Stumptown Mom

The poison center is there for you

Maybe every mom finds themselves in this situation at some point. Your kid has consumed something they shouldn't have.  Yikes.  Having encountered this recently, I can tell you what not to do -- don't wait to see what happens!  Thankfully our little incident was just that - little and nothing to worry about.

But the Oregon Poison Center is there for us no matter what the situation.  Based at OHSU, the Oregon Poison Center is a regional provider of 24-hour poison emergency information and assistance.  

Call 800-222-1222 from anywhere in the US and you'll be directed to your regional poison center.

As they make clear, the Oregon Poison Center website is not a substitute for talking with a trained Poison Specialist.  These folks are so kind and patient on the phone.  I can only imagine the calls they receive!

The website also offers some amazing resources including information on common poison concerns, activity sheets for kids and seasonal poison concerns.  It's not just medication that are a safety hazard, so are household cleaners, paint and even houseplants.  I didn't know that while half their calls come from poisonings involving children under 5, teens and older adults are also at great risk.

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]

Safety simplified

Don't you wish keeping our kids safe was simple?  From the time of conception, we try to eat our best, do what we can to keep our developing babies safe and then worry all the time when they enter the world.  Then there are baby gates and don't talk to strangers, and ugh, the list is long!

Just the other day I wondered when I could move the preschooler to a booster seat.  And oh, just read that we need a hands-free way to talk on the cell phone in the car starting January 1st.

So I was happy to find this short and simple list of state & local safety laws from Safe Kids Oregon.  Did you know it's illegal to sell a used crib at a garage sale that doesn't meet safety codes?  And that all kids under 16 have to have helmets (not the case in all states!)?  Here are 10 Things Adults Can Do to keep kids safe.  Thanks Safe Kids Oregon for these great resources.

And don't forget the Legacy Safety Store as a fabulous source of information and below-cost safety equipment.  We've highlighted them before but it's worth repeating. You can buy an inexpensive helmet there.  They've also got the store set-up so you can test cabinet latches, window guards and more and get accurate information to keep the kiddos safe.

[Photo courtesy Flickr CC - qwrrty]

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]

The mother of all used book sales!

StumptownMom loves books.  You may have noticed.  And we love the Multnomah County Library.  We've talked before about the Title Wave Used Bookstore.  But now it's time to partake in that annual fall rite of passage - the 36th Annual Friends of the Multnomah County Library Used Book Sale.

This is a GIANT used book sale.  The kids book selection is always great and so crowded that you might want to leave your wandering toddler at home.  Go early for the best selection or go on the last day for 50% off!  Either way, you're bound to find books for the kiddos and yourself at rock-bottom prices.

October 9-12
1625 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
Hours vary so check website for details

Proceeds benefit the Multnomah County Library.  Portlanders love our library (we check out or renew 57,000 books each day!), but did you know they just won a prestigious national award?  It's true - they just won the 2009 National Medal for Museum & Library Services.  Way to go!

Reduce, re-use, re-sell and buy used!

We love finding affordable used kids stuff.  Really, how much wear & tear did that adorable onesie get when the baby was new?  And a used stroller saves a lot of $$ - something we all could use right about now.  So shopping used and/or selling no longer needed kids stuff just makes sense.  

Well, there are a few exceptions -- be weary of used breast pumps, used carseats and used cribs.  Look out for old toys or ones that might contain lead.  And be sure to check the recall lists for toys as well as baby gear.

Get your shopping selves ready for some serious re-sale action coming up in the Portland area.

• This weekend September 25-27th -- the big Just Between Friends Sale at the Expo Center.
• This weekend September 25-27th -- Pass it On sale in NE Portland.  Second sale October 16-18 in Hillsboro.
• October 20-25th -- Baby's Bottom Dollar sale in Tigard.
• November 7th -- Wee-Cycle sale in Milwaukie.
• November 14-15th -- KidKonsignNW sale in Vancouver

We'll do a post about all the fabulous resale shops sometime soon.  In the mean time, hit those sales!

[photo courtesy Just Between Friends Portland]

If you're happy & you know it, recycle your carseat

Carseat safety's not a new topic on StumptownMom.  We've talked about carseat resources, where to get your carseat installed (have a pro install it for you!) and the fact that they expire (it's true!!).  Now let's toot our Portland horn yet again 'cause we've also got options for recycling our carseats.

Seems like a no-brainer, right.  Done with carseat - check.  Won't use expired carseats - check.  Recycle old carseat - CHECK.  Hooray for Legacy Health for providing one of the few opportunities to recycle carseats in the whole country.

And thanks to our great blogging friends at Enviromom.com for keeping us posted on this and all things green parenting in Portland.  If you've got an old carseat or bike helmet gathering cobwebs in your garage - drop it off.  Save the plastic from a long life in the landfill.  We thank you.

• Saturday September 19th Healthy Kids Fair at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center in Gresham.  Will also feature car seat installation, bike helmet sale and fittings.
• Saturday October 3rd at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center in Tualatin -- Car safety seat clinic and recycling.

[Thanks Flickr CC & Neeta Lind for the cute carseat pic]

More autism resources

We talked about autism here a while ago.   We're all about resources at StumptownMom so we're happy to share some link love.  

Thanks go to our friends at Metro Parent magazine for providing more information about autism in their latest issue.  And they've added a fabulous, comprehensive list of resources - both local and national - to their website.  If you've got questions, know a family dealing with autism or want to know more, check it out.

Autism resources on Metro Parent.

[Thanks Shward & Flickr CC for the perfect pic]

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!]

Your doula search just got easier

If you're expecting, you might be looking for a doula to support you through labor, birth and postpartum.  Doulas can provide critical support to first time parents and experienced parents alike.  All can benefit from their experience, professional training and sympathetic ear.

Portland has an active community of doulas and we've talked before about finding one that's right for you.  Check this post and this post for info on the research behind doula care and things to think about when selecting a doula.

Now you can search for local doulas, check if they are available around your due date and even compare their prices -- all on the new website built by a Seattle doula:  DoulaMatch.net

Happy doula hunting mamas-to-be!

[photo thanks to Flickr CC - SeRVe61]