to drop things off they compliment you and your baby, and don’t stay long!
One last word for partners; you might need to be the spokesperson for mom in for these early weeks. New moms have mushy hormonal hearts that are primed for bonding—which is perfect for welcoming a new baby! However, they don’t have the ability to turn off the mush factor depending on who is around them, so often partners have to step up and provide the clarity that is needed with relatives, friends, and neighbors. This requires some communication between you and your partner ahead of time, and possibly the use of some ‘secret codes’ you can use when moms want YOU to read their mind. Moms, set these up in advance and give partners an idea of your wishes. It will make all the difference between seeing your partner as your hero or having disappointing memories of your newborn time.
How do you figure out who is who? Ask your people what they are hoping to do during their visit, or ask them specifically for what you need or want. So much of our time with others is hoping they will read our minds, body language, or just read between the lines 22 | NW Kids Magazine
Take an inventory before your baby arrives, of all your people near and far who you expect to see. Then take an honest look at the skills and strengths they offer. If you decide to wait to have relatives visit until you figure out the feeding and recovery part, don’t forget to line up helpers for weeks 1-2, when you are physically and emotionally more fragile.
Photograph by CAMPBELL SALGADO STUDIO
HOW TO FIND CHILDCARE THAT FITS YOUR FAMILY
If you ask parents about their experience with finding the right childcare, the resounding answer is: Ask the Right Questions. So we compiled a list of questions that parents found helpful in determining what childcare option was best for them, with the goal of getting a conversation started to learn even more about them. üü How long have you been in business? What is your other experience?
üü What types of activities do you do during the day? Field Trips?
üüDo you have a current state license?
üüWhat form of discipline do you practice?
üü How many children do you currently watch?
üü What types of foods are offered and what are the rules about providing food?
üüHow do you support a breastfed baby?
üü Do you have any other caregivers? Are they approved by the state?
üü What are the rules about potty usage? Do you help potty train? üüWhat are your hours? üüWhat is the holiday schedule? üüWhat is the cost? üü Do I pay when my child is ill or we’re on vacation? üüHow often do you require payment? üü How do you prefer to communicate with parents? Text? Email?
üü Is smoking allowed in or outside the house? üüAre immunizations required? üü Where do children sleep during naptime? Is swaddling allowed? üü Are willing to participate in a background check? üüDo you have references I can call?
One last word, from local mom Candace Tutt, “When I look for childcare I usually try to visit the in-home center twice, once after hours and once while they have children. This way I can get a feeling for the home when it is busy and when it is calm. Usually, you know right away from walking into the house if this is the right fit for you and your child. I look for children around my kiddos age, too. If I ever had any doubts about the daycare, I would just move onto the next one. NO MATTER WHAT!” NW Kids Magazine | 23
by MAREN WILLIAMS
Photograph by LADELLE PHOTOGRAPHY
Getting out with Your Baby and Toddler in Tow The major challenge of having my second child was not what to do with the baby. I had plenty of baby experience. But I had no idea what to do with my toddler; he was used to having me all to himself and now he had to share. The activities that had been fun with one kid were suddenly impossible. Swimming pool? No thanks! Baby yoga? No longer welcome. The park? Not again! Finding some good play date friends with kids roughly the same ages as mine has been my best mom-of-two move. You get friends to hang out with while your kids entertain each other, a support system that understands the challenges you are facing, and the occasional parental night out coconspirators. So where do you find these new BFFs? Attending one of the local moms group is a great place to start, although few allow older kids to tag along so it is easier to start with your first baby and stay connected to those mamas! If you haven’t made those new mama friends, it’s easier to meet and connect with these cool moms and dads in places where the kids are more contained and their activities somewhat structured. Luckily, Portland is a wonderfully kid-friendly town, and there are a ton of things you can do with your baby on board and toddler in tow. 24 | NW Kids Magazine
Play cafes are great with two kids, no matter how mobile they are; drinks, food and toys they don’t have at home. Even if they have the same toys you have at home, somehow it’s more fun when you’re out. Each cafe has a unique personality with musicians, story hours, outdoor areas, even sensory play. (And you can get your decaf soy latte too!) Check out nwkidsmagazine.com to see what’s happening near you. Both the Portland Children’s Museum and OMSI have baby areas for crawlers, although you’re more likely to be digging, building and doing water play. The Children’s Museum has a new outdoor nature play area and a weekly schedule of story times and music. OMSI has the science playground geared for 0-6 which is all in one room, making it easier to keep track of both kids. Bring a change of clothes and just let them go to town in the clay/ water/sand. If you’re more of an animal lover, or want your kids to be, the Oregon Zoo is great for all ages. Take your stroller so you don’t have to carry your tired toddler all the way-back up the hill. All three are pricey and worth a membership if you think you might want to visit often. continued on p. 26
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The Indoor Play Park is my secret weapon. They are inexpensive and provide space for gross motor play that I certainly don’t have at my house! Ride on toys, basketball hoops, slides and more will keep babies, toddlers and preschoolers happy. It’s a great place to meet up with your new friends, get you out of the house, and wear out your toddler on those days when the weather is just not kid friendly. Most community centers and some churches have them so you can keep it local.
there early! Gymboree and Music Together also welcome multi-child families in their programs.
Feel like moving? I love Fit4Mom workouts like Stroller Strides. I get a great workout, connect with my kids through songs and games, and meet lots of really great moms who also love to be active (Dads welcome too). Classes are great for all fitness levels, and it doesn’t matter if your kids are fussy. If you’d rather be in the forest, check out Hike It Baby. Hikes and walks are rated for strollers or carriers and many are toddler-led rambles great for getting your big kid out walking while you carry your little one. The added bonus? HIB is completely free!
Lastly, ask for help when you need it. Even teenagers will hold the door for my stroller if I ask them nicely! Don’t be shy about talking to other parents, as Raffi sings, “The more we get together the happier we’ll be.”
Parks and Rec have lots of classes for toddlers and wearable babies are welcome. Movers may be as well, but you might want to check with the instructor. Library story times are hit with both my kids, although some fill up very quickly so get
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A few tricks: take multiple snacks everywhere they are allowed. I bring “regular” snacks and “emergency” snacks; don’t forget the snacks for you too! Be prepared for one or both kids to fall asleep in the car and totally derail your plan—you might want to keep a book in your bag.
Maren Williams M.S. Ed. is a native Oregonian, speaks Danish and toddler, aspires to be an apparel designer, and is taking time out from school counseling to raise her 2 and 4 year old boys into happy, healthy kids.
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It Takes a Village
by TIFFANY DECKER with CARISSA NIEMYER
Photograph by CAMPBELL SALGADO STUDIO
Portland is a bit of a mecca for childbirth and postpartum resources. As birth professionals we understand that the choices, depth of services in women’s health during pregnancy and postpartum, as well as the number of educated consumers, tops the majority of communities around the nation. And while some places in the US are still discussing routine episiotomies and the legality of home birth, Portland is leading the way in new conversations.
Research is also showing significant benefits from this integrative model of care to birth outcomes, postpartum success, as well as reduced medical costs. Results from the Providence Maternal Care Clinic’s program beginning in 2012 through 2013 include:
In the Centering model, a group of women start their appointments with their providers around the same time, in a group setting. While they have individual time with their providers, they also have time as a group to discuss common questions and concerns. With so much isolation during pregnancy and postpartum, group support gives the opportunity for women to connect and potentially stay connected during a time that can be a bit lonely.
• patient satisfaction was 98%
At Portland Maternal Care Clinic, each woman is works with a midwife, a doula, and a maternal care navigator who helps them navigate the system throughout their pregnancy, as well as an OB who works with the women in case questions arise that would benefit from the OB’s perspective (plus the group-based prenatal visits). 28 | NW Kids Magazine
• a drop in cesarean rates from 32% down to 20% • Epidural use in vaginal deliveries decreasing from 85% to 47.5%
All the while the cost of services actually dropped 15.2%! These evidence based types of programs have actually been around for over 20 years, starting on the east coast. Now, all across Portland, you can see these models popping up. Women’s Health Care Associates, Legacy Emmanuel Midwifery program, and OHSU are all offering these integrative programs in their facilities to interested families. Some have expanded this offering into doula support as well, now using group-based pregnancy discussion groups as a part of client support throughout the childbearing year. (We have experienced great results at Birthing Stone Doula Services with this approach as well.) continued on p. 30
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Envisioning what this new model looks like might be a bit tricky for those used to brief appointments with their provider, so Women’s Health Care Associates offers a video on their website that gives families a feel for what to expect: tinyurl.com/centering-pregnancy Benefits beyond birth interventions include; higher breastfeeding rates, lower preterm birth rates, increase in satisfaction and self-confidence approaching labor, increase relationships between new parents which equal higher levels of support in the postpartum period, and even some evidence pointing to higher birth weights in newborns. Add to that savings in health care for both the medical system as well as the consumer by way of reduced need for interventions, and we can only hope this village approach continues to grow and that other hospitals, providers, doula agencies, etc. join their voices to the conversation and include this method of care as an option for families. For more information please visit these resources: Centering Health Care and Pregnancy centeringhealthcare.org Women’s Healthcare Associates whallc.com Biz Journals Article tinyurl.com/pbrru8u
Tiffany, founder of Birthing Stone Doula, is a professional labor and postpartum doula with a passion for supporting families with practical and useful information to navigate their transition through birth and into parenthood. When she’s not busy welcoming little humans to the world, she is busy chasing her own boys around the soccer field and pretty much everywhere else.
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Natural Birth RESOURCE GUIDE
ANDALUZ WATERBIRTH CENTER Family-centered prenatal, birth and postpartum care. waterbirth.net BIRTHING STONE DOULA Doula and childbirth services. birthingstone.com NORTH PORTLAND WELLNESS CENTER Fertility, Chinese medicine, Acupuncture and Prenatal massage. northportlandwellness.com WILLOW TREE WELLNESS CLINIC Fertility, Acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Herbal medicine and Massage. willowtreeclinic.com
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