Dear Friends:

As I sat on my urban back porch this morning drinking my coffee (yes, yoga teachers do drink coffee – at least this one does!), I looked up to see a yellow finch and a hummingbird sitting side by side on the telephone line. It was a sweet moment. Hummingbirds and finches only come to my backyard in late summer. Their presence is a sign that fall is not far away. For this I am grateful. I’m eager for the coolness that fall will bring, and the new beginnings that for me – an inveterate student – are tied up with autumn in my mind.

So this newsletter brings news of series classes and workshops that we’re offering in September and early October (see below). We’ll also be doing a bit of fall pruning come September. Due to lack of enrollment, effective September 18 we are taking the Itsy Bitsy Yoga and Baby & Me Pilates classes off the schedule for a spell while we re-evaluate our offerings. Though we have gotten great feedback from those who have taken these classes, the enrollment has not been sufficient to justify keeping them on the schedule at this time. We’re sad to see them go, but hope that this “pruning” will enable us to focus on other areas of growth.

And to close out summer and get the fall season off to a great start, we’re offering a 10% discount off fall series classes and workshops when you register on-line through August 31 (see below for details).

So as summer vacation beckons, I wish you a wonderful finish to your own summer and look forward to new beginnings in September!

Namaste,

Leslie

PS: Don’t forget to check out the article on babywearing, by our very own Melissa Calkins!

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Birth Announcements

Congratulations to the following mothers and their babies:

Camden Isabella Lee (Janet M), born May 22, 2010	Liberato Samuel (Kim D) born June 17, 2010
Kyrianne Jane (Shea T) born June 27, 2010

What's New

• OmMama Mamas Lunch Date at The Empress – Thursday, August 19 at noon.
  Connect with other new moms and support a good cause while enjoying a delicious meal!
• Studio Closed for Summer Holiday August 23 – September 6.
• Conscious Birthing for Couples – Sunday, September 12, 1:30 – 5:30 pm. For those expecting babies in late September, October, and November.
• Dogs & Babies: Fostering a Happy Pack Pt I: Seminar – Thursday, September 16, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
• Dogs & Babies: Fostering a Happy Park Pt II: Outdoor Training Session – Saturday, September 18, 9:30 – 11:00 am.
• Expecting the Best – Evidence Based Childbirth Preparation starts Wednesday, Oct 6. For those expecting babies in December, January, and February.
• End of Summer Special! 10% discount on the classes & workshops above when you register on-line by August 31. Use promotion code Aug2010.
• Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training, October 2 & 3, November 6 & 7.

OmMama Work/Trade Program

OmMama is looking for enthusiastic, reliable folks to help us expand our services. Work/Trade gives you an opportunity to earn some credit for any of our classes or workshops, while giving us a pool of talented folks to turn to when we need some extra help.
How do I apply?

• Send an email to info@OmMama.com with Work/Trade in the subject line, and your name, address, phone number, and email in the body of the email. If you have any special expertise, please be sure to let us know. Resumes are always welcome. You’ll then be entered in our Work/Trade contact list.
• We’ll periodically send out emails to Work/Trade contacts regarding work-trade opportunities as they arise. If you want to take advantage of the opportunity, just follow the instructions to apply.
• When you have completed the task, we’ll note your credit in your account.
• Trade credit is typically $12/hour in credit. Credits may be used toward any OmMama class pass, series class, or workshop purchase. Your credit never expires!

Thank you for trading your time for classes!

Referral Rewards Program

Our students have always been our biggest promoters. Please help us grow our business by referring your friends and acquaintances to our classes. Existing OmMama students earn a $5 credit toward future classes for each new student who registers for any of our programs. Thank you for your support!

Birth Story

Kyrianne Jane, born June 27, 2010

Right now my baby girl is lying here on my lap. It's hot, but I've promised her the day. Breastfeeding has so far been a very up-and-down journey: some feedings make me feel like we're becoming pros, soon to be feeding in movie theaters and church services and in my office at work; other feedings are so frustrating they make both of us cry. So today, I've promised Kyrianne that she can eat any old time she suggests it (a big commitment, let me tell you), and that in between, I'll hold her as much as possible. We'll cuddle and eat our way through the day together.

Read Full Birth Story

Article

Wearing Your Baby
By Melissa Calkins, RYT

Recently the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a warning about infant slings based on incidents involving infant suffocation while using bag-style baby carriers such as the Infantino Sling Rider. Since these incidents were made public, questions have been raised about the safety of wearing your baby, and many people mistakenly believe that the CPSC has recalled all baby slings. 

Babies thrive on touch and connection with their parents.  Studies indicate that babies who are held cry less, gain weight faster, and are healthier than babies who are not held.  This is especially true for premature babies and those with special needs.  Wearing your baby helps you learn to read and respond to your baby’s signals . For me, babywearing helped me take care of two children at once. With a baby carrier, I can get things done around the house, push my older child on the swings, go places that strollers can’t reach, and soothe a tired, crying baby who wants to be close to me even when my arms can’t hold her any longer.

The most popular baby carriers are often the least comfortable. The Baby Bjorn is an item that expectant parents often list on baby registries. Later when they find that they have lower back pain, they decide that babywearing is not for them. The truth is that the Baby Bjorn is not very well designed for wearer or baby and is uncomfortable for both.  The baby hangs from the crotch, putting unnecessary stress on the spine and compressing the genitals in boys.

There are many wonderful alternatives that are beautifully designed and comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. Wraps hold the baby close to you while distributing the weight across your entire upper body rather than just your shoulders and back and create a womblike experience for a newborn. Ring slings are quick, easy to learn, and great for hands-free breastfeeding. Pouch slings are small enough to fold up in your diaper bag so you always have a carrier with you.  Mei tais are comfortable and supportive and will last from the newborn stage to the toddler years. Soft-structured carriers make it easy to learn how to carry your baby on your back, which frees up your arms to vacuum, push an older child on the swings, or even carry a toddler who is having a tantrum.

When I am wearing one of my children on my back, I often hear, “Doesn’t that hurt your back?”  Actually, the opposite is true. Wearing your child on your back allows your back muscles to relax and forces the abdominal muscles in the front to work hard to balance the extra weight on your back.  Wearing your child on your front allows your abdominal muscles to relax and forces your back muscles to work hard. 

This is important for anyone who has a separation of the abdominal muscles, or diastasis recti, which is common after birth.  This occurs because the abdominal muscles (the abdominus recti) stretch to make room for the growing baby. Sometimes the muscles stretch so far apart that a separation occurs at the connective tissue down the center of your belly.  Specific exercises and breathing techniques can correct this problem and are an integral part of the Baby & Me Yoga & Pilates classes at OmMama.

When you carry a baby on your front, your abdominal muscles often go lax, and this can create a bigger separation for someone who has a diastasis.  When wearing, carrying, or lifting your child, remember to engage the abdominal muscles, drawing them toward the center of the belly and close to the spine. Keep the spine long and the shoulders back, opening up the collarbones. Some women need to wear a splint while babywearing on the front, but for most women, being mindful of alignment and body mechanics is enough to protect the abdominal muscles while they heal.

To learn more about babywearing, read the excellent article “Babywearing 101” from Mothering magazine, which is available in digital form and as a reprint at http://mothering.com/green-living/babywearing-101.  This article discusses each type of baby carrier in detail, how to wear each one correctly and comfortably, and lists recommended carriers and where to buy them.

To see the CPSC warning about infant slings, visit
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml10/10165.html

The Pregnancy Connection Directory

Check out the Pregnancy Connection Directory for local maternity care and service providers. It’s growing all the time.

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