Creating and Effectively Using Birth Plans: Tips For Creating Positive and Empowered Birth Experiences – 10:30 AM
with Melissa Edling, Stork & Sprout Doula Services
This workshop focuses on the practical aspects of communicating with your primary medical care provider and hospital staff about your priorities for the birth of your baby. Starting with an explanation about what birth plans are, this session also includes practical tips, sample plans, and a discussion about the different options commonly available in hospitals. In addition to learning how to write an effective birth plan, participants will have the opportunity to hear about a variety of different births and labor experiences from one of Stork & Sprout’s experienced birth doulas.
Stork & Sprout is the Bay Area’s trusted birth and newborn team. Stork & Sprout provides a full range of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum services for new and growing families. Our team starts with childbirth education in preparation for your new baby’s arrival, continues with expert birth doula assistance on labor day, and follows with postpartum care once you are home with your newborn..
Baby Sign Language 11:30 AM
with Bill White
Stop guessing what your baby is trying to tell you and start spending more time fulfilling your child’s specific needs. Baby Sign Language gives babies the opportunity to communicate long before babies can verbalize their wants and needs. Signing with babies accelerates language development, reduces frustration, and deepens the bond between parent and child.
Touch Blue Sky’s baby sign language program is based on American Sign Language (ASL) and is designed for parents with babies who range in age from birth to 18 months. Fun activities and songs will show you how easy it can be to integrate baby signs into your daily routine and jump-start your child’s verbal skills. Babies are welcome but not required to attend.
Bill White, director of the baby sign language program, received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychobiology from University of California, Santa Cruz. He currently is facilitating baby sign language programs at Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, DayOne Center, Babies And Moms, and The Parks and Recreation Departments of Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and Redwood City. Bill is passionate about the benefits of signing with babies and is the proud father of two hearing sons who both sign.
Breastfeeding Basics: What every mom needs to know for the first few days – 1:00 PM
with the Nursing Mothers Counsel
What happens in your first few days with your baby can be crucial to your breastfeeding success. Breastfeeding peer counselors from Nursing Mothers Counsel will present information every mom needs to get breastfeeding off to the right start. Learn what you can do before, during, and after your birth to help establish breastfeeding. Hear how skin-to-skin contact, laid-back nursing positions, and biological nurturing can help with both mother-baby bonding and the establishment of a healthy milk supply. Know what to expect in the first few days of breastfeeding and how valuable colostrum, your first milk, is for your baby’s health.
Since 1955, the mission of Nursing Mothers Counsel (NMC) has been to support the personal breastfeeding goals of mothers with free, one-on-one assistance and education by highly trained volunteer counselors who have also breastfed. NMC also supports Bay Area families through free breastfeeding classes and low-cost breast pump sales and rentals. For more information please visit www.nursingmothers.org.
Got Baby? Want Sleep? 2:00 PM
with Karen Schwarzbach
Join San Francisco Bay Area Certified Child Sleep Consultant Karen Schwarzbach, Founder of Babies to Sleep (www.babiestosleep.com), for her popular sleep seminar for parents and caregivers of babies and toddlers.
If you are interested in learning what is getting between your young child and a good night’s rest, then join us for this informative seminar. Karen will be defining her innovative “babies-to-sleep system” and the top ten ‘foundation elements’ necessary for productive and restorative sleep.
Karen will discuss common mistakes parents (often unknowingly) make along with an overview of various ‘sleep training’ techniques.
Karen Schwarzbach, CSC is a well-known perinatal and parent educator and subject matter expert on infant and toddler sleep. For over 15 years, Karen has mentored thousands of new and expectant parents and helped them thrive during this joyful but demanding time in their lives. Karen’s unique ‘babies to sleep system’ offers practical and effective solutions to day-to-day challenges which have aided new mothers and fathers enhance the quality of their family life and establish positive relationships with their young children. Along with her private practice, Karen provides educational seminars at hospitals, parent groups and events throughout the United States.
Preventing and Treating Common Health Problems in Babies: A Holistic Plan for Reflux, Colic, Eczema, and Food Allergies 3:00pm
with Randall Neustaedter OMD
Babies easily develop food sensitivities and digestive problems that can then lead to allergies, eczema, and asthma. This workshop will show you how to prevent and treat these common problems. Dr. Neustaedter will recommend specific nutritional supplements to use during pregnancy to prevent food sensitivities and digestive problems in your baby. If these problems do occur in your baby, there are safe, effective holistic methods for relieving symptoms and creating a healthy immune system to prevent future issues. Dr. Neustaedter will provide you with specific guidelines on what you can do to help your baby.
Dr. Neustaedter is a primary instructor in the CureChild.com program. The CureChild program teaches you how to prevent and treat common childhood illnesses with safe, effective holistic medicine and keep your children exceptionally healthy. With reliable advice from experts and doctors with decades of experience, you can have more confidence and less stress in parenting.
Dr. Randall Neustaedter, OMD, has practiced and taught holistic medicine for more than thirty years in the San Francisco Bay area, specializing in child health care. He is a licensed acupuncturist and doctor of Chinese medicine, author of The Holistic Baby Guide, Child Health Guide, and The Vaccine Guide. Visit his website, www.cure-guide.com, to register for a free newsletter with pediatric specialty articles. Office visits and Skype consultations are available by appointment.
Demonstrations
Cloth and Compostable Diapers: Easy & Affordable – 11am
with Tiny Tots Diaper Service
Tiny Tots Diaper Service offers cotton, compost and combination diaper service options. The reusability of cotton makes this our greenest option along with being affordable, comfortable and convenient. Service includes professional laundering or composting of diapers along with weekly pick up and delivery of diapers and any other items from our award winning baby boutique. For lots more information, visit our website: www.tinytots.com
Visit our booth to receive free samples of our compostable diapers by Broody Chick and a coupon for a free Flip Top Diaper Hamper when you sign up for service!
Featuring expert Diapering Instructors who have logged hundreds of diapering hours and are excited about passing along “tips and tricks” of the trade.
Cord Blood Banking –What’s it all about? – 12pm
with CBR; Stephanie Lichaa and Susan Lowmiller: Cord Blood Education Specialists
Saving cord blood gives your family a rich source of powerful stem cells. When saved, cord blood can
be used in a variety of medical treatments that may be lifesaving or life-changing for your baby or
other family members. Cord blood has already been used in more than 20,000 transplants worldwide
and the research continues to grow. Your baby’s cord blood may be used by your family in two ways:
transplant medicine and regenerative medicine. Most research using cord blood in regenerative
medicine therapies require a child’s own stem cells and is only available to families who banked
privately. For transplant medicine, using a matched sibling’s or one’s own cord blood can have a
significant advantage over unrelated sources. The typical cord blood transplant recipient has no family
history of the disease being treated. Join CBR as we discuss the different types of stem cells, genetic
matching, and the process that one would go through in order to store their stem cells. For more information, visit our website: www.cordblood.com
CBR has been the leading innovator in cord blood banking for more than 15 years. Superior technology and a strong commitment to families are key reasons why CBR is the #1 choice of Ob/Gyns and expectant families.
Pain control for labor: Options and tips for success – 1:30pm
with Alicia Burstein
Childbirth is an awesome, exciting, amazing, and TERRIFYING experience. Whether this is your first baby or your eighth the question of how you would like to deliver is always an important decision. While most opt for a natural experience and plan for a non-medicated delivery, labor may alter even the most well planned course.
In this workshop you’ll go through various scenarios and experiences of labor that may lead to medication. Explore various pain relieving techniques and how you can still contribute to your delivery even with an epidural. Alicia will share tips and techniques on movements and ways to push that provide a similar experience to moms without medication.
Alica Burstein is a mother of two boys, a registered nurse and an experienced educator. She has spent the last five years immersed in women’s heath between Labor & Delivery, the Post Partum unit and the OB clinic at Kaiser Redwood City and San Mateo. She’s assisted with hundreds of births, taught and counseled women in the clinic and loves sharing with people the passion she feels about birth, the body and making new life! Her excitement about the birth process and women’s health has led her to open her own company, Beautiful Day Education, where she personally teaches childbirth education in a small group setting. Her open philosophy surrounding the various birthing methods serves her clients by creating an atmosphere free of judgement and open to learning. Visit www.beautifuldayeducation.com to learn more about fun upcoming childbirth classes!
Be Safe at Home with LifeSafety Tips- 2:30pm
with Response LifeSafety founder and professional Fire Captain, Brent Rapport
Sometimes the greatest threats to our children’s safety are found in our own homes. This workshop will focus on infant and child safety, medical emergencies in the home and will cover tips towards making your home safe for small children. We will also discuss disaster and earthquake preparedness and how to prepare your family for the next emergency.
Since 1996, Response LifeSafety has offered specialized classes an instruction in Infant and Child Wellness, including CPR and First Aid. Response LifeSafety partners with SAFE-T-PROOF products to bring our clients the best in seismic mitigation and child-proofing. Our President and founder, Brent Rapport is a professional Fire Captain and Paramedic with over 20 years of experience in the field. He will be available for any questions at the end of the workshop.
Children’s Activities at the Tot Spot
Sponsored by
Art and Play – ongoing throughout the day
Create, color and play at our Tot Spot sponsored by UrbanSitter, an innovative service connecting parents with prospective sitters. There will be face painting, coloring and free play for your tots. Take a break while the little ones entertain themselves.
Find babysitters recommended by people you know—and conveniently book them online in minutes with UrbanSitter! Sign up for free at www.UrbanSitter.com.
Music Play Sessions
at 11:30 and 1pm
Enjoy music play sessions led by SF based local business SF Music Together for babies, toddlers & big kids up to age 4.5. Come prepared to sing, dance & bond with your child. San Francisco Music Together offers a quality, nurturing family activity!
