April Classes and Support Groups

Happy April!  This month I celebrate my oldest son’s 9th birthday.  He’s the whole reason I’m here supporting breastfeeding mother’s today.

In April, classes will be offered privately only.  Check out May and June dates below.  Breastfeeding classes will now be taught every 3 months, unless you would like to register for classes privately.  Registration is available on my website here.  More information about what is taught in the classes here.  Preregistration is required for all breastfeeding classes.

Saturday, May 20, 2017, at 11 AM. I’m pleased to announce that this class will be held at The Edmond Birth Center (14901 N Kelley Ave, Ste 102, Edmond, Oklahoma). Preregistration is strongly encouraged.

Monday, June 5, 2017 at 7:30 PM. I’m pleased to announce that this class will be held at The Edmond Birth Center (14901 N Kelley Ave, Ste 102, Edmond, Oklahoma). Preregistration is required at least 1 week before class.

Monday, June 19, 2017 at 7:30 PM. I’m pleased to announce that this class will be held at The Edmond Birth Center (14901 N Kelley Ave, Ste 102, Edmond, Oklahoma). Preregistration is required at least 1 week prior to class.

TWO FREE mother-to-mother breastfeeding support group meetings this month:

Wednesday, April 5 at 6:30 PM.  This is a meeting for mothers and children not comfortable being away from mom (nursing children are always welcome).  Fathers are also welcome at our evening meetings.  Please bring some toys for your older children to be entertained.

Friday, April 21 at 3:30 PM.  This is a meeting for mothers and children not comfortable being away from mom (nursing children are always welcome).  Please bring some toys for your older children to be entertained.

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March Classes and Support Groups

Happy March!  Here are my class dates for March.  Registration is available on my website here.  More information about what is taught in the classes here.  Preregistration is required for all breastfeeding classes.

Tuesday, March 14: 7-9 PM at Cardon Family Chiropractic in Mustang

Tuesday, March 21: 7-9 at Cardon Family Chiropractic in Mustang

and TWO FREE mother-to-mother breastfeeding support group meetings:

Wednesday, March 1 at 6:30 PM.  This is a meeting for mothers and children not comfortable being away from mom (nursing children are always welcome).  Fathers are also welcome at our evening meetings.  Please bring some toys for your older children to be entertained.

Friday, March 17 at 3:30 PM.  This is a meeting for mothers and children not comfortable being away from mom (nursing children are always welcome).  Please bring some toys for your older children to be entertained.

February Classes and Support Groups

Happy Valentine’s Day!  I hope that your 2017 is going well so far!

Here are my class dates for February.  Registration is available on my website here.  More information about what is taught in the classes here.  Preregistration is required for all breastfeeding classes.

Tuesday, February 7: 7-9 PM at Cardon Family Chiropractic in Mustang

Tuesday, February 21: 7-9 at Cardon Family Chiropractic in Mustang

and TWO FREE mother-to-mother breastfeeding support group meetings:

Wednesday, February 1 at 6:30 PM.  This is a meeting for mothers and children not comfortable being away from mom (nursing children are always welcome).  Fathers are also welcome at our evening meetings.  Please bring some toys for your older children to be entertained.

Friday, February 17 at 3:30 PM.  This is a meeting for mothers and children not comfortable being away from mom (nursing children are always welcome).  Please bring some toys for your older children to be entertained.

 

How to Find Babywearing Support

We’re going to talk about babywearing support.  There are two types of babywearing support-volunteer support from a babywearing group leader, and paid support from a babywearing educator.  I have broken down the differences in this post and I highly encourage everyone to read it to understand why there’s a difference.

I started a babywearing group in Ogden, Utah when my son was about a year old mostly to find like minded moms to bond with.  It didn’t really get off the ground until another awesome like minded mom came in and started really organizing things (she knew other babywearing parents at that time, I didn’t).  I really enjoyed the group for a few months before we moved to Oregon for my husband to attend graduate school.  Less than a year after we moved I knew I really needed to create a support group in my new community and I better knew how to get it off the ground.  I started Corvallis Babywearers in May 2012.  I had seen some dangerous babywearing practices and heard from a lot of families that they had wished they’d been able to babywear but the two options that they could purchase locally didn’t work well for them and they didn’t know there were other options available.  I was able to work in my community until we moved after my husband graduated last August.  There are still some wonderful women that are keeping the group going which I’m so happy about because it was a great passion of mine and I put a lot of work in to it.

While we lived in Oregon I had the opportunity (in March 2014) to attend the Babywearing Institute on one of our trips back to visit family in Utah.  I was taught by Beate, the founder of the Babywearing Institute, who has been babywearing since she lived in Germany and wrapped her siblings.  She and her husband own Storchenwiege which makes beautiful German-style woven wraps.  They also own the online shop, Children’s Needs.  I was surprised how much I learned and different wrapping techniques.  I also learned better practices for how to teach babywearing.  I used the skills in my babywearing group but also started offering babywearing consultations until we moved.  I took a short break while we got settled and I again offer babywearing consultations.

I love both types of support and both types will help you wear your baby.  There are advantages to having a paid consultation and there are advantages to a support group.  I would like to share some tools to help you find local support.

Here are some tools to help you find a babywearing group or online support:

• Babywearing International (not all babywearing groups are affiliated with BWI and are still awesome groups so be sure to check out several tools to see all the groups available in your area).
• Online baby carrier retailers with listings or look up tools:
  • PAXBaby
  • Wrapsody Baby
  • Wrap Your Baby
  • Marsupial Mamas
  • Ergo
• The Babywearer (Online forum with a lot of babywearing information.  There are also local boards within this forum.  You have to register to view forums but it’s free!)
• Baby Center (online support)
• Facebook (do a search of common terms that you call your area and babywearing.  There are also online groups such as Babywearing 102)

Here are some tools to help you find a local educator:

• Babywearing Institute
• Center for Babywearing Studies
• If you see a mom wearing at the store or park ask!  Many babywearing moms are happy to share where they learned about babywearing

A special note on YouTube. You can learn to do a lot of things on YouTube.  Some can be dangerous and some can show not-as-optimal positioning.  It’s important to learn what is optimal positioning before scouring YouTube for videos.  I have compiled many babywearing videos on my YouTube channel.  You can check out my babywearing playlists here.

Where is your favorite place to go for online babywearing support?

I am a Certified Babywearing Educator and a Lactation Educator.  I offer babywearing and breastfeeding classes and consultations in the Oklahoma City, Mustang, and Yukon areas in Oklahoma.  If you are interested in learning more you can contact me or visit my website.