HRM Parent Blog

The NS Doula Association is looking for people (all genders, doula or non) to fill positions on their 2010 Board. This is a great opportunity to get involved with promoting the quality of prenatal, birth and postpartum support given to women and their families. An information session is being held on Wednesday November 4th at 7pm in the North and Windsor Sobey's community room. You are invited to attend to find out more about this opportunity. You can also email nsdoulaassoc@gmail.com for more information.

Also, on Sunday, November 15, the Midwifery Coalition of Nova Scotia invites you to share in an afternoon of dialogue around the current status of midwifery in Nova Scotia. Get your questions answered, your opinions out there and your thoughts heard on how we can make midwifery a reality for every woman in the province! Tea, coffee and snacks provided. Children welcome. 1-4pm, Sunday November 15 at the Women's Council House at Young and Inglis in Halifax.

Another way to get involved is by volunteering with the Extra Support for Parents (E.S.P.) Volunteer Service, an outreach program of the IWK, which provides in-home, volunteer support to parents of new babies. E.S.P. families are facing difficult or stressful situations, such as twins or triplets, single parenting, or being new to the Metro Halifax area. E.S.P. volunteers provide a listening ear and caring help to families in their homes. E.S.P. is a very flexible way to volunteer! For more information, email extrasupport@iwk.nshealth.ca or click here.

Today's guest post has been submitted by Sarah MacDonald from Public Health. Thanks Sarah!

“I thought breastfeeding was supposed to be easy.”

This is something we, at Public Health, hear from moms all the time. We know that every mother and baby learn to breastfeed together. For some it comes easily, while others have more questions or concerns. Often, other mothers who are breastfeeding – or who have breastfed – are some of the best sources of support and information.  

World Breastfeeding Week, October 1 to 7, kicks off with a call to mothers and families to come out to celebrate breastfeeding at the global breastfeeding challenge on October 3. The global breastfeeding challenge celebrates, encourages and supports women in their choice to breastfeed, so come out, if you can, and have some fun with other mothers. There will be music, snacks, prizes and more! For details, visit www.cdha.nshealth.ca/publichealth.

Breastfeeding moms now also have a new place to go online. The Department of Health Promotion and Protection is launching a new website www.first6weeks.ca on October 1st. This website is a great place for moms to share their stories and support each other, and to find information about breastfeeding support that’s available in communities across Nova Scotia.

So come out to the challenge on Saturday, check out the new website and celebrate all the moms out there who are learning with their babies – and supporting each other as they do it.

Mona McMahon, Public Health nurse    Sarah MacDonald, Health Promotion Coordinator
Mona.mcmahon@chdh.nshealth.ca     sarah.macdonald@cdha.nshealth.ca

Today we have a guest post from Janet Barlow from the Ecology Action Centre. Thanks Janet!

October is International Walk to School month! Will you be walking with your kids? By participating in this fun event, schools and groups show their support for health, safety and the environment. They can participate for one day, one week or the entire month and register at www.saferoutesns.ca (click IWALK) to receive a free Organizer Kit. Remember, schools with bussed students can organize walks on school property, in the community or on a local trail. Ask your child’s school if it’s registered yet. If not, consider taking the lead for your school and helping to organize an event.

Registered schools qualify for some great prize draws including:

• StepsCount school pedometer kit
• Green Teacher magazine one-year subscription
• Ecology Action Centre one-year membership

We thank Green Teacher and StepsCount for their generous prize donations.

Have kids not yet in school? Daycares can participate too. Even if it’s not possible to walk there, you can still have an intentional walk once everyone arrives. Consider having a walk in the neighbourhood, at a local park or on a nearby trail.

Schools and groups can add a special touch to their events by purchasing I Walk to School resources at the Active & Safe Routes to School Virtual Store. Order hats, t-shirts and more from www.mprusso.com/iwalk/home.asp.

New this year is WOW – We Often Walk (or Wheel), which promotes weekly walking days. By registering for WOW, a school or group receives free posters to promote its WOW day as well as a WOW card for each participating student. Students check off a box on the card each time they walk or wheel to school. The school arranges for rewards for students who fill up their WOW cards. Schools or groups may register at www.saferoutesns.ca (click WOW).

About IWALK

International Walk to School Month is an initiative of Active & Safe Routes to School (ASRTS), which encourages more children, youth and their families to use active transportation - such as walking and cycling - for the environment, physical activity and traffic safety. It is coordinated in Nova Scotia by the Ecology Action Centre in partnership with the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection, as part of the Active Kids Healthy Kids initiative.
                                                    
                                                         

On Tuesday Alex and I went to the Dalhousie Women's Centre for their Mom and Me gardening program. It was the first time I'd been there, since I admit I always assumed the centre was for Dal students only. Turns out it's not, and is open to everyone in the community - and yes, that does include the men! Elizabeth, the centre's coordinator, will definitely make you feel at home.

The centre's community garden is a new, small garden essentially in the backyard of a house. It is open for you to use at anytime during the week, but on Tuesdays from 10:30am to noon they host a special Mom and Me time (open to dads, caregivers and grandparents too!). Along with the gardening fun, a volunteer does crafts and activities with the kids, like painting rocks for garden trim and making sprout people. When we were there on Tuesday the kids were having a great time with the sidewalk chalk - simple, but fun! The kids also loved planting marigolds and seeds, and are eager to return to watch their garden grow. Gardening with your kids is a great way to nurture a love of nature and help kids understand where their food comes from.

We try to garden in our own backyard, but I noticed a definite difference in how Alex gardened at the community garden. At home, Alex very much does his own thing and is busy 'planting' dandelions in flower beds and making 'soup' from whatever he finds. At the community garden, he wanted to join in with *real* planting and was eager to learn about the steps involved in planting a flower. Definitely an interesting difference for me to observe! Go figure, eh?

One thing to note about the garden is that unfortunately it is open at the back to the Dalplex parking lot, so if you have a toddler that tends to bolt it might end up being more stressful than relaxing for you! Elizabeth is aware of the issue and is looking at ways to create a barrier. Ideas are appreciated! At the moment they are looking at planting a barrier, but that will take time to grow.

Supplies are provided - just make sure the kids are dressed in clothes they can get dirty! The program is for kids of all ages - everyone is welcome!

Inside the centre, there is a living space, library, kitchen and playroom available for you to use anytime during the week. On the main floor, the living space has a TV/DVD/VCR and a comfy seating area, along with a computer with internet access (thank goodness - don't want to go in withdrawal, lol). The library is small, but well stocked, and there are children's books downstairs. The kitchen has snacks and cooking facilities, which you are welcome to use. The main floor is also wheelchair accessible. Downstairs there is a playroom packed full of toys and a 'green' room with seedlings and gardening supplies. There is also a picnic table and a bbq outside. It's a real 'home away from home' - Elizabeth says they want people to think of it as their rec room, a place to hang out, meet with friends, hold playdates and relax.

The centre's hours are Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, but Elizabeth suggests calling or emailing first because the hours can change, though that doesn't happen often. You can reach the centre by calling 494-2432, emailing dwc@dal.ca, or visit their website here. The centre is located at 6286 South Street, the white house right in front of Dalplex.

Have fun!