Take the Birth Survey

Set aside 30 minutes of your time and share your birth story by participating in the Birth Survey Project. By taking the survey, you contribute valuable information about the birthing practices here in our community.

Here's just ONE exerpt from their philosophy:

We believe that women of childbearing age must have access to information that will help them choose maternity care providers and institutions that are most compatible with their own philosophies and needs. We hope that the Transparency in Maternity Care Project will provide information that will help women make fully informed maternity care decisions.

Click this link to go give your imput and contribute to our birthing community!

PPD Online Course and FREE Materials

Calling all medical providers. There is a FREE online training available if you are working with new mom's. Step-ppd.com has three learning modules: understanding PPD, assessing PPD and treating PPD. These modules are comprehensive, they are quick and they give great ideas about overcoming common barriers that can occur when assessing and treating PPD. Additionally, they have FREE resources including screening tools, information brochures, case studies, video clips and more. Want to have someone come and train you and your office? Simply submit the online form to schedule a training for your administrative, nursing, assistant and social work staff.

Community Highlight: Mom's Club

I'm a collector of a few things. Never really been a collector of buttons, cards, or bugs but am a collector of salutations (I love a good closing line in a letter or email i.e. may all your dreams come true) and community resources. Knowing not everyone is a collector of resources, or salutations for that matter, I thought I would start posting my collection online for others to view.

First up? International Mom's Club

This club is aimed specifically toward stay-at-home and part-time working mom's. They offer weekly and monthly activities and events including the park, pool days, babysitter swapping, cooking, gardening and a hiking club, friends and something to do when you are having one of those "what am i going to do with my kid(s) today?!?" days.

Find your local chapter by clicking here.
Salt Lake Chapter
Holladay/Murray Chapter
Cottonwood Heights Chapter


Cheers and best wishes --

Kristin

It's Here! New Postpartum Depression Awareness Poster

It's finally arrived - thanks to incredibly talented artist Susie Griffen, graphic designer (and in house Martha Stewart--and great friend) Jamie Shaw and inspiration from all of the Postpartum pioneers out there, our Postpartum Depression awareness poster is complete. We are hoping to hang it in as many doctor/midwife/pediatrician/doula/hospital/mental health practitioner office's as possible to start reaching "may not be feeling like themselves" and/or silently suffering. For a short time, we will be offering these posters for free! If you are a provider or someone who would like to place this in their provider's office email us at: info@thehealinggroup.com

Just for Youth

Having teenagers can be a challenge in and of itself but finding resources for teens can, at times, feel nearly impossible. The Utah Department of Human Services has a website called Just For Youth where teens (and parents) can find questions, answers and information about drugs, alcohol, mental health, eating disorders, health and nutrition, education and more.

Utah Infertility Awareness Week

Utah Infertility Awareness Week is quickly coming up April 24 - May 1. There is a FREE kick-off event (did I mention that it is free?) April 24th at University of Utah Health Sciences building from 9:00-12:00. Registration begins April 1. Seating is limited so register early. To see the program please visit their site.

Want to Help Spread the Word?
Grab this Button to put on your blog by visiting the UIAW website

ICAN Monthly Chapter Meetings Held at The Healing Group

We are so happy to be able to support ICAN's (International Cesarean Awareness Network) Salt Lake chapter by hosting their monthly meetings. ICAN is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the outcomes of moms and babies by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing birth recovery support, and promoting access to the option of VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean).


The Group will be facilitated by Whitney McNeil. She writes, "I have been a midwifery student and doula since 2007. I had my first experience with cesarean sections when my son was born in February 2008. Having been planning on a homebirth, I truly understand how disappointing an unexpected birth outcome can be. I feel starting up this chapter will be an invaluable resource for women in our area. It is my goal to reach out and help women acheive better birth outcomes and take back control of their pregnancies. It is my pleasure to announce the start of another ICAN chapter!"

Women will be sharing their birth experiences, as well as providing understanding ears and compassionate shoulders to lean on.

The monthly meetings will be hosted by Birthing Your Way in Orem, every 2nd Monday from 7-9 pm and by The Healing Group in Salt Lake, every 3rd Monday from 7-9 pm.

This month's topic is "Getting To Know You" and will be held in Orem on Monday, March 8th and in Salt Lake on Monday, March 15th. Nursing babies are welcome.


Birthing Your Way
1111 South Orem Blvd
Suite B (Around the side and down the stairs)
Orem, UT 84058

The Healing Group
4609 South 2300 East
Holladay, UT 84117

If you have any questions,
Whitney can be reached at 801-455-7544
or icanofsaltlake@gmail.com

PSI's "Chat With an Expert" for Dad's TONIGHT

Postpartum Support International hosts a toll-free phone forum for Dad's the first Monday of every month. The chat this evening will be facilitated by Susan Dowd Stone, MSW, LCSW.

The call will be at 6pm MST.

Click this link for call instructions: http://postpartum.net/friends-and-family/weekly-chat-with-the-experts.aspx

You can join the call to talk or just to listen to others discuss resources, symptoms, options and general information with a professional member of Postpartum Support International. You can talk from the privacy of your own home and there is 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.

Babies - The Movie

A visually stunning and joyful new film that simultaneously chronicles the lives of four of the world’s newest human inhabitants - in Mongolia, Namibia, San Francisco, and Tokyo, respectively -- from first breath to first steps, on a journey at once universal and amazingly original.

Early Attachment Coming to Hospital Near You?

This Emotional Life is piloting a new resource focusing on the importance of attachment in the first year of life to be distributed to 10 hospitals across the country. From their website it explains:

From their earliest days, babies look to their parents to respond in consistent, sensitive, and loving ways. When caregivers are responsive, babies form secure attachments that give them the confidence to explore, learn, and grow. To further the understanding of attachment, Vulcan Productions is providing important tools and resources to expecting parents and the parents of young infants. Our free toolkit was created for parents to provide information about how the first year of life is critical for developing healthy and secure attachments.

Our practice supports and believes in the evidences of promoting importance of attachment for babies from birth. I am thrilled to see a new educational tool enter the parenting arena that focuses on connection, love and healthy emotional development. Hopefully you'll see this wonderful kit in a hospital near you. Have a hospital you'd like to share this kit with? Visit their website and click resources.

This Emotional Life - Jan 4-6

Don't you just love public television? In an upcoming PBS 3-part series, they are going to showcase Happiness. The pursuit, the roots and origins, the obstacles and hurdles, the complexities and the joys.

Topics will include:

Episode 1 - Family, Friends and Lovers
Adolescence
Attachment
Bullying
Grief and Loss
Postpartum Mood Disorders
Intimate Relationships

Episode II - Facing our Fears
Addiction
ADHD
Anger
Autism
Bipolar Mood Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Depression
Eating Disorders
Postraumatic Stress Disorder
Stress and Anxiety

Episode III - Rethinking Happiness
Altruism
Connecting With Others
Creativity and Flow
Forgiveness
Happiness
Humor
Mediation
Resiliance

This Emotional Life will air January 4-6 9/8c

Utilize Your Resources

Today I was reminded once again of a local resource that gives you all the information in the world right at your finger tips: The Library! What a wonderful community service that is available to all. I left the library today with so many books in hand and a big smile. I couldn't help but think of myself leaving a favorite bookstore with a dozen books without paying a penny. At this time in the economy that's such a treat. So if you don't have a library card, can't locate your card or haven't used your card in a while, this is your message of encouragment to head to your local library and get yourself a card or use your card! You know what they say, Knowledge is Power :)

Local Story on The Women's Act

Postpartum Support Group in SLC

I just had conversations with two wonderful women who are local coordinators for the Postpartum Support International organization: Mary and Cynthia. Besides being clearly good women committed to bettering their community, both are mother's and survivors of PPD. They cofacilitate a postpartum support group at the Salt Lake City Main Library every Monday from 3:30-5:00 free of charge. I could clearly hear their passion and understanding of PPD and I wanted to do my part to further spread the word about this wonderful community service. Visit our website for more information!