International Babywearing Week!

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Babywearing is so vital to both mom and baby. Check out the cuteness.

FATS Mama Circle will be all about Babywearing this Friday Oct 2, 10-12 in Phx and Tues Oct 6, 12-2 in Gilbert!

In honor of International Babywearing Week I want to give a shout out to Babywearing International of Phoenix!

Here is an excerpt from their Facebook page. Go like them today!

We are an affiliate chapter of Babywearing International (http://babywearinginternational.org/), a non-profit organization devoted to babywearing advocacy and education. Our Mission is to promote babywearing safety and education in our communities.

babywearing seethroughOur meetings are led by Volunteer Babywearing Educators (VBEs) – experienced babywearers who have been accredited by Babywearing International. They also serve as admins for this group.

Our VBEs are:
TaiLeah Madill
Marissa Honey-Jones
Dara Salzano DaCunha
Jessica Richardson

Tracy McCall
Morgan Vigil-Smith
Beth Guynes
Elizabeth Morton
Lauren Maynard
Jenna Parker
Toria Trendler
Tanya C Higgins
Tiffany Deacon Husar
Kara Cook
Amber Hodge
Renee Hiller

We currently have 5 meetings a month, each in a different part of the valley. We occasionally offer social or play date events as well. All of our upcoming events and meetings are now posted on our Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/BWIPhoenix, under the events tab or on our website here. Please subscribe to receive notifications when new events and meetings are created, and join those you wish to attend to stay up to date on all those details! You can find a full list of our group rules and guidelines here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/babywearing-international-of-phoenix/bwip-rules-and-guidelines/841765719179731.mama wearing

Want to know more about Meetings or have other general questions about how things work? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions Doc: https://www.facebook.com/notes/babywearing-international-of-phoenix/meeting-and-membership-frequently-asked-questions/848942588462044.

Our meetings are free to attend and open to all! We also offer memberships in our group for $30 per year, tax deductible. Membership supports our group’s advocacy (education and outreach) work, supports the admin costs such as for business cards that our attendees can use to hand out, and allows us to add new carriers to our library! Membership also has some great benefits, such as being able to borrow any carrier in our library f
or up to a month at a time. This is a great way to ‘try before you buy’. We currently have almost 200 carriers and accessories in our library!!

Want to know more about membership? Check out our blog post: http://www.phoenixbabywearers.blogspot.com/…/membership-wit…. Ready to join? Fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/…/1k4F7q1-7
q_FhqTQehnijstW…/viewform, and submit your $30 annual dues via paypal: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr… or to phoenixbabywearers@gmail.comman wearing

See our carrier list here: https://docs.google.com/…/1jEbQaQuNZyxZScw-TIOuiDIj29…/edit…

This group is to chat and discuss all things babywearing. Post your victories and your challenges. Ask your carrier questions. Buy, sell, and trade your lovelies with other local wearers. And above all, post with kindness and consideration. Every moment can be a positive one. Even in the challenges
and the difficult topics, there is room to grow and learn.

Love our community and want to pick their brains about things other than babywearing? Join our Off Topic (OT) group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/630266537089346/

Have a question of a more private nature? Need to chat with a leader or get further info on us teaching at your mom’s/parenting group? Private Message (PM) any leader or email us at phoenix@babywearinginternational.org.

You can learn more about our group on our website (http://bwiphoenix.com) or on our blog(http://www.phoenixbabywearers.blogspot.com/). You’ll find some great youtube tutorials, information about our lending library, and other helpful info to help you along your babywearing journey on these sites.

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Postpartum! – Herbs that Heal

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Our plant family has so many ways to heal and nurture our body after we birth. Let’s take a look at a few…

Calendula

CalendulaThis beautiful healing herb brings comfort to our sore perineums. If you have an episiotomy, tore or just have a few micro tears this herbs soothe and heals!

 

 

 

Sea Salt

SaltSalt is another fast healer. Soaking your bottom in a sea salt bath if there has been trauma. Soaking your nipples in sea salt and warm water if they are cracked and/or bleeding can bring instant relief and fast healing.

 

 

Fenugreek

fenugreekFenugreek is a trusted friend when it comes to increasing milk supply. Taken orally in capsule or tincture form.

 

 

 

Red Raspberry Leaf

redraspberryRed Raspberry is every woman, no matter what stage of life, best friend. RRL is an all over female tonic. Strengthens and tonifies. Rich in minerals and nutrients.

 

 

 

There are countless other beautiful herbs that help our postpartum to be smooth and healthy. See your midwife or herbalist for more information, indications and dosages.

At Freedom and the Seed we blend delicious herbal teas for the postpartum period. We have also created a healing sit bath with a fragrance that is out of this world!

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All of these can be purchased at our office or sent by mail. Just contact Wendi at info@freedomandtheseed.com

Happy Babymoon!

 

Birth! Who’s your team?

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The people you choose to be present at one of the most intimate moments of your life has huge effects on how that moment is played out. It is worth a lot of reflection, thought and boundaries.

Care Providers

You and your care provider’s philosophy of healthcare, your body, birth and your baby should be in alignment. It is NEVER too late to switch care providers. A mother went into labor, arrived at the hospital, realized her doctor and her were NOT on the same page about the birth she wanted. This brave mother called around to homebirth midwives until she found one to care for her at home, checked herself out and went home to have her baby. It is never too late to have the birth you want surrounded by the people you want.

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Doulas

Get one. There is nothing more to say. What is a Doula?

Doula

Family/Friends/Neighbors

This is where a lot of reflection is needed. A wise old midwife once told me you can add a couple hours to the labor for every extra person at the birth. Over my years of being a midwife I have found this to be true with very few exceptions. As with a care provider the people you invite to your birth should be 100% supportive of your decisions. In addition, family and friends who hold any fear around birth you should be very cautious about inviting into the birthing space.

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Others to consider

Photographer/videographer

Child care for the other children

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Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week!

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Wonderwoman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week is all about the boob! We love mama’s milk!

One of the greatest ways to promote normalcy in breastfeeding and create a breastfeeding culture is exposure. Mamas nurse your babies. The world needs to see it.

For more information about this awesome week go here:
http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org

 

Our Mama Circle on Wednesday 10-12 will be all about breastfeeding. If you are a pro and have done this for years come share your knowledge. If you have never nursed a baby, this is a great time to come see, learn, and experience this gift! See you Wednesday!

When was your last Well Woman Exam?

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Did you know that licensed midwives do “well woman” exams? Did you know that licensed midwives do kick-ass, amazing “well woman” exams?
We do. And today was just another confirmation that we do fantastic “well woman” care!

Sometimes I like to pretend I am not a healthcare worker, certainly not a midwife and just be a woman. I made my “well woman” appointment with a GYN office hosting several doctors and a CNM just to check out what other offices do, see if I am missing anything or can improve on anything. I met with the CNM who was lovely in every way, a true gem, yet she is stuck in a very broken system. This highly skilled, extremely educate woman could only spend 10 minutes with me. 10 min to connect to our new relationship, make me feel at ease, touch on my medical history, mush my boobs around, stick a speculum in my yoni, and give me a script for a mammogram. WHOA! How did we do all that in 10 min? She did the best she could with the time given.
It just made me all the more grateful and proud of the “well woman” care I, and all licensed midwives, give.

We have a fundamental belief that women are amazing, worthy of love, respect and time. Everything we do flows from that belief.
We schedule an hour for all “well woman” exams.
We spend A LOT of time talking, especially if this is the first time we have met. It is super important to us, not only health history, but current lifestyle. We want to know not just the physical but emotional, sexual, psychological, and spiritual side of a woman.
We talk about all the different tests and procedures to decide together what things actually are appropriate for her.
We do A LOT of education. From breast to yoni, contraception to STD’s.
We encourage women to take an active role in their bodies and healthcare.
We don’t just do a PAP. We offer STD testing, blood work, ultrasounds/mammograms.
We take our time especially with the women who have experienced trauma. We realize this can be an empowering experience instead of re-traumatizing situation.

In our office many tears fall because women feel safe to release, they have found ears to listen. In our office there is laughter as we share common experiences about our crazy bodies. In our office women have seen their own cervixes for the first time. In our office we live and love and learn together. It is for all of these reasons and so much more why we love the freedom midwifery offers every woman.

Call us for an amazing “well woman” exam today!