SLEEP CLASSES OFFERED AT BIRTHWAYS IN BERKELEY 

Dear Doulas, and clinicians serving families with young ones,

Women's Health Physician Speaker Series
The Women's Health Physician Speaker Series includes important 
lectures on women's health topics given by John Muir Health 
physicians. Lectures are held at the John Muir Women's Health 
Center from 6:30-8 p.m. Call (925) 941-7900, option 3. 
Reservations strongly encouraged.

•Who Says You Need a Period Anyway? Innovations in Managing Your 
Menstrual Cycle – July 31
The speaker is Kimberly Fillmore, M.D., OB/GYN

•In Vitro Demystified – August 14
The speaker is Susan Willman, M.D., Infertility Specialist

•Oh, My Aching Head: Headaches and Hormones – September 18

 

 

 

 

Upcoming class on CRAYONS TO CAREERS! 

If you're a stay-at-home mom who's thinking about going back to work, then this workshop is for you. Topics will include: * Understanding crucial steps in the career re-entry process * What to look for in your next job or career * Whether to recharge your career or begin anew * Stumbling blocks surrounding going back to work * Helpful hints for positioning yourself for a smoother re-entry When: Thursday, August 14, 10am-12noon, Moraga  

Cost: $40

For more information, go to www.mothersinbalance.com. To register, call Yvonne Lefort, MA, Career Counselor, (925) 631-9041 Yvonne has been quoted in NEWSWEEK magazine and interviewed on local television on the topic of mothers re-entering the workforce.

Free Parent-to-Parent Cafe at Habitot, Berkeley

Please join Habitot Children's Museum's free Parent-to-Parent Cafe for Stay-At-Home Mom's!

Habitot's Parenting Education staff and invited experts will facilitate an informal gathering to nurture parents, build skills and increase knowledge about early childhood development.  A hand's on art activity will be available for children. Refreshments will be available for adults and children.  A $3 donation suggested.

The Parent-to-Parent Cafe for Stay-at-Home Mom's will meet every second Wednesday of the month from 10:30-11:15am.

For more information, or to confirm dates, please contact:
Susana Telles
Parenting Education Programs Manager
510-647-1111 ext.16
parented@habitot.org

Habitot Children's Museum
2065 Kittredge Street
Berkeley, Ca 94704
www.habitot.org

What Makes a Home "Jewish"? Coffee Talk for Moms

Are you a non-Jewish mom looking for support and guidance in raising Jewish children?
Are you a Jewish mother wondering how to bring more Judaism into your home life?

Join us on the second Wednesday of every month for a cup of coffee, a muffin, and a chat about raising Jewish children – we’ll talk about everything from the basics of the holidays to teaching Jewish values. In between we’ll share recipes, craft projects, books and local resources that can enhance your family’s Jewish home life. Come with questions, concerns and ideas you’d like to share!

For more information, contact Dawn Kepler at 925-943-1484 or by email at dawn@jfed.org.
Facilitated by Dawn Kepler and Alice Hale of Building Jewish Bridges: Outreach to Interfaith Couples.
Sponsored by Building Jewish Bridges and the Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek, 94595

giggle, Walnut Creek Lounge Events

Prenatal Baby Boot Camp

WHEN: Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.
WHAT: Boost your fitness, meet other expecting moms, and have a little fun at our weekly prenatal fitness class led by a certified Baby Boot Camp instructor. Prenatal boot camp combines modified strength-training exercises and stretching to keep you fit and ready for motherhood!
WHERE: the giggleroom at giggle Walnut Creek
HOW: Free demo class, however, pre-registration is required. Contact Noelle Gould at 925.360.1045 or noelle.gould@babybootcamp.com.

Doubletalk: A Resource for New Parents of Twins

My name is Karen Pollak and I am the founder of DoubleTalk; A Resource for New Parents of Twins.  I provide support and education for expectant and new parents of twins.  For the past 9 years I have been an educator at John Muir Medical Center providing education for expectant couples of multiples.   You can contact the Women’s Health Center directly at 941-7900 x3 or visit their website at www.jmmdhs.org.  Search for Marvelous Multiples under the Classes tab.  

In 2001 I founded DoubleTalk, offering 8-week workshop programs for new mothers and their twins 0-6 months and 6-week workshops for mothers and their twins 6-12 months (plus once a month Daddy DoubleTalk Classes).  The workshops are held in Walnut Creek .   Each series brings together 10-12 moms and their twins for 8 weeks of education, support and friendship. Many of the women who meet at DoubleTalk make very strong friendships.  Over 325 women have participated in the program since its inception five years ago!  I also invite you to visit my website at www.doubletalkfortwins.com
Additionally, I provide private, in-home, one-on-one consultations, both for expectant and new parents of twins.

John Muir Women's Health Center

John Muir New Parent's Groups

Drop-In! No Registration Required!  Held at 1656 N. California Blvd., Walnut Creek.  Groups meet on Thursdays 10:45-11:45 a.m. for 1-2 years old (Toddlers);12:00-1:00 p.m. for Birth-6 Months (Babies); and 1:30-2:30 p.m. for 6 Months-1 Year (Crawlers). First session  is FREE - $5.00 per additional session.

The John Muir Women’s Health Center in Walnut Creek also holds other classes and workshops on parenting including prenatal yoga and birth preparation. For a complete list, visit www.jmmdhs.com/index.php/classes.html. 

La Leche League

Diana Torp leads monthly La Leche League Meetings at The Nurture Center in Lafayette.  La Leche League is a not-for-profit, volunteer run organization that aids women with breastfeeding.  LLL offers monthly meetings for Moms to discuss any nursing issues, and also to get individual assistance with breastfeeding challenges. Meeting topics usually cover new breastfeeding research and findings, as well as the benefits of breastmilk for the older child.  In addition to the topic, Diana will be answering all questions that LLL members bring to the meeting.  LLL meetings are for Mom’s in any stage of breastfeeding as well as soon to be mothers.

Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.  All La Leche League meetings are free of charge, but memberships are available and encouraged for $40 as a way to support the group.  The Lamorinda La Leche League group meets at The Nurture Center, located at 3399 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. If you would like breastfeeding advice or assistance in the meantime, you can contact Diana Torp at 247-0481 or email her at mtorp@ix.netcom.com.  La Leche League is a great way not only to get all of your nursing questions answered, but to meet other Mom’s and form lasting friendships in your area.  Please join us! No reservation required.

Mothers in Balance

Facilitator: Yvonne Lefort, M.A., has over 15 years of experience as a career counselor. For the past 5 years, she has specialized in leading mothers' groups and is a speaker at mothers' clubs and schools around the Bay Area. She is the mother of a 9-year old boy.

Classes: 

REDISCOVERING YOURSELF IN THE MIDST OF MOTHERHOOD: a support group for mothers wanting to reconnect with their own sense of identity outside of motherhood                                                                                                                           

CRAYONS TO CAREERS: a 2-part series for mothers planning on returning to work                                                            

PERSONALITY TYPE AND MOTHERING STYLES: a class that helps you understand your personality type and how this affects your strengths,struggles and needs as a mother                                                                                                                       

NURTURING THE COUPLE RELATIONSHIP WHILE RAISING CHILDREN                                                                                       

For more information, or to register for classes or schedule an appointment, please call (925) 376-5885 or email yvonne@mothersinbalance.com. 

Yvonne Lefort, M.A.                                                                                                                                                             Career Counselor and Mother                                                                                                              www.mothersinbalance.com
yvonne@mothersinbalance.com
925.376.5885

The Nurture Center

Meet the Doulas of the Mt. Diablo Doula Community

Join us for a fun evening of discussion and education about how a Labor or Postpartum Doula can be of great help to you in your birthing and new parent experience. “The doula is emerging as a positive contribution to the care of women in labor (and just after birth). By attending to the woman’s emotional needs, some obstetric outcomes are improved. Just as importantly, the early mother-infant relationships and breastfeeding are enhanced. Women’s satisfaction with their birth experiences and even their self-esteem appears to improve when a doula has assisted them through childbirth.”

www.DONA.org

NOTE: New Doulas in the East Bay are welcome and encouraged to come and get to know us.

Facilitator: Holly Wiersma, CD, CLE and Deanna Jesus, CD, CLE.

Dates/Times: Meets the first Wednesday of every month from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Cost: This meeting is free of charge. Advance registration is required as seating is limited; please RSVP to Deanna Jesus at DoulaDee@ BirthingBabies.com or call 216-7264.

An Introduction to Baby Carriers and Slings

This class will help you get comfortable using a ring sling, pouch, wrap, or mei tai (a westernized Asian baby carrier) with your baby/toddler. We have lots of carriers available for practice or bring yours in and learn how to use it more effectively. Another option is to come try the different carriers, and then buy the one you like best at our store.

Facilitator: Dawn Holtan and/or Liz Fierro - experienced sling mamas.

Dates/Times: Meets the fourth Wednesday of every month from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. - June 27

Cost: Free! There is no fee to attend. Advance registration required. Please RSVP by sending an email to classes@nurturecenter.comcall 283-1346 to reserve your seat, as class can get very crowded.

New Parent/Baby Support Group

This is an ongoing, drop-in support group where parents can discuss topics of interest and interact with other parents. The focus is on making connections with other new parents, and sharing issues and insights about parenting a baby. If you would like to be contacted regarding upcoming topics, sign up at the Center. Advance registration is NOT required. Come on Tuesdays with your baby, and get connected! Send an email to meri@nurturecenter.com to be placed on an email list for upcoming topics.

Facilitator: Meri Levy, a certified lactation educator, mother of three, and Executive Director of The Nurture Center.

Dates/Times: Meets every Tuesday - 12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. (newborn – one year).

Cost: First session free, then $8.00/session (members $7.00) or four sessions prepaid for $28.00 (members $24.00). No reservation required.

Cesarean Support Group – ICAN of Mt. Diablo

The best way to avoid a surgical birth is to educate yourself. This is a local chapter of The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN). ’s mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). For more information visit www.ican-online.org.

Join our Yahoo Group! Online at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ICANMtDiablo/

Facilitator: Holly Wiersma, CD, CLE and Deanna Jesus, CD, CLE.

Dates/Times: Meets the second Wednesday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

Cost: There is no fee to attend.

The Ganeinu Groups at Temple Isaiah, Lafayette -

Please join us with your little one for our Winter Shabbat Playgroups at Temple Isaiah this January. These are structured Shabbath playgroups for infants and toddlers and their caregivers. The groups include free-play, structured activities and art projects (for the toddlers and/or for the moms), a little circle time with songs, parenting education topics and conversations with the rabbis, and having fun together.

The Ganeinu group (for toddlers between the ages of 15 months to 27 months) meets from 9:15 till 10:45.

The My Jewish Baby and Me group (for infants younger than 15 months) meets from 10:45 till 11:45.

Please check the website for more information and for registration at: http://www.temple-isaiah.org/temple/isaiah/community/C66

Or call Galit at (925)283-8575 ext. 342.

ATTENTION PARENTS OF 3-4 YEAR OLDS

Do you have concerns your child possibly has speech or language delays, motor delays or social/emotional immaturities? If you reside in Lafayette and your child displays difficulties in any of these developmental areas, the Lafayette School District Early Intervention Team offers free screening. Preschoolers born between 12/2/01 and 12/2/03 can be screened. Call 299- 3510 or email for more information.