The best toy ever

If you are ever looking for a great toy for either one child or siblings THIS is it!

These cardboard blocks get so much use in my home. All three kids love them and play with them in different ways. Here is a picture of Frannie and Adam playing like they are horses inside of a stable.

They are constantly coming up with different imaginative games with these blocks either as a scene, or just as something fun to stack up high and knock down or walk across like a bridge. They are both lightweight and sturdy. The kids are 6, 3, and 1 and it's been a favorite with all of them.

Photographer Spotlight- Loreta from EarthTone Photograpy

Loreta Washington of Earth Tone Photography is a Natural Light on location photographer based in Southern California, who loves what she does.  Her style is relaxed and photo journalistic.

“I love capturing the true essence of a person big or small.”

Most people need some time to find their groove in front of the camera.  Loreta is great at creating an environment for this to happen naturally.

“I fell in love with photography and the process of photography in my 8^th grade photography class.  It wasn’t until my first child was born that I truly started to feel and understand what photo journalism was. I documented everything my daughter and my family was experiencing!  The camera, at that moment, became one of my best friends”

A creative soul from birth Loreta found that creative expression is a necessity in her life.

 “My first love was music.  I started writing and composing as a child.  I became so connected with music I remember vividly making that emotional connection with art and how amazing self-expression through art felt."

Although she loves photographing everything, Loreta decided in 2011 to specialize in Portraits, with an emphasis on Maternity, Newborn, Children and Families.

“I have 3 very young and beautiful girls.  I loved being pregnant with all of them.  Pregnancy is the most incredible experiences ever!  I had maternity photos taken with all my pregnancies and totally understand how a woman feels, good and bad, when it comes to being pregnant and being PHOTOGRAPHED while pregnant.    I pride myself in making every woman look and feel great while I am documenting their pregnancy.”

It wasn’t until 2005 that Loreta decided to pursue photography as a career.   Although a lot of her ability came naturally, Loreta enrolled in photography classes then eventually a photography school to help hone her craft.

“Learning how to step outside of the “green box” automatic mode was a challenge at first.  But learning how to shoot in Manual has been freedom for me.  I truly feel like my camera is an extension of me now.  I forget I am holding it sometimes.  Even on a loooong newborn shoot!”

In 2010, Loreta began teaching an “Intro to Digital Photography” class through a local school district. 

“I had always heard that you learn so much from teaching.  I totally get it now.  Although I bring the  info and my experience to my students, I am often asked questions that force me out of my comfort zone and challenge to me remember things that I don’t practice regularly.  I love it!” 

Along with her Husband of 8 years, in the summer of 2011 Loreta, will launch her new website and her “new” business.  Stay tuned!   “I am so excited for what’s in store.  I truly feel like I have found my calling. It is revealed to me every day!  I love what I do and I hope it shows in every image I take. I feel blessed every time I am invited into someone’s life to capture those precious moments in time.”

Contact Loreta at earthtonephotography.com for information and to book your session.

Not all things work out perfectly

I just attended a birth last night for a Bradley couple. I got a call at about 4pm from her husband because they were at the hospital (after having transfered from a birth center) and the staff were talking the "C-word". He was nervous and wasn't sure what to do. His wife was fully dilated and had been pushing for two hours in various positions but the baby just wouldn't move down. In my heart, once he said that, I knew that she probably really would need to have a cesarean and I offered to go to the hospital just to hold her hand and provide moral support. 

Doula Spotlight- Heather Hanning

     

       Tell a little about yourself outside of the doula/birth realm.

I have been married to my high school sweetheart for thirteen years. We have a beautiful 10 year old son together. When I’m not assisting on births I have my own practice as a massage therapist and have been doing so for 11 years now. I live a natural lifestyle and a advocate for holistic medicine. In my free time I’m a soccer mom and love spending time with my family and friends. In addition I love to unwind by spending time in nature; doing things like hiking, camping, taking my dog on walks and  just sitting under a tree. I also enjoy listening to music and dancing.

2.     

        How did you become interested in doula work?

With my son I had an unnecessary cesarean and was left feeling cheated that I didn’t get to experience childbirth the way I wanted. A year later while taking a pregnancy massage class my instructor mentioned something about doulas. I thought to myself Wow! What an awesome thing to do. Around the same time my close friend had just found out that she was pregnant and I massaged her throughout her pregnancy and ended up in the delivery room with her. As I massaged her and felt the way her body was responding to my touch; I realized that I wanted to be a doula. I also thought it would be a great way to make peace with my own birth experience by supporting women though natural childbirth and avoiding unnecessary cesareans. I wish I had a doula by my side.

3.     

      Can you tell a little bit about your training and experience?

I took my first doula training back in 2003 though ALICE which is now ToLabor. I loved it so much I decided to take the workshop again in 2004.In the 34 births I have assisted on I have experience with working with the hearing impaired VBAC and homebirth. I’ve been a licensed massage therapist for 11 years and have taught pregnancy and infant massage at a few local massage schools. I have the honor of speaking at different schools and events about being a doula and the benefits of pregnancy massage. Currently I’m getting my certification though DONA International. Furthermore, I am an aspiring Midwife and am finishing up my pre-requirements to register in a licensed midwifery program by next year. I am ready to take my passion to the next level.

4.       How do you view your role as a member of a family's birth team? 

      Do you have any specific strengths/skills?

My role as a doula changes depending on the needs of the expecting couple. However, for the most part I’m a positive guiding light that creates a protective bubble around them grading them from unwanted negativity. From my first visit on, I am there to listen to their fears and concerns being both objective and compassionate. I am the voice of wisdom and makes sure that the couple is well informed. When labor starts we are a team that is ready for anything and when necessary are able to make educated dictions. Birth is an intimate experience so I strive to be present but invisible at the same time by giving the couple their space and privet time with each other.

As for my strengths and skills, I love to to give my mama massages a few times leading up to labor so I can get to know her body and she can become comfortable with me and familiar with my touch. My super powers are acupressure, energy work and aromatherapy. More so, I use visualization, inspirational mantras and chanting. Of course I incorporate all these things during labor as well. I’m versatile with an open mind and go with the flow. Being asked to assist on a birth is a great privilege and I honor that with all my heart.

5.       Do you have an interesting story to share?

I will never forget the day of Logan’s run. That Day started off with an early phone call from my sister telling me that her water had broken and she would like me to come to her assistance. Although the midwife told her to go back to bed; my sister and I knew that there was a possibility that she was going to go fast. This was going to be her forth baby and she had a history of fairly quick labors. When I arrived at my sister’s house I knew by her moans and the way she was moving that we didn’t have much time to get her to the birthing center. As I was helping her out into the drive way my sister stops cold in her tracks, leans on her knees and tells me that the baby was coming. I take a breath as I look under her gown and there he was coming right at me. I calmly told her that I was ready to catch the baby. I can still remember how easy his little warm body slid right out into my hands. I quickly passed him to the front of my sister so she can see that he was alright. While we waited for the midwife and the paramedics; we had my sister resting covertly on the back lawn as she contently breastfeed her new baby boy Logan. Furthermore Logan is now 5 years old and lives up to the way he came into this world. Last but not least even though I had never deliver a baby before I went with my instinct and I discovered that I am distend to be a midwife someday. It was an amazing experience.

6.       What advice would you give to expecting couples?

The most important advice I have to give is to take a childbirth education class such as Bradley or Birthing Within.. Become your own advocate. Though my experience, being educated about childbirth and your options makes a big difference. In addition childbirth is unpredictable, have a flexible birth plan and be prepared for anything. Talk about your fears to some one that is supportive and try not to feed into all the horrid birth stories that people share with you. Have faith in yourself and trust your body and of course hire a doula.

7.     

       How can families contact you? 

Families can contact me by calling me at (909)838-3840 or e-mail me at gottadoula@aol.com

I would like to add that I believe that every expecting couple deserves to have a doula by their side no matter what their financial situation is. I offer affordable flexible rates and discounts to Bradley and Birthing Within students.

Doula Spotlight- Pati Garcia

1. Tell a little about yourself outside of the doula/birth realm. 

When I'm not working as a birth doula, I'm teaching workshops on women's health, including facilitating self-examination. Frequently I'm invited to speak and present at universities, community centers, and conferences on a wide range of topics related to holistic wellness, sexual health and body autonomy. From home I maintain a private bodywork and somatic sex education practice in Highland Park; offering consultations and bodywork sessions. 
I love to dance and laugh. I'm a DJ by night at a latin pop club in Downtown LA. Swimming and taking baths are my favorite forms of meditation and relaxation.

2. How did you become interested in doula work? 

I had just completed workshop in Women's Sacred Anatomy Workshop where we learned pelvic floor massage and how that tension translates into difficulties during birth.  During our closing circle, one of the practitioners told me she believed I would make a great doula. I was stumped because I had never heard of the term. When she described it, I was even in more shock because I had never thought of being at births. That day I went home and did a search on the internet and signed up for the upcoming birth doula training. 
I had also taken an introduction to Cranial-Sacral Therapy and learned about how the cranium is shaped during the birth process. Which led me to understand how important it is for pregnant families to have ongoing support throughout pregnancy and labor.

3. Can you tell a little bit about your training and experience?

I received my professional birth training from DONA Doulas of North America International. My doula practice is dynamic; it incorporates my shiatsu, cranial sacral therapy, and women's sacred anatomy training. My interpersonal communication skills come from working at a reproductive health clinic and counseling women on birth control options. All these areas of work support me as a doula with a strong sense of reproductive justice, confidence in women's potential and self-empowerment. I trained as a birth doula in August of 2007, in April of 2009 as an assistant midwife through the Farm in Tennessee with Ina May Gaskin and Pamela Hunt, and became certified in Neo-Natal Resuscitation with Karen Strange. Since these trainings I've been a part of 37 births as a birth doula or midwife's assistant. Every time I'm present at a birth I get a deep sense that I'm at the right place in my life, something that I rarely felt at other jobs.

4. How do you view your role as a member of a family's birth team? Do you have any specific strengths/skills?

I view my role as a gatekeeper for the baby. Listening to the concerns of parents without judgement, being able to reflect back to them, offer information from various angles in order for them to make informed decisions, is what I'm best at. By facilitating this process, I feel that the baby(ies) gets a better chance at a gentle, loving welcome into the world.  

5. Do you have an interesting story to share?

The birth that inspired me to leave my 9-5 as a social worker was a life-changing experience.  I had been asked to be the doula just 2 days prior and had my interview scheduled for 3 days later.  I received a call at midnight saying her water broke but no labor. I came in the morning when her labor had come on strong, and before I knew I was in the middle of ahome water birth with midwives. We knew there was a chance this baby was coming breech, mom had prepared herself well and the midwives knew exactly how to handle this variation of normal.  As a doula, I stayed calm and had full faith that this was possible for this mom and baby.  She used Hypnobirthing for most of her labor and by 1p her daughter came through, right butt cheek first.  The entire time I felt a strong buzz through my body that I was not to return to an office job, and this was a normal but nowadays a rare birth. To this day, that birth is a marker in my life. Giving me the knowing that we are so powerful, and we are here to preserve that power. 

8. How can families contact you? 

Families can contact me directly by calling 510-363-0160 and e-mailing me at chuladoula@gmail.com

                                      

Hangin' with Carrie at Park Day

Carrie Martin-Vegue took class with me almost 3 years ago when she was pregnant with her first son Drew. She's now a mother of two little boys and is a new Bradley instructor in Adelanto. She loves birth and even studied midwifery for a short time. She is a joy to be around and I know she will be a gift to couples looking for natural childbirth options in the high desert. To contact Carrie call (909)957-1179

Park Day: Each Thursday morning from 10am-noon moms gather at Memorial Park in Claremont to let our kiddos play and enjoy adult conversation. This group is mostly comprised of past Bradley students but really anyone can come and play! If you are interested in joining this group click on the link to join the Yahoo Group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/familiesforbirth/

Next class series begins Friday, March 18th

If you or a friend is expecting a baby in late May, June, or early July then this would be the right series for you. Class will be held at No Sugar Added in the Claremont village area.

Bradley Method classes teach natural childbirth techniques, teach the husband or partner how to be a labor coach, and cover the full range of childbirth choices that can present themselves during the childbearing year. Included is a full breastfeeding class where mothers will learn how to latch the baby, establish a good milk supply, avoid problems and we'll cover other topics key to breastfeeding success. This is an in-depth comprehensive course.

To register or to ask questions please send an email to learn2birth@yahoo.com.

Have a great day!