Workshops

I try to keep these offerings current with what's upcoming, so check back regularly!​

• Highly recommended, any time it's offered! Spinning Babies for Parents: special workshop on optimal positioning for your baby before and during labor and birth. Private classes offered in your home, or group classes at Newton Wellesley Hospital, Northboro, and Down Under (Newtonville)

• Dates vary: Mind | Body | Birth A fun, casual workshop that focuses on the mind/body connection during labor & delivery.This class is for first-time parents as well as those with previous experience and is a compliment to any other childbirth preparation class. For expectant moms with her partner/support person, whether considering an un-medicated birth or medical pain relief. You will learn & practice breaths for releasing tension and staying relaxed, visualization, guided relaxation, stretches, massage techniques, counter pressure, prenatal bonding & create affirmations and mantras. Please wear comfortable clothes for stretching and bring a few pillows

 

Favorite Online Resources

• ​Childbirth Connection has powerful resources, with pages on everything from choosing a care provider that suits your birth philosophy to dental health in pregnancy

• Evidence-Based Birth: designed to help expectant parents to make informed decisions, this site is a clearing house for articles on everything you're wondering about, and likely have not heard enough information on!

• Spinning Babies​ focuses on getting your baby in the right position for an optimal birth outcome. Check out the daily balancing activities that help mamas and babies get in shape for birth

• Lamaze has evolved with time, research, and evidence to prepare childbearing women with Healthy Birth Practices and Tools​

• Penny Simkin's collection of videos on topics ranging from Coping versus Suffering, Supporting a Mother with an Epidural, Comfort Measures, and much more

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Recommended Reading​

• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth inspires readers with birth stories and empowers us all with a "can do!" feeling that will resonate with those considering unmedicated labor

• Pregnancy, Childbirth & the Newborn has become the featured text for Boston Association of Childbirth Educators (BACE), because of Penny Simkin's holistic coverage of the childbearing year

• The Birth Partner is a comprehensive reference guide for anyone preparing to be a support person for the laboring mom

• Expecting Better has been given rave reviews from recent doula clients​

Placenta encapsulation may lead to many advantages such as better mood, increased energy, increased breastmilk production, lower chances of anemia and lower chances of the 'baby blues' by more gradually reducing hormone levels in the mother.

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• Emma O'Brien

• Vanessa Lewis

• Amanda Forgit

• Birthwise

Postpartum doulas provide evidence-based information on things such as infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, mother–baby bonding, infant soothing, and basic newborn care. A postpartum doula is there to help a new family in those first days and weeks after bringing home a new baby.¹

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• Jocelyn Albertson

  • Phone: 508.789.8511

• Emma O’Brien

  • Phone: 774.218.8783

• Rachel Hess

• Karen Zelinsky

  • Phone: 508.308.6725​

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¹From American Pregnancy: http://americanpregnancy.org/planning/post-partum-doula/

Breastfeeding Insurance Info

The law states that mothers are entitled to fully be reimbursed for lactation visits, without copay or deductible under preventive health services. Depending on insurance getting reimbursed can be very easy or unfortunately hard. Right now the only insurance in Massachusetts contracting directly with IBCLC Lactation consultants is Aetna, for most others the mother has to pay the provider at time of service and then submit the bill to get reimbursed.

• Here is some clear information about the law

• And this is more extensive but with a script about what to ask your insurance when you call them:

• Some mothers call their insurance before a visit to validate their benefits and get more info on the details. This is always a good idea given that some insurances need to pre-approve the provider.

 

Breastfeeding Support Resources

• A Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) has demonstrated the knowledge and skill to construct and maintain conditions that predispose mothers and babies to an uncomplicated breastfeeding experience through counseling, education and support. CLCs would refer to International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in matters that are more complex or require medical diagnosis to treat, i.e. anything that is out of the 'normal' development of breastfeeding relationship such as when breastfeeding is more difficult that hoped and/or there are medical complications (weight gain, painful nursing, milk supply issues, mastitis/infection, breast surgery, and much more). An IBCLC is a health care professional that specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding. Those in private practice are available for home visits on a preventative or triage basis, including days/weekends/nights, depending on situation severity

  • Dana Paris-Mahoney, IBCLC

    • Phone: 617.686.1362

    • Email through site

  • Sara Leah Epstein, CLC

    • Phone: 339.364.1987

    • Email: sweetbabydoula@gmail.com

  • Cate Johannessen, CLC

    • Phone: 617.947.5093

    • Email: www.creativebirth.org

  • Susanna Mauzy, CLC

    • Phone: 608.469.3725​

    • Email: shmauzy@gmail.com

  • Maria Dolorico, CLC (Boston-based, runs free breastfeeding group too, see below)

    • Phone: ​617.869.4310

  • Jeanette Mesite-Frem, IBCLC: for families in Central Mass and Metrowest. Also runs great breastfeeding groups!

  • The Nursing Mothers Council is available by phone to get started on the route to better latching, bonding, and results for your baby

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• On-site Groups

  • Baby Cafe in Codman Square and Malden are the ones I most commonly send to both in and around Boston (there are more locations, check the link!)

  • Cambridge Health Alliance Breastfeeding Group Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10-12pm

  • South Boston Community Health Center Tuesdays 12-1:30pm

  • La Leche League has monthly meetups in various locations

  • Newton Wellesley Hospital, Tuesdays and Thursdays 2-3pm

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• Online Support

  • ​ZipMilk: a community service of the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition, providing listings for breastfeeding resources based on ZIP code

  • For many questions about breastfeeding, this site totally rocks: www.kellymom.com​

The Center for Early Relationship Support is a center of excellence for direct services, training, supervision, and consultation that focuses on the earliest infant-parent relationship. They offer everything from parenting groups to ongoing workshops to sleep support to play groups that grow with your family. Fantastic organization with stellar programming.

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Check out The Instinctive Parent, a mom-owned resource center in Pembroke for workshops, cloth diapering and babywearing guidance, and some really useful and locally sourced products for sale. 

Mental Health Support

• Therapists/counselors specializing in pregnancy, birth, postpartum adjustment, grief & loss

  • Lois Freedman with South Shore Perinatal Wellness Center

  • The Leggett Group in Roslindale, (857) 273-2125

  • Maria Dolorico in Boston, (617) 869-4310

• Postpartum adjustment/depression support groups

  • “This is harder than I thought” group for mothers experiencing a bumpy transition into motherhood at The Wellness Room, 288 Walnut St. in Newton. Contact (617) 552-5116 or info@thewellnessroomnewton.com for schedule and information

  • “This isn’t what I expected” Thursdays 12:30-2pm at Jewish Family & Children’s Service, 1430 Main St. in Waltham. Contact Debbie Whitehill at (781) 647-5327 or dwhitehill@jfcsboston.org

• Other postpartum depression resources​

  • MGH Center for Women's Mental Health: Support for postpartum depression and other issues 

  • Postpartum Support International: Information and support resources 

• Support for pregnancy or infant loss

  • Andie Insoft, LICSW at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, (617) 694-6846

  • A Heartbreaking Choice: Support groups for pregnancy loss, children with birth defects and other birth concerns

  • Massachusetts Center for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Facts and support 

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Fitness and Body Conditioning

Prenatal and postpartum exercise

• OM Births, Bec Conant: Prenatal and Mom & Baby Yoga

• Emily Masnoon Yoga (awesome workshops!!)

• Universal Power Yoga in Norwood and Wrentham features a wide array of weekly prenatal yoga classes

• Rooted Boston near Chinatown, excellent workshops and Pilates classes, pelvic floor focused

• Spinning Babies classes at Newton Wellesley Hospital, Northboro, and Down Under (Newtonville)

 

Chiropractic care

• Lizzie Sobel in Boston and Walpole

• Village Family Chiropractic in Brookline

• Melissa Diaz in Framingham

 

Acupuncturists

• Angela Bell in Cambridge

• Kathy Seltzer in Brookline (617) 232-0753

• Maura Twomey in Jamaica Plain (617) 335-2475

• Stepping Stone Acupuncture and Wellness in Wellesley

• Erin Walker of Boston Integrated Health in Copley Square, online scheduling!

• Ece Yildirim in Watertown

 

Massage therapists

• Erin Sweeney (781) 405-6580

• Marissa Farrell, prenatal massage and Arvigo therapist in Wellesley

• Frances Masterson of Boston Integrated Health in Copley Square

• Mahina Massage in Somerville

• Featherstones inducement massage video

 

Physical therapy & pelvic floor issues

• Brigitte Arle of Rooted Boston for amazing one-on-one perinatal wellness with a keen bent on pelvic stability

• Raquel Perlis in Wellesley (781) 237-9006

• Marathon Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine in Newton and Dedham (617) 244-1990

• Rebecca Stephenson in Chestnut Hill (617) 732-9525 (others in this office as well)

• Marissa Farrell, workshops for diastasis recti repair and pelvic floor assistance

• Kathy Kates of Pelvic Health Support

Lip/tongue tie revision

• Dr. Jenny Chang, Natick

• Dr. Robert Shamey, Ware

• Dr. Martin Kaplan, Bolton

• Dr. William Friedman, Westminster | 978-874-0535

• Dr. Heidi Aaronson, Wellesley

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Tova Health: amazing resource that provides "fourth trimester" care for mom and baby at home