Stumptown Mom

Got milk? Donate to Haiti!

****UPDATE - 1/28/10 - Breastmilk donations are no longer being requested for Haiti.  We'll let you know if that situation changes.  In the meantime, US milk banks are facing historic shortages so you can help vulnerable and sick infants here in the US by becoming a milk donor.****

We've all been deeply moved by the scenes of devastation following the earthquake in Haiti earlier this month. And if you're like so many of us, you've wondered how you can help.  Making a financial donation is important - if you haven't already, the need is still great!  

Nursing moms have been looking for a way to donate breastmilk for babies who were victims of the earthquake. Finally, there's a way to donate breastmilk!  

Just yesterday, 1/25, the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, together with several other breastfeeding organizations, made an urgent call for donations of human donor milk.  The first shipment of donor milk is expected to be sent this week to the US Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort.  Read the press release.

Interesting in donating breastmilk?  In Portland, you can drop-off at one of three local sites.  Contact drop-off sites directly to start the donor screening process.

For now, they are focusing on providing donor milk to the USNS Comfort as they have a lactation consultant and doctors on board.  The hospital ship welcomed the delivery of its first baby, a 7 week early premature baby and is now home to several preemies.   There are not yet systems available to keep the perishable donor milk safe on the ground in Haiti.

Find out more about plans to open a milk bank in Portland.

Photo courtesy United Nations.

Fight for Preemies

Does it make us feel better to know that Oregon's rates of premature birth are better than those of the southern US?  Well, it shouldn't.  We've only earned a C on the March of Dimes' report card.  That's barely passing and our rate of premature birth is still 10.3%!  This is why we're participating in the Fight for Preemies during November, Prematurity Awareness Month.

Did you know that prematurity accounts for about half of hospital charges for infants?  And that the first-year medical costs for a premature baby are ten times that of a full-term baby?  Yikes.  The birth of a premature baby has long-term impacts on the lives of that family and on our health care system.  We all share in those costs (how much have your health insurance costs gone up?).  But monetary costs shouldn't be our only concerns - the emotional toll is great for those families.  

Resources & what you can do: 

• If you're a pregnant woman or thinking about getting pregnant, the March of Dimes offers some great tips and resources for planning and having a healthy pregnancy.
• Give your baby the full 9 months.  Late pre-term births are on the rise and you'll be surprised to know that the brain of a 35 week baby weighs only 2/3rds of a 39 week baby.  Those last weeks make a difference!
• Support the March of Dimes Oregon.  Give financially or give your time.  They offer a NICU Family Support Project at Doernbecher and an online Scrapbook where families can share their NICU stories.
• Precious Beginnings is a great local organization of parents supporting other parents of critically ill infants.  If you're the parent of an ill infant, they can help with support and a free help-line.  They also offer a great list of online resources for families.

[Thanks to Flickr CC - Scott & Justine fromWyo for the photo of a baby born 10 weeks early]

Helping single parents find support

We did a post a while ago about resources for single parents. Parenting is a tough job - and they are goin' in alone.  So we were thrilled to see the big article in November's Metro Parent Magazine highlighting resources for single parents to find support.

Read the Metro Parent article starting on page 20.  Are you a single parent looking to connect with others?  Want to find a community of parents facing similar challenges?  Here are the great resources Metro Parent offers up (focused on moms who choose to parent alone):

• Choice Moms is a national online community.
• Single Mothers By Choice offers email lists and newsletters.
• Local Single Mothers by Choice Yahoo Group serving the Portland area.

[Thanks to Flickr CC -eyeliam for the photo]

Wear that baby

There's a week or a month or a day commemorating just about everything it seems.  But we're happy to tell you that this week, September 21-28th, is International Babywearing Week.  While it might seem all the rage here in Portland (how many Ergo carriers do you see going down the street?!), wearing or carrying a baby is a centuries old convenience.  It allows you to comfort your baby while having your hands free to do other things - say fold laundry or check your Facebook account.  And this year's motto is "Close Enough to Kiss" -- how sweet is that?

Babies who are carried in a carrier cry less often, are comforted more easily, can hear mom's (or dad's or whomever is carrying the baby) heartbeat.  Moms are more responsive to baby's needs and gain confidence.  Premies in particular benefit from "kangaroo care" where they are skin-to-skin with a caregiver.

Maybe you're interested in babywearing because you're already aware of those benefits, or maybe you're like us and turned to babywearing because it was the only thing that stopped the crying.  Our neighbor joked that she didn't even know what our baby looked like for the first six months 'cause all she saw were his feet sticking out of the sling!  But it worked for us.  As with any baby-related practice, there are some safety precautions to keep in mind.

Want to learn more or meet other babywearin' mamas?  Northwest Babywearers is a support organization that holds monthly meetings.  Milagro's Boutique in NE Portland hosts monthly babywearing groups.

If you're in the market for a baby carrier, whew, there are a lot of choices.  Find a store near you that has a good selection so you can try different carriers.  Everyone has their favorite, but you need to know what you like.  There are locally-made options and really fabulous fabric choices these days.  So stylish!  Give several a try -- they are worth a little investment if they fit correctly and make your life easier.

A few places to shop that carry a good selection and are well-versed in helping you pick a babycarrier that fits:

• BellaStella on NE Broadway - they have some great videos on Omamas offering ideas for selecting a babycarrier.
• Milagros Boutique off NE Killingsworth
• Mama Baby Boutique on SE Hawthorne
• Polliwog on SE Belmont
• Mother Nature's on SE Clinton
• Segal's for Children in Beaverton
• Punky Doodlebugs in Vancouver
• Many children's resale stores carry used babycarriers or you can try Craigslist or Ebay too for used options.
• Add your favorite store to the comments on this post!

[Thanks Babywearing Intl. for the sweet photo]

New moms need one another

It might take a village to raise a child, but it really takes a village to support a new mom.  The birth of a child can bring wonder, joy, exhaustion and frustration.  Am I doing the right things? Do all babies do this?  Am I the only one who is so exhausted I feel like I've been hit by a truck?  Or maybe you just need a little adult conversation (even if it does center around baby's bowel movements!) and companionship.

Thankfully the Portland area's got a wealth of groups that new moms - and dads or other caregivers in some cases - can attend.  Feel free to attend any that work for your schedule & are closest to home, even if you delivered at a different hospital (they don't mind!).  Some charge small fees. Some focus more on breastfeeding support. Some help attendees organize smaller play groups that meet in homes or coffee shops.  

We're focusing here on groups for families with new babies.  In future posts we'll cover other kinds of groups.  Here's the latest info we can find.  Add any additions or corrections in the comments.

Hospital Based Groups

Adventist Medical Center - SE Portland

Mother Baby Support Classes for Babies up to Twelve Months 

Wednesdays 2pm-4pm  & 4pm -6pm

Legacy Health

Baby & Me Groups

Cruisers—9+ months 10:00am-11:00am 

Gigglers—5-8 months 12:00pm-1:30pm 

Snugglers—0-4 months 2:00pm-3:30pm 

 

Emanuel - N Portland —Wednesdays 

Good Samaritan - NW Portland —Tuesdays 

Meridian Park - Tualatin - Tuesdays 

Mt. Hood - Gresham —currently Wednesdays 2:00pm-3:30pm only for all ages

Salmon Creek - Vancouver —Thursdays 

Providence Health 

New Moms Mid-Week Break for babies up to 6 months old

Providence Portland Medical Center - NE Portland
Wednesdays 10:30am-12:30pm
Fridays 10:30 am-12:30 pm  OR 1:30pm-3:30pm

Providence St. Vincent Medical Center - SW Portland
Mondays Noon-2pm
Thursdays 10am-Noon OR 1pm-3pm

Providence Newberg Medical Center
Thursdays 10am-11:30am

Sherwood YMCA
(no YMCA membership required)
Wednesdays 10am-11:30am

SW Washington Medical Center - Vancouver

Mothers Share Support Group (babies up to 6 months)

Mondays 10am

Mommies & Movers (9 months & older)

Fridays 10am

Breastfeeding Support 

Thursdays 9:30am

Multiples Support Group 

Fridays Noon-1:30pm

Tuality Healthcare - Hillsboro - search online under Support Groups

Movers & Shakers (12-24 months) 

Mondays 9am-10:30am 

 

New Parents’ Group (newborn-12 months) 

Mondays 11:30am-1pm 

 

Breastfeeding Support Group 

Tuesdays 10am-12pm

Willamette Falls Hospital - Oregon City

Parents & Babies group

Wednesday afternoons

Community Based Groups

LaLeche League - various locations

Breastfeeding support groups - see website for locations

New Seasons Market
New Parents & Breastfeeding Support Group

Tuesdays—Seven Corners (SE Portland) 

Wednesdays—Concordia (NE Portland)

Thursdays—Happy Valley

 

All groups 10am-11:30am

Nurture, A Center for Growing Families - NE Portland

Mothergarden group 

Mondays 10:30am-12pm

Zenana Spa & Wellness Center - SE Portland

Breastfeeding Support Group

Mondays 10am-11:15am (3months+) OR 12pm-1:15pm (birth - 3months)

[Thanks Flickr CC - Ash(ley) for the perfect pic!]