My Recommendations for Families, and downloadable resources

A continually evolving list of the resources I’m aware of and recommend to expectant and new parents.

ONLINE RESOURCES:
Podcasts:
The Birthful Podcast. Rochester NY based Doula Adriana Lozada interviews maternity pros “to inform your intuition.” A wealth of information on a huge range of topics from pre-conception, through pregnancy, and into early parenthood. Searchable archives! Available wherever you get your podcasts.

The Longest Shortest Time. This wonderful look at parenting from many perspectives ended recently, but the episodes are still available in archives. Inspiring stories, great interviews, amazing people. Available wherever you get your podcasts.

Breast/chestfeeding:
Vital Milk is a fantastic local, woman-owned Breast Pump supplier. One of the newest benefits of obtaining your insurance-covered breast pump from Vital Milk includes free lifetime access to the entire Natural Breastfeeding Program: A home study course in six modules and more than 60 short comprehensive videos showing actual mothers in real life situations, which “covers everything a new or expectant mother needs to get off to the best start possible so she can experience the warm and satisfying breastfeeding relationship she’s always dreamed of.”
If you get your pump elsewhere, NaturalBreastfeeding.com provides a free 38 minute video to help you get started with breastfeeding your baby. This is great to watch before your baby’s birth, or in the early days of breastfeeding.

Mighty Milk offers two excellent pre-recorded breastfeeding courses: One to help expectant parents have a thorough understanding of what makes breast/chestfeeding work, and one for parents of newborns to 12 weeks that addresses common challenges. Featuring local IBCLC Lex Beech.

Pioneer Valley Breastfeeding Coalition‘s mission is supporting breastfeeding families and enhancing our community’s public health through advocacy and education. They have up to date lists of local Breastfeeding professionals, support groups, warm-lines, etc.

BOOKS:
Ina May Gaskin: Ina May Gaskin is a world renowned midwife. She has published several books including: Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding, and Spiritual Midwifery. She offers inspirational stories about birth as a transformative and profound passage in life.

The Birth Partner, by Penny Simkin. The book for partners, friends, parents, etc. who want to be as prepared as possible to give centered, informed, loving care to their pregnant loved one.

The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth, by Shiela Kitzinger. Week by week, comprehensive guide for expectant parents.

Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth: What I love about this book is that in every section it includes the words of real people reflecting on their own experience of pregnancy and birth. Succinct, informative, and thorough. Unfortunately is is no longer being published, so some information is becoming out of date.

LOCAL RESOURCES:
Childbirth Education classes:
Hospital based Childbirth Education:
Many insurance companies will reimburse you for the cost of childbirth classes taught at hospitals.
Cooley Dickinson
Baystate including Franklin Medical Center

Postpartum and Emotional Support:
Hampshire County Resource and Referral Guide: Compiled by the Hampshire County Perinatal Support Coalition

Allison Todd: Clinical social worker and therapist specializing in new parent emotional health. She works with mothers in individual psychotherapy and couples in couple therapy through all phases of new parenthood – fertility planning, pregnancy, and postpartum.

Center for Perinatal Wellness: Center for Perinatal Wellness LLC was founded on the principal that when a mother struggles her whole family does also. Their clinicians are specifically trained in maternal mental health and specialize in the treatment of women undergoing fertility treatments, pregnancy, postpartum and loss/grief.


Bodywork:
Axis Dade is a Licensed Massage Therapist that has been practicing bodywork since 2011. Axis is also trained in Prenatal and Postpartum massage. Through massage, Axis helps clients to prepare their bodies and minds for birth as well as alleviate stress and tension in the everyday lives of new parents. Their background in birthwork allows them to easily identify physical needs and offer massage-related, self-care techniques for an optimal pregnancy and birth.

Chaya Leia Aronson at Your Sacred Pelvis. Chaya’s focus is on working with conditions related to menstruation, bladder health, digestion, pelvic health, pregnancy and postpartum. She offers Holistic Pelvic Care, Maya Abdominal Massage, Vaginal Steams, Health and Sexuality Coaching, as well as Movement and Posture Play.

Elise Thomson at Sacred Sister Holistics. Elise is “a midwife, bodyworker, and tender of the heart, the womb and the land”. She offers Holistic Pelvic Care, Mayan Abdominal Massage, Vaginal Steaming, Health & Wellness Counseling, Innate Postpartum Care, & Womb Alchemy.

Nutrition:
Michele LaRock: Uses a holistic approach to nutrition that combines science-based research with time-honored traditions.

Chiropractic for Pregnancy, Parents and Infants:

Dr. Rebecca Scandura Whole Focus Chiropractic: Provides individually tailored chiropractic care, soft tissue work, and gentle support in healing at her office in downtown Florence.

Dr. Dan Garfield: Specializes in Network Chiropractic based infant care in Northampton.

Dr. Brenna Werme: Specializes in Network Chiropractic for pregnant people, parents, and babies in Amherst.

Dr. Henre Andosca: Treats infants and parents in Easthampton and takes insurance.

Dr. Linda Levine: Offers chiropractic, homeopathic, and energy medicine to parents and infants in Hadley.

Dr. Daniel Shaver: Chiropractic Associates of Northampton. Dr. Shaver trained in the Webster technique after having so many pregnant people referred to him by Cooley Dickinson (which is located across the street from his office).