Babies! 2017

Babies!

• words / tom giffey + cassandra kyser + laura lash + dr. chris longbella • listings / james johonnott • • design / mackenzie kavanagh + eric christenson • cover photo / laci eberle •

Babies!

TINY * MOMENTS * tips on capturing newb orns from a top lo cal b aby photographer

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f you think nervous brides and grooms are finicky photo subjects, have you ever tried photographing a temperamental baby?

They cry. They scream. They squirm.

It’s for these reasons that Eau Claire-based photographer Laci Eberle advises parents to keep their baby awake for two hours before a photo session. This way, the newborn will be sleeping sweetly – not wriggling angrily – when it’s time for the close-up.

Another pro tip? Leave the baby in a diaper during the photo shoot.

“They’re so unpredictable,” explains Eberle, without having to elaborate (at least for this parent).

Despite such challenges, Eberle has made taking pictures of newborns and babies a successful part of her lifestyle photography business – successful enough that she won the Family Favorite Photographer category of the 2017 Family Favorites reader poll in Chippewa Valley Family magazine.

“There’s a certain amount of pressure I put on myself to capture a newborn and do it right. I like to see them within 10 to 12 days after birth,” Eberle explains. “If I don’t do it right, I can’t go back. You have to get all of those details right the first time, to capture the newness.” Parents may be sick of hearing (or saying) it, but the cliché that “they grow up so fast” is true, especially for newborns. A three-month-old is decidedly different from a three-dayold, and new parents should act fast if they want to preserve that angelic look for posterity.

Between 10 and 12 days after they are born, babies and their parents are home and have (ideally) settled into some sort of routine. Eberle comes to her subjects’ homes – that makes things easier for both parents and babies – and relies on natural light alone to capture images of her tiny models with her Canon 5D Mark III. Because of the need for natural light, she often finds herself photographing babies in front of sliding glass doors on kitchen floors; at other times, they are perched on couches, kitchen tables, or their parents’ beds – anywhere with adequate sunlight. You’d never know about such

unusual placement, however, because Eberle uses neutral-colored blankets as backgrounds and swaddles the babies in lace, cheesecloth, or fur. The effect should be timeless, she says: “I don’t want things to be trendy looking. I want them to focus more on the baby’s details than on the background.”

Eberle became a professional lifestyle photographer in a roundabout way. She shot her first wedding a dozen years ago as a favor for a friend. Soon after, she relocated from Madison to Eau Claire and gradually added other kinds of photography – including newborn portraiture – to her portfolio.

She learned to use her camera in part by photographing her own children, 13-year-old Caden and 8-year-old Emma. A few years ago she made the leap from her job at a credit union to become a full-time photographer.

Whether it’s capturing formal “wallhangers” or cute candid moments, Eberle’s lens can record your little ones before they’re too big to curl peacefully in sunbeams on the kitchen floor.

Learn more at lacieberlephotography.com of by searching for Laci Eberle Photography on Facebook.

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Babies!

* CHOOSING HOME BIRTH *

some women discover that delivering at home is an emp owering option

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arenthood is full of decisions that must be made. Today, parents have several choices as to where they will deliver their babies, and what skilled care providers will be in attendance. Home birth, once a “fringe option,” has moved mainstream.

Erin Kaspar-Frett, has been practicing as a Licensed Midwife since 2006.

Her practice, Earth Mother Midwife, has an office in Menomonie, and she serves clients throughout the Chippewa Valley.

When I spoke with Erin, she had just wrapped up a busy day of home visits with some of her clients. Erin currently has 23 clients under her care, ranging from prenatal to postpartum. She takes on two to three due dates each month.

Erin is aware of four student midwives who will eventually serve the area once they are licensed. With a full workload, she is eager for those students to become practicing midwives.

Erin’s clients often use the words “amazing” and “empowering” to describe their home birth experiences.

Dr. Broghan Reilly, a chiropractor, and his wife, Abby, were under Erin’s care for the home births of their third and fourth children. “Erin has a way of keeping you calm,” he says. For the birth of their third child, the environment was very relaxed. Erin and a doula remained close by while Broghan and Abby sat in the birthing tub.

Delivering in a birthing tub is increasingly popular with home births, and Erin says the majority of her clients opt for a water birth. Abby ate chocolate dipped strawberries while Broghan gave her a massage. Their daughter Lucy was born frank breech (buttocks first), which Erin handled with skill and care. Broghan thinks that in a hospital setting, Abby would have likely had a C-section. He is a champion of home births: “Once you have a home birth, you wouldn’t consider anything else.”

And thanks to recent legislation in Wisconsin, home birth is an option for more people. As of January of this year, licensed midwives are allowed to accept Medicaid for home births,

removing financial barriers for many.

Erin also offers discounts to families in need who may not be covered by Medicaid. Licensed midwives in the area currently charge between $2,800 and $4,000 for a home birth. Erin encourages anyone wanting to see if their health insurance covers home birth services to first speak with a Licensed Midwife, who can advise you on what questions to ask.

The terms used in home birth midwifery may be new to some. Erin is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and a Licensed Midwife (LM).

Certified Professional Midwife is an internationally recognized certification process that includes academic work and clinicals. As for Licensed Midwives, every state has its own licensing laws.

Wisconsin requires a midwife to first have her CPM in order to be licensed.

In addition to both credentials, Erin has her Masters of Midwifery from the Midwives College of Utah.

Erin stresses that there is an important distinction to make when talking about home births. There are planned home births under the care of a skilled care provider, and there are births that occur at home without a skilled care provider for a variety of reasons. These are two very different scenarios, and when doing your own research, make sure the two groups are not lumped together.

Erin says that recent studies back that planned home births with a CPM are a safe option for low-risk pregnancies. “During a home birth, you are not disrupting the natural, mammalian hormonal process of labor by getting in the car and going somewhere,” Erin says.

The pros of home birth include the mother being in control of her environment. She can eat, have loved ones in attendance, and be in whatever position she feels is comfortable. “There is no protocol in home birth,” she says.

The biggest con of home birth is that only low-risk pregnancies are eligible.

If at any time during the pregnancy the mother is no longer considered “lowrisk,” Erin helps facilitate the transfer

“DURING A HOME BIRTH, YOU ARE NOT DISRUPTING THE N ATURAL, MAMMALIAN HORMON AL PROCESS OF LABOR BY GETTING IN THE CAR AND GOING SOMEWHERE.”

of care, and then stays as involved as the mother wants. During labor, Erin says the most common reason for a hospital transfer is for pain medication, although she says that “doesn’t happen very often.”

She has found the attitude towards home births have changed in the last 10 years, and hospitals are respectful of mothers who may need to transfer. Licensed Midwives also carry oxytotics to prevent and treat hemorrhage, as well as oxygen and resuscitation equipment.

Michelle Peck had her first baby at a hospital via an emergency C-section.

Michelle, a chiropractor, felt that her C-section was because of medical intervention. “The stress and cascade of medical intervention led to the C-section,” she says. A previous C-section does not necessarily rule out a home birth.

Michelle and Erin went over statistics that made Michelle feel it was safe to

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pursue. Michelle describes the home birth as “comfortable” and a plus was “not worrying about leaving home.”

Another one of Erin’s clients, Sara Malles, was born at home, so she was familiar with the concept long before it became mainstream. Sara’s first three babies were born in hospitals. She describes the births as “positive, but still a hospital setting.” She appreciated the prenatal care provided by Erin, which Sara describes as “in-depth, much fuller picture of our whole life.”

Sara felt like Erin was paying attention to the whole family. The home births were “calm and peaceful: no strangers, no interruptions, and no rules.”

Erin’s website sums it up best, “Today, most people on this planet were born at home. Your ancestors were born at home. Your children would be blessed to be born at home.”

Babies!

* READING TO A BABY ADDS UP * sharing 1 ,000 b ooks b efore kindergar ten encourages future literacy CREATIVE COMMONS

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our baby may not be old enough for their own library card, but that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy books. Everyone is welcome at your local public library, where librarians are eager to make reading suggestions for all ages, including board books for babies.

For parents who are skeptical or apprehensive about reading to their babies, GrowingWisconsinReaders. org – a website created by the state Department of Public Instruction – offers encouragement and advice: “Like a garden that is ready to be planted, the brain of your baby is ready to learn.”

By being read to by their caregivers, babies come to associate reading with pleasure. Sit next to or hold your baby, and point at the pictures while you read. Babies may not always seem like they are paying attention, but they are still learning from their first teacher – you!

One exciting way to motivate families to read together is 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, a national program that many public libraries have adopted, including those in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, Boyceville, and Altoona. (Visit 1000 BooksBeforeKindergarten.org for a complete list of participating libraries.)

If reading 1,000 books sounds daunting, let me break it down for you. If you read just one book every day, you would read 1,000 in just under three years.

The earlier you enroll your baby, the

more time you’ll have. Any child who hasn’t started Kindergarten is eligible, so older siblings can enroll, too. The best part? You can count multiple readings of the same book. Did you read Eric Carle’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? 10 times today? (And if you haven’t yet, you will. Trust me.)

That counts as 10 “books!” They really start to add up fast.

You don’t have to have a lot of free time to read. Besides bedtime, you can read to your baby in the car or bus,

or while waiting for an appointment.

Books read by anyone count, so daycare providers, grandparents, and older siblings can join in the fun.

To enroll in 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, visit your local library.

Parents are given tracking sheets, which get turned back in to the library at certain benchmarks. Babies and children earn rewards and prizes along the way. (If I lost you at “tracking sheets,” know that the recording process is simple. You simply fill in a circle, or

other fun shape, for each book read.)

For tech-savvy parents, there is a 1,000 Books app for both iPhone and Android that allows you to scan each book. Since every library runs the 1,000 Books program a little differently, it’s important that you sign-up and turn in your tracking sheets to the same library.

Boyceville Library Director Ginny Julson implemented the program in January 2015, and has 80 participants signed up. So far, 10 have completed the program. “We want to make lifelong library users out of these kids,” Julson says.

Story times at your library are a fun way to make new friends – and color in a few circles on your tracking sheet.

While babies are welcome at all story times, L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire offers two story times geared just for babies. “Bouncing Babies,” for newborns up until they get wiggly, is Wednesdays at 10:15am.

“Little Movers,” for crawlers until age 2, is Thursdays at 10:15am. The Chippewa Falls Public Library offers “Little Learners” story time for newborns though age 3 on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:30am. Programs are subject to change, so it’s a good idea to call ahead before packing your diaper bag.

It’s not so much the destination of 1,000 books, it’s the fun you’ll have along the way. Reading is a great way for families to bond, and you’ll be setting the foundation for a lifetime of learning.

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Babies!

* FERTILITY 101 *

what to exp e ct when you’re not exp e cting … yet

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t’s time to have a baby and birth control gets left behind. Months go by and nothing has happened. One period after another and no pregnancy or even a positive pregnancy test.

It’s a scenario that occurs more often these days as we have moved to delay growing our families until later in life.

Our fertility, or “fecundity” as we refer to it in the world of medicine, is the highest shortly after women settle into a pattern of regular menstruation (median age is 12 for starting menses in the United States), and slowly declines each year until menopause (median age is 52 in the United States). On average, if you take 100 couples and send them on the mission to get pregnant, you would expect that at six months from when they start “trying” that 70 percent of them are pregnant; at 12 months, 85 percent are pregnant; and at 2 years, 92 percent are pregnant.

The remaining couples will have very limited success in getting pregnant without some help. The “normal” couple has a 25 percent chance of getting pregnant in any given month, and if they are not successful in three to four months we know their percentage chance per month in the successive months will continually be dropping.

Infertility is defined as no pregnancy in 12 months of trying for those couples under the age of 36; and no pregnancy in six months for those 36 and over. We encourage couples who meet these definitions to seek help. If women are not having a regular cycle (defined as having menstrual periods that are 25-35 days from the first day of one period to the first day of the next), couples should seek help prior to trying to get pregnant and come in to the office for what we like to call a “preconceptual counseling” visit.

Speaking of “preconception,” there are a few things for all of us to make sure we are doing before we get pregnant to maximize our chances of getting pregnant and having a successful pregnancy and healthy baby. For women, take a

vitamin that has extra iron, calcium, and – most importantly – 800 to 1,000 micrograms (0.8 to 1 mg) of folic acid. Both men and women are less fertile if they smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day or have more than 14 alcoholic beverages per week. Although we really recommend you quit the cancer sticks and cut down dramatically on the booze, at a bare minimum you should knock it down to less than five cigarettes a day and two to three alcoholic beverages per week.

Timing and frequency of your lovemaking should be two to three times a week in the two weeks after menses are over. And oh, by the way, make sure to have fun making love! We are not sure what the connection between our nervous system and our fertility is, but we know that it does not help to get our brains too wrapped up in the issue. When you are young and otherwise healthy, there is nothing more emotionally frustrating and draining than not being able to get pregnant when you want to be. Keep your relationship with one another at the center of your lives and enjoy one another as you always have.

Infertility evaluation in the office usually consists of taking a good medical history of the couple and using that history to guide what diagnostic testing makes the most sense for the couple to consider.

Some common diagnostic tests for infertility are blood work assessing thyroid and pituitary function in women; semen analysis for the men (part of the problem as much as 40 percent of couples); assessment of ovulation for women (ovulation prediction [urine LH] tests, progesterone levels, and basal body temperature charts); hysterosalpingogram (dye study of the uterus and fallopian tubes) or pelvic ultrasound for women; and in select cases consideration of laparoscopy (looking into the abdomen and pelvis with a scope) or other more sophisticated lab testing.

Treatment can be as simple as giving the women who doesn’t ovulate on her own a medication to produce ovulation

or as complicated as a couple working with a reproductive endocrinologist and Infertility specialist and pursuing the “test tube baby” (in vitro fertilization) technology. Treatment is tailored to overcoming what we think the problem is. What we see is when we make a treatment intervention, we know our treatments are not making the couple super fertile, but are hopefully getting them back to having that 25 percent chance of pregnancy in each month, and that if that is the case-they should likely have the treatment work in a three- to six-month window just like every other “normal” couple. If we don’t have success it is back to the drawing board where we reassess what we know and consider the next steps in diagnosis and treatment.

So … you finally have a positive pregnancy test when you are a day late.

Something worked! These days you can buy a reliable urine pregnancy test for a buck at the dollar store that can tell you when you are just a whiff pregnant.

Congratulations! This is always exciting, but it is important for us all to try and not get ahead of ourselves with unrealistic expectations. When we are a day late and have a positive urine pregnancy test only 50 percent of us are going to have a takehome baby. When you are two weeks late, starting to feel pregnant, and the ninth pregnancy test you have done is still positive, you have about a 70 percent chance of having a take-home baby. When you are a month late and you come into our office for a pregnancy confirmation visit

WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG AND OTHERWISE HEALTHY, THERE IS NOTHING MORE EMOTIONALLY FRUSTRATING AND DRAINING THAN NOT BEING ABLE TO GET PREGNANT WHEN YOU WANT TO BE. VolumeOne.org 35 Oct. 4, 2017

and we look with the ultrasound machine and see a three-quarter-inch little blob with a heartbeat and a normal three-part gestational sac – it’s a 98 percent takehome baby rate! The statistics get a little better even yet, and when you are two months late and are in for your first prenatal care visit, we listen with our little Doppler stethoscope and when we hear a healthy heartbeat, you have a 99.8 percent take-home baby rate.

When you look at all the pregnancies lost in the first month, we see that nearly 75 percent of those pregnancies are chromosomally abnormal. The most common window for something to go wrong and a fetus to die is when you are between two to four weeks late – the window of organogenesis. When something does go awry and the fetus dies in early pregnancy the average time it takes for you to have any signs or symptoms that something is wrong is 30 days from when it happens.

Miscarriage is a difficult and devastating thing to have to experience, and it is important to remember the above, and when we are excited about being pregnant temper our expectations until we get into a window where we know the process gives us more to rely on!

Chemical pregnancies are great and can be exciting, but healthy newborn babies laying on our chest eight or nine months later are the real goal. Good luck!

Chris Longbella, M.D., is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and practices at OakLeaf Clinics – Southside Ob/ Gyn in Eau Claire.

Babies!

* A HEALING JOURNEY * issues , approaches , and timing to p ost-p ar tum rehab

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here is a growing awareness in the U.S. for childbearing women to seek help in adjusting to their post-baby body. This is not to be confused with the celebrity magazine headlines of “How I Got My Body Back.”

The goal is not to return to the same jeans you wore before or to fad diet and slim down to your former self.

Women who bear children can feel the history in their bodies. A cataclysmic journey has taken place: conceiving, carrying, and delivering a human into the world. It is a beautiful experience to be revered and should not leave the woman with any upset about the glory of what she has been able to do. Yet the entire year of making this happen – the three trimesters plus the so-called “fourth trimester” of infancy – does affect the body, sometimes in a way that bewilders or hinders us. Perhaps because of the nationwide growing practices of yoga and mindfulness, or because Western medicine is opening up to the mind-body connection and the influences of Eastern medicine, we now have women asking for more support in the physical recovery of their bodies after childbearing, not seeking to return to the body they had, but to learn how to improve functionality of their body as it is now. In this article we will hear from a physical therapist, a yoga/Pilates instructor and a bodyworker to learn about common issues and how they can be addressed.

Nature allows for a graceful advance throughout pregnancy. Week to week with the growth of the baby, a woman’s body has the opportunity to adjust to carrying increased weight. We make modifications in how we sit, carry things, even in the way we get in and out of the car. Sleeping positions are limited and rest can be fitful. After nine-plus months of this accommodation there is the birthing event. The experience varies from person to person but as one of my yoga teachers – cracking a joke about the “will-this-ever-end” mentality – said: “All the babies come out!” And the babies do come out, all with their own unique birth stories. Regardless of the way in which a baby is birthed, it is a huge undertaking for the female body. The mother will then begin to heal herself, at the same time providing nourishment to her newborn, by breast or bottle. The first three months of a child’s life are a precious time for the mother’s mind, body,

CREATIVE COMMONS

and emotions. And it can be a challenge to see clearly what the mother’s needs are when the newborn needs constant care. Admittedly, some women require medical attention in their postpartum recovery. More commonly, women are simply trying to get by in the sleepless, incubated state that is new motherhood.

Sheri Baemmert, E-RYT 200, RYT 500, RCYT, RPYT, teacher of Pilates, yoga and Thai yoga bodywork, elaborates on her experience with childbirth: “After I became pregnant with my son, I started to really understand what women experience.” As the teacher in class, Sheri’s demonstrations became different. “As I got bigger and bigger and had to push myself up off the floor instead of just hopping up, I understood what

books can’t teach. Our bodies are amazing, and after my first home birth I realized preparing for birth is like training for the most intense workout you will ever have. After having a second child, I realized things don’t bounce back the same why they can after the first child.

Again, knowledge can come from books, but wisdom comes from experience.”

There are common issues that arise for the postpartum mother.

And as previously mentioned, there is a heightened awareness now that women are allowed, even encouraged, to seek help in improving the function of their core/abdominal muscles, pelvic floor (the muscular base of the abdomen supporting the bladder, intestines, and uterus) or any other

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body area that has been affected, and is perhaps dysfunctioning, after the pregnancy and birth experience.

Stephanie Powell, P.T., a physical therapist with Mayo Clinic Health System, has been working with women on these issues for 11 years, nine of them as a specialist working with the pelvic floor: “I just always encourage women to let their providers know any concerns they have postpartum, even if symptoms ‘are not a big deal.’ Most common postpartum conditions include urinary incontinence (leaking urine), prolapse (when some internal structures such as the rectum, uterus, or bladder can sit lower in the pelvic floor), and reports of back pain (can be low back, mid back, neck, or all three).”

Babies!

At Prajna, a studio in Eau Claire, Sheri offers cues from her yoga and Pilates background to assist women in strengthening their pelvic floors and finding deep core strength. This work is done on Pilates-specific equipment and on a yoga mat with props. She attracts a wide range of clientele: “Basically anyone ready to commit to rebalancing their body. This includes finding subtle strength. We need to be both strong and flexible. We need to be balanced. We need to undo the consequences of our work style, lifestyle, play style. I offer my clients a full body, breath, mind approach to well-being. Some clients spend the first hour learning how to breath again.

Others spend time ‘finding their true deep core.’ ” Sheri is incredibly understanding about the needs of new moms and is delighted when moms bring their babies along for sessions. She makes sessions physically and logistically accommodating so mothers feels it’s possible to repeatedly attend.

Christopher Hayden, LABT, CAR, a licensed bodyworker, will offer Visceral Manipulation (VM) and other modalities at Tuning Tree, a collective of therapists offering services in a new location on South Barstow Street, beginning in May. In his training with VM, he is “learning how to apply gentle hands-on techniques to the internal organs. This is aimed at improving their function, but can also help your body move and feel better.”

In addition to postpartum work, VM can aid in digestive health, relaxation, and better movement throughout the body. “I’m excited to bring this work to clients to not only improve functioning, but also embodied self-awareness that really makes a long-term difference,” Christopher

“OUR BODIES ARE AMAZING, AND AFTER MY FIRST HOME BIRTH I REALIZED PREPARING FOR BIRTH IS LIKE TRAINING FOR THE MOST INTENSE WORKOUT YOU WILL EVER HAVE. ”

says. “I’m pairing up with Sandra Helpsmeet at the Yoga Center of Eau Claire to incorporate yoga techniques and visualizations with hands-on techniques in workshops and individual sessions.”

If you are most comfortable in a clinic setting, physical therapy may help you understand the shifts you’ve experienced and how to work with your postpartum body.

While caring for an infant, it can be hard to get a true sense of what your needs are. There is very little alone time to contemplate and focus on yourself, compounded by having very little time to take action on what your needs may be. It often gets to a point of fatigue or breakdown before women can recognize that something needs to change for them. By highlighting what is available to women, we can encourage them to seek help earlier on in the first few months of motherhood so they feel supported and can soldier on. “Early intervention is key for treatment success, so letting women know that we are

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here and can help them is vital,” Stephanie says.

That said, treatment is possible at any time. Taking into consideration which approach to care may be best for you, you can work on rehabilitation of the body months or years after childbearing.

Stephanie elaborates on the commitment needed: “Timeline can be variable, dependent on severity of symptoms as well as other medical factors. While all therapists have their own approach, generally starting with once-weekly visits to establish tolerance to treatment, changes in symptoms, and assisting with challenges that may affect success. In terms of treating incontinence, we may see patients every two to three weeks to give them time to work on a home program.”

As wonderful as it is to seek and receive professional help, what simple things can you do to make things easier on yourself? Stephanie has more great suggestions: “Can you keep a few pillows near the area you normally feed baby, to keep your arms propped and avoid hunching the upper back? Are you keeping up with your water intake, and taking bathroom breaks regularly to try avoiding urinary tract infections or constipation? It is easy to forget the little things in the postpartum phase.”

Babies!

BUNDLES OF JOY * baby-centric listings & resources BIRTHING CLASSES Birthing Classes at HSHS St Joseph’s

HSHS St Joseph’s, 2661 County Highway I, Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-1811 • stjoeschipfalls.com HSHS St. Joseph’s offers a variety of birthing classes free of charge. Classes fill up quickly, so it’s advised to register 3-4 months in advance. Options include a fourweek prenatal class, prenatal saturdays, prenatal refresher, breastfeeding, and a prenatal sibling class.

Confident Birth Childbirth Class Series (Bradley Method) Receive Address upon Registration • bradleybirth.com/amandagunderson This 8 week natural childbirth class series is a great fit for any expectant couple due this winter. Former Bradley Method Instructors, Amanda and Tim Gunderson, teach an in-depth and interactive childbirth course covering topics such as prenatal nutrition & exercise, stages of labor & positions, the coach’s role, complications, breastfeeding, postpartum & newborn care.

Mayo Clinic Birthing Classes Mayo

Clinic, 1400 Bellinger Street, Eau Claire • (715) 838-5369 • mayohealthsystem.org Mayo Clinic offers family and prenatal classes for free of charge. Class options include breastfeeding classes, birth basics, newborn care, and more.

Prenatal Yoga at Latitude 44 Yoga Studio 313 E. Madison St., Eau Claire • (715) 828-3936 • latitude44yoga.com This class is designed to strengthen and support your body throughout your pregnancy. Medita-

tion, breath, and movement are used to focus on awareness and muscles that are key to a healthy pregnancy and labor. Connect with your body’s innate wisdom and other moms-to-be in the area.

BIRTH CENTERS & RESOURCES

or those on bed rest during pregnancy, childbirth and newborn classes, and private consultations.

Marshfield Clinic - Birthing Services

2116 Craig Rd, Eau Claire • (715) 858-4500 • marshfieldclinic.org Providing dedicated and experienced midwives for women’s health care needs.

Mayo Clinic Health System 1400 Bell-

Apple Pregnancy Care Center 2600 Stein Blvd., Eau Claire • (715) 834-7734 • volunteer@applepcc.org • applepcc.org APPLE assists women with caring, counseling and information to help provide those with unplanned pregnancies the facts and services that will help them make choices they can live with.

Bradley Method Natural Childbirth Classes 6260 Joanne Ln., Altoona • (715)

864-7756 • H4LBirthing@gmail.com • bradleybirth.com/amandagunderson Offering a 12 week class series to expectant couples with an emphasis on the coach’s role and a natural delivery. Couples receive training on pre-natal execise and nutrition, stages of labor, complications, postpartum care, breastfeeding and much more. Check out our website for more information.

Doulas of the Valley • (715) 563-3860 •

rachealulbergdoula@yahoo.com • doulasofthevalley.com Doulas are non medical professionals that provide hands-on, educational, and emotional support to parents during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. We also offer a variety of specialty services including in-home care for high-risk mothers

inger Street, Eau Claire • (715) 838-6100 • mayoclinichealthsystem.org Featuring certified nurse midwives.

OakLeaf Clinics - OB-GYN Clinic of Eau Claire 1110 Oak Ridge Dr, Eau Claire • (715)

836-9020 • info.obgynclinicec@oakleafclinics. com • oakleafclinics.com OakLeaf Clinics - OB-GYN Clinic of Eau Claire provides exceptional care for all phases of a woman’s life. Dr. Irfane Khatib’s philosophy has always been that the patient is first. They continue to focus on the patient’s unique health needs in staying healthy.

Southside Medical Clinic 714 W Ham-

org UW-Health’s full scale birthing program provides complete continuity of care. With ultrasounds, non-stress testing, and other appointments performed right here in our offices, your doctor follows you throughout the course of your pregnancy and will be present at your delivery. Offers pediatric services and can care for your baby after delivery.

RESOURCES FOR YOUNG FAMILIES Child Care Partnership 418 Wisconsin

St., Eau Claire • (715) 836-7511 ext. 1188 • Becca.Elbert@wdeoc.org • ChildCarePartnership.org A resource and referral agency that works with parents by providing a list of child care providers that is customized to their family’s needs and the area they live. They work with child care providers to assess their program qualities, provide training on early childhood education, and work with other community agencies.

ilton Ave, Eau Claire • (715) 830-9990, OB/ GYN (715) 836-9242 • southsidemedicalclinic. com For more than a decade, Southside Medical Clinic has been providing high quality medical care in a comfortable familyfriendly environment. OB/GYN services include infertility evaluations and treatment, surgeries, hormone therapy, birth control, and management of menstrual issues.

Family Resource Center for Eau Claire County 4800 Golf Rd., Ste. 450, Eau Claire

UW-Health Eau Claire Family Medicine

Family Support Center 403 N. High St.,

617 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire // 207 W. Lincoln St., Augusta • Eau Claire: (715) 8395175 // Augusta: (715) 286-2270 • uwhealth.

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• (715) 833-1735 • frcec.org Located in the Sears wing of the Oakwood Mall, the mission of the Family Resource Center is to provide programs and services that build on family strengths through prevention, education, support and networking in collaboration with other resources in the community.

Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-1138 • familysupport@fsccf.org • familysupportcentercf. com Provides free services and support to

Babies! families that are struggling with issues such as domestic assault, sexual assault, parental conflicts, and difficulty managing children.

River Source Family Center 403 High

Street, Chippewa Falls • (715) 720-1841 • riversourcefamilycenter.com The mission of River Source Family Center is to embrace and strengthen families with young children by promoting growth through education, information, referral, and opportunities to share experiences.

EARLY LEARNING Sport Tykes Sampler Every Wednesday

until Oct. 25, 5:30-6:15pm; Every Wednesday until Oct. 25, 6:20-7:05pm • Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center, 3456 Craig Road, Eau Claire • $80 for 7 weeks • Ages 4-6 • ecsportscenter.com Children are welcome to enjoy a variety of sports by learning a new and exciting one each week. Includes Basketball, Volleyball, T-Ball, Soccer, Kickball, Football, and Track. Along with having fun together, there will be a strong emphasis on learning to take turns and follow directions.

Little Language Lab Every Thursday until Oct. 19, 8:45-9:35am; Every Thursday until Oct. 19, 9:50-10:40am • Lily Pad Lab, 1620 Ohm Ave (In the EC Music School), Eau Claire • $50, Drop in $10 (call ahead) • Ages 1-2 • lilypadlab.com/summer-at-lily-pad-lab Toddlers will listen to stories, sing songs, learn finger-plays, move/dance, and do ageappropriate crafts and sensory activities.

This class is a mix of structured circle time and free choice stations. Suggestions and techniques will be shared and discussed on ways to enhance your child’s language development.

ABC’s for 2s and 3s Every Thursday until

Oct. 19, 11am-noon • Lily Pad Lab, 1620 Ohm Ave (In the EC Music School), Eau Claire • $50, Drop in $10 (call ahead) • Ages 2-3 yrs • lilypadlab.com/summer-at-lily-pad-lab ABC’s for 2s and 3s is a fun step into exploring letters, numbers, and shapes. 2-3 year old children and their parents will enjoy open exploration time, songs, stories, sensory play and art.

After School Science Club Oct. 5, 4:15-

5:30pm; Oct. 19, 4:15-5:30pm • Forage, 930 Galloway St., Building 13, Suite 212, Eau Claire • $40 for all three sessions or $15 per class • Grades K-5 • lilypadlab.com/summerat-lily-pad-lab Kids can learn, explore, and experience science fun. We’ll watch things grow, change, ooze, bubble, and burst.

Science Club is a fun, entertaining, and stimulating class. We’ll explore current topics relevant to your child and the world they live in. Parents are welcome to join or drop off.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten Party

Oct. 7, 10:30-11:15am • LE Phillips Memorial Public Library - Youth Services Program Room, 400 Eau Claire St., Eau CLaire • FREE • Preschool • 715-839-5007 Join the library as they celebrate readers on their 1000 Books journey. Enjoy refreshments, stories, crafts and special guests Elephant & Piggie and Bruce the Bear. Open to all children who have participated (or would like to!) in the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Special recognition will be given to graduates.

Ballet Classes (Age 3-5) Every Monday

until Nov. 6, 5:15-5:45pm; Every Tuesday until Nov. 7, 5:15-5:45pm; Every Tuesday until Nov. 7, 6:30-7pm • Swan Lake Ballet Studio, Banbury Place Bldg 13 Ste 122, Eau Claire • $5 per class/$20 for 5 classes/$30 for 9 classes • Ages 3-5 • swanlakeballetstudio.com Classes hosted by a team of four enthusiastic teachers who love to teach ballet, lyrical, and jazz dance.

Sport Tykes ABC’s Every Monday until

Oct. 23, 5:15-6pm • Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center, 3456 Craig Road, Eau Claire • $80 for 7 weeks • Age 3 & 4 • ecsportscenter.com Youth can feel free to run until their heart’s content. Several activities are planned ac-

cording to the letter of focus for that week.

(Aa = animal walks, aim, airplanes, etc.)

Children learn how to take turns, follow directions, and make friends.

Sport Tykes Soccer Every Monday until

Oct. 23, 6:05-6:50pm • Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center, 3456 Craig Road, Eau Claire • $80 for 7 weeks • Ages 4-6 • ecsportscenter. com Come join in the fun and learn skills specific to dribbling, kicking, and blocking the ball. Children will get a chance to participate with others along with learning the basic rules of the game in a group setting.

(Shin guards are optional).

Busy Bodies Every Tuesday until Oct. 17,

9:15-10am • Lily Pad Lab, 1620 Ohm Ave (In the EC Music School), Eau Claire • $40, Drop in $8 • Ages 1-5 yrs • lilypadlab.com Busy Bodies is a 6 week class for all kids ages 1-5 yrs and their adult to come have fun and move, move, move. Classes will consist of stretching, action songs, moving with props, dancing, group movements and obstacle courses.

Tiny Scientists – Monarch Lab Every

Tuesday until Oct. 10, 10:30-11:30am; Every Tuesday until Oct. 10, 6-7pm • Morning Class: Lily Pad Lab, 1620 Ohm Ave (In the EC Music School) | Evening Class: Beaver Creek Reserve • $60, Drop in $12 (call ahead) • Ages 2-6 • lilypadlab.com During Tiny Scientists – Monarch Lab you and your child will share in learning about what it means to be a scientist by raising and releasing Monarch Butterflies. Be ready for hands-on experiments, interactive nature activities and science related art projects.

Healthy Hands Cooking – Lil’ Sprouts at Forage Oct. 11, 10-11am, 6-7pm; Oct.

11, 10-11am, 6-7pm • Forage, 930 Galloway St., Building 13, Suite 212, Eau Claire • $15/ class • Ages 2-6 • forageeauclaire.com You and your little one can participate together in fun, age appropriate classes bursting with hands-on activities, healthy concept learning through games, and of course, empowering your little one to create their own special healthy snacks. Classes are theme-based and one hour in length.

Child Development Day - School District of Altoona Oct. 19, 8am-5pm • Altoona

Middle School - Lower Gym, 1903 Bartlett Ave, Altoona • 2.5 - 3.5 year old children • 715-832-5543 This program replaces the traditional kindergarten screening that has been done in the past, and includes a developmental screening for younger children.

Please call the Altoona Early Education Center to schedule a one hour appointment.

BABY CLOTHING Here We Grow Again Biannual Consignment Clothing Fair Hobbs Ice Arena,

915 Menomonie St., Eau Claire • (715) 839-5040 • eauclairewi.gov West Central Wisconsin’s upscale children’s consignment event. The place to find bargains on quality, name brand clothes, great toys, books, videos, baby equipment, and nursery furniture.

Make some extra cash by consigning your child’s/teens things or purchasing some great things for your child/teen at can’t-bebeat prices. Item drop off for consignment on Wed & Thu before sale.

Once Upon a Child Consignment Store 4058 Commonwealth Ave, Eau Claire • onceuponachild.com Once Upon A Child buys and sells gently used kids’ clothing, shoes, toys and baby gear offering you the opportunity to recycle your children’s nearly new items and get paid on the spot.

That’s Adorable, Kids Consignment Boutique 129 N. Barstow Street, Eau Claire

• (715) 864-0883 • thatsadorableec.wordpress. com That’s Adorable is a Chippewa Valley children’s consignment boutique that buys and sells birth through size 12 clothing.

They also sell books, toys, gear and localmade gifts. They host a weekly story time and a number of events.

VolumeOne.org 39 Oct. 4, 2017