What is Your Birth Wish by Barbara Negelow, RNC, CCE

After discussing birth plans with the owner of Lumina Birth and Bellyhaven, Lacy Henderson, I have decided to change the verbage to birth wish. These plans are about what you wish for, in a perfect world for your "perfect" birth. They are for you. They allow you and your support peeps the opportunity to research and discuss what you do or don't wish for your "perfect" birth experience. Your trusted providers and facility don't have a birth wish for you. They follow what is called a standard of care. It is not personalized but don't be cynical, it has what they have deemed your best outcome foremost in mind. But it is not what you wish for, for your "perfect" birth.

So, take your classes, read a book or two, visit a website like www.luminabirth.com for a list of questions to consider and discuss with the significant others in your life. Speak to a childbirth educator, check with a doula, talk to your providers and get the facts on what is considered standard of care and take it from there. This is your opportunity to have an educated voice about what you envision for your "perfect" birth.

Do you want a water birth? An epidural? Kangaroo Care? Who do you want in the delivery suite when you are pushing? Do you want low lights? Music? Collecting stem cells? Saving the placenta?  Do you want a midwife? The questions lead to more questions until you have the answers for your "perfect" wish for your "perfect" birth. So you have the knowledge to understand what is happening and have a voice, when you can.

So, do your homework and educate yourself about your desires and options. Know what labor and delivery is all about in twenty-first century America. Trust the providers that you have chosen to guide you and listen to you, in real time and have faith that they will follow standards of care to ensure the best outcome possible. But your wishes, they are yours alone. When you are ready, find that first star in the northern sky and make a wish.....

Barbara teaches a concise and to-the-point class called Everything You Need to Know About Labor and Delivery.  Click here to see the details of the upcoming class.

Visit www.readybirth.com for more blogs by Barbara.

Infant Massage: The Benefits & New Class Schedule!

       Infant massage has been around for centuries and is being practiced in many parts of the world. It is currently being taught in many hospitals across the country, often in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, where it has been shown to improve an infant's weight gain, oxygenation, and general outcomes.

       For healthy infants, there can be a wide range of benefits, such as: promoting relaxation, helping to aid deeper and longer sleep, helping the infant feel loved, reduces fussiness, and many others.  Parents may benefit by having positive one-on-one time with their infant, becoming better at understanding their infant and his/her cues, assisting in bonding and attachment, to name a few.  There is no substitute for a parent's loving touch!

      Bellyhaven's infant massage instructor, Christine, is a Registered Nurse who has been working with parents and infants for more than 23 years in the Newborn Intensive Care setting. She began teaching infant massage to families when she noticed the positive effects it had on the babies in her unit.  She has served as a Newborn Consultant to several new parents in the Atlanta area through her company called Baby Care Connection.

      She donates her time teaching a weekly parenting class to young, unwed mothers called 'The Covered Diaper Project' at First Baptist Church in Woodstock.  She is the mother of three teens and has lived in the Atlanta area for more than 17 years.

      This class will be informal and relaxing, and parents are invited to dress comfortably. They will learn different massage routines and strokes, such as legs and feet, chest, face, and a gas/colic routine, and others. It promotes an individualized approach for each infant.  Click here to register and learn more about class dates and times. 

Bellyhaven Partners with Juno Maya - the premier provider of spa and wellness services for conceiving, pregnant and postpartum women

In January 2012, Juno Maya, Atlanta’s exclusive provider of spa and wellness services for conceiving, pregnant, and postpartum women, will begin offering prenatal massage at Bellyhaven, Atlanta’s premier maternity boutique.  Every Sunday, Bellyhaven’s stylish education room will be transformed into a soothing oasis for moms-to-be to relax, rejuvenate, and refresh with some well-deserved Maternity Me Time®.

Juno Maya’s prenatal massage therapy is customized to treat the discomforts that arise during pregnancy and to promote deep relaxation and emotional well-being. Benefits include postural realignment, stress relief on weight-bearing joints (ankles, lower back, and pelvis), relief of minor edema, reduced anxiety and improved mood, and better sleep.

One-hour and 90 minute appointments will be available on Sundays from 12-4. To schedule your massage, call Juno Maya at 404-883-1478. To learn more about Juno Maya visit www.junomaya.com.

Bellyhaven is located in Vinings at 4300 Paces Ferry Road Atlanta, Ga 30339. To learn more about Bellyhaven visit www.bellyhaven.com.

Terrific Thursdays in December!

Bellyhaven is celebrating the holiday season every Thursday this December by staying open till 9:00 p.m.  We will have refreshments, special discounts and offers, classes, freebies, and featured items or services.  Here’s what’s going on!

 

December 1st from 6-9 pm Pickle Petunia Bottom

You’ve been asking for discounts on our diaper bags.  Now here’s your chance to pick one (or even two) for 15% off.  Diaper bag selection will include the boxy backpack, weekender, cake, scout, and many, many more.  Special orders will be in the store for pick up before Christmas.  Also on December 1st,Vinings Jubilee will be having its annual Christmas Tree lighting from 6-8pm.  Visit www.viningsjubilee.com for more details.

 

December 8th from 6-9pm  Prenatal Massage

Come pamper yourself with a complimentary prenatal mini-massage.  Juno Maya, the newest pamper mommy business, will be here massaging your aching backs and necks.  Non pregnant women are welcome too!  We will also be hosting one of our “Common Cold Freebies.”The instructor will be discussing some common misconceptions and myths about the common cold.  You will learn the basic science behind colds and the meager means we have to treat them, especially during infancy.Register for this Freebie class and others by clicking on this link: http://www.bellyhaven.com/BellyHaven_Academy_Common_Cold_p/bhaccd.htm

December 15th from 6-9pm  Belli Skin Care Night and Fatherhood 101

Why don’t you plan a date night?  Come to dinner in Vinings Jubilee then shop at Bellyhaven while your husband or partner attends “Fatherhood 101” from 7-8:30 p.m.  We will be hosting Belli, providers ofsoothing, balanced skin products that pamper and protect during all stages of pregnancy and after. To learn more about Belli, visit their website: www.belliskincare.com.  To sign up for the class visit: http://www.bellyhaven.com/Bellyhaven_Academy_Fatherhood_101_p/bhafh101.htm

 

December 22nd from 6-9pm  Hooter Hiders and Lactation Consultants of Atlanta

Our Hooter Hider and Bebe au Lait rep will be here with all the latest designs of their beautiful nursing cover-ups.  These make great stocking stuffers!  Register to win a gift set with a nursing cover-up and burp set.  Also, the first five ladies through the door will get an infant towel or nursing cover-up free!  Sharon Birdseye and Kathy Sasser will be here for a mini breastfeeding class.  They will spend time explaining the importance of breastfeeding, how they can help once baby is here, and what to look for when help is needed.  They will be teaching our breastfeeding, pump and siblings classes starting in January.  Visit www.bellyhaven.comto sign up!

What's New With Boba?



Do you wear your baby? The benefits of “baby wearing”are more than you think. Not only is it convenient, but carried babies tend to be happier, because they are in tune with their mothers’ breathing and heartbeat patterns. This promotes physical development, such as balance control, while soothing the baby.

We also love to hug and kiss our sweet babies. Wearing your baby in the upright correct position will allow you to kiss your baby all you want! Wearing your baby allows you to show your affection while walking around the block, grocery shopping or even cooking dinner. If you have other children with small toys that are choking hazards, a sling is a safe place for baby to be. And some slings are made with breastfeeding in mind.

For the first time, Boba now has a carrier that fits your newborn as little as 7 pounds. The Boba 3G also allows you to carry your older child who has back and neck strength, up to 45 pounds.

Join us in celebrating this innovative and versatile new offering from the Boba family by purchasing your new Boba 3G at 20% off. Sale starts Friday, November 25th, and ends on Sunday, November 27th. See you this weekend!

Or if you are shopping online use code at checkout: boba
http://www.bellyhaven.com/Baby_Carriers_s/116.htm

Medela Certified Bra Fitter

It's 9:20 am and I'm sitting in the first floor Women's Pavillion at Dekalb Medical in Decatur, Georgia. It's going to be a morning filled with Medela Intimate Apparel and training. Once done, Bellyhaven will have their bra fitters, helping fit women, certified under both certifying agencies, Bravado and Medela. About a year ago, I earned my certification under Bravado.

Bellyhaven welcomes both appointments and walk-ins to provide you a custom nursing bra-fitting experience. Our goal is to make you feel comfortable and confident when trying on and choosing the nursing bra(s) that are right for you. We have nursing bras (and maternity bras) ranging in design, brand, comfort and color. Call for an appointment today at 770-384-0009.

Lactation Consultants of Atlanta

We are excited to announce our partnership with Lacation Consultants of Atlanta.  They are international board certified lacation consultants (IBCLC).  If you are IBCLC certified you have the highest certification there is to help women with breastfeeding issues.  The ladies at "LCA" have been providing personal services in the hospital, home or office setting since 1988.  Because of their experience, knowlege and presence in the community, they work closely with your care provider (midwife or obstetrician) and your baby's pediatrician.

Sharon Birdseye graduated from Georgia Baptist Hospital School of Nursing and has worked as a registered nurse since 1968.  She has lectured for Emory School of Nursing's Midwifery program, SELCA, Le Leche League and Children's Hospital of Atlanta.  Sharon has three boys.

Kathy Sasser has been an IBCLC since 2010 and graduated in the top of her class at University of Georgia.  She is a member of SELCA, USLCA, ILCA and serves on the boards of both SELCA and a major state breastfeeding non-profit.  Kathy has two boys.

Sharon and Kathy will be teaching at Bellyhaven starting in January 2012:

• Returning to Work (working and breastfeeding)
• Make Room for Baby (sibling class)
• Prenatal Breastfeeding

To view their class schedule click: http://www.bellyhaven.com/BellyHaven_Academy_Prenatal_Breastfeeding_p/bhapnbf.htm
We are looking forward to having both of them share their expertise with new moms at Bellyhaven!