I recently stumbled upon a unique kind of prenatal class being held in Winnipeg: Sacred Pregnancy classes.

I was completely intrigued and got in touch with the instructor, Alison Ritchie, to ask her for more information. Here’s what she told me… and read ahead for details of when the next round of classes begins!

“Our classes hold space for pregnant women to connect with one another and their pregnancy experiences in meaningful and personal ways. We are the new wave of pregnancy and birthing future, and hell bent on changing the birth conversation. These classes bring back the age old tradition of women sitting with one another during pregnancy and birth, getting empowered, witnessing each others process and BEING there for one another during an incredibly power-FULL rite of passage… becoming mothers. Once a week for 8 weeks we gather together and explore pertinent topics that naturally arise for most women as they walk down their pregnancy paths. We encourage deep sharing, exploring art, expression, laughter, honouring and celebration. Pregnancy is one of the deepest drinks life has to offer. Each woman’s pregnancy pot gets stirred with various emotions and we all need a safe place to process this.”

Alison (who is also a DONA certified doula, Practitioner for Nutritional Wisdom in the childbearing years, and birth photographer) tells me her next round of classes will run April 30th to June 18th from 5:30-8:30 at Stafford Street Hot Yoga. The fee for the class is $400.

To sign up for the class or for more information women can contact Alison directly at 204-230-8534 or Alison708@hotmail.com. For more information on the Sacred Pregnancy movement, visit http://www.sacredpregnancy.com.

Are you interested in cloth diapering but unsure where to begin? Tiny TreeHugger (@tiny_treehugger), a Manitoba-based company that recently established a shop at the Birth Roots St. Vital location, is offering an “All About Cloth Diapering” workshop next month! I love this idea; cloth diapering is awesome but there are so many brands and systems that it can be really overwhelming. Registration for the workshop is $20 – money I’m sure will be well spent 🙂

From the Tiny TreeHugger website:

“Curious about cloth diapers? Not sure where to start? Or what type of cloth diapers to purchase? How many? What about poop? And wash routines? And rashes? Start up costs? Savings?

Sign up for our Cloth Diapering Workshop!

At our workshop you will learn the types of cloth diapers, laundry detergent to use and wash routine, how many you need and how to store them until wash day! All questions are answered so if you think of any beforehand, be sure to write them down! We suggest bringing a notebook to take any notes or write down certain brands or styles you like.

Attend the evening and when you purchase a starter kit [starting as low as $60] or full time kit receive 1 entry for every $20 spent to earn 10% back in credit from that day’s sales from attendees!

Free samples and great show only specials available as well with your same day purchase!

Layaway is available with at least 10% non-refundable deposit.

If you currently cloth diaper, please be sure to bring samples from your system so we know what you are using!

Saturday, April 12th
Location: Room 230 – 600 St Anne’s Road in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Building – Seine River Professional Centre
Time: 3:30pm to 5:30pm”

 

On April 2nd, Women’s Health Clinic is holding a one-night session for folks who are supporting or will soon be supporting a new mother. The session is a part of the WHC’s wonderful Coping with Change program. Here’s the poster:

You Can’t Spoil a Baby is an awesome local charity that helps families living in poverty or having trouble making ends meet get the baby clothes and items they need.

The group recently underwent a big transformation:

“We are now happy to introduce ‘The Rebirth’ of You Can’t Spoil A Baby.  Instead of our volunteers collecting, sorting, organizing, washing, and delivering gift bags of primarily baby clothes to families in need, we will now coordinate the matching of families in need to families with baby items to give. The donor family gets the joy of creating a custom gift based on the expectant family’s needs, along with the pleasure of meeting the family they are helping. The family in need receives a customized gift of baby clothes and items and also gets to meet the family who cares about them and their child/ren.”

Learn more about how to become a donor family or how to apply for a gift of baby clothes at the You Can’t Spoil a Baby website. Kudos to Pamela Delisle and her marvelous organization for doing such great work in Manitoba!

I recently stumbled across Modern Mama Winnipeg. This organization, run by Leanne White and Shae McConnell, is a “social and educational resource for motherhood in Winnipeg.  We plan live and online events where you can meet other local moms, learn awesome new things about yourself and your children, and have fun!  Best of all, we offer nanny service, so no need to find that babysitter!”

They are hosting some cool events in the next few weeks:

• Essential Series: Infant Sleep — “Local sleep consultant expert Joleen Dilk Salyn [of Baby Sleep 101] is going to lead this 60 minute sleep information session. Don’t worry, we will leave time for questions.”
• Frame Your Face Beauty Event —  “a nice relaxing evening of brow shaping, bang trims, and a glass of wine!” — featuring local mobile beauty company Brushed.
• Social Tots: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” — this is the launch of Modern Mama’s Social Tots program. “Crock A Doodle on Kenaston will be hosting us for a FREE evening!  Our theme is, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar!”  We will read the book, and then our children will be able to decorate a pottery tile and make a very cool caterpillar out of their fingerprints!”

Congrats to Modern Mama on bringing great events to the ‘Peg! Leanne and Shae also write a regular blog post called “5 Things to Do This Weekend” that’s full of ideas to get you and your family out of the house – something we definitely need during this long and never-ending winter! Find them online at  modernmama.com/winnipeg/, at facebook.com/modernmamawpg and on Twitter at @modernmamawpg.

I got an email notice from Women’s Health Clinic that they’re running another round of prenatal classes at the Birth Centre in April.

The classes will run Wednesdays from April 16th – May 21st, from  6:30-8:30pm. Registration is required; email register@womenshealthclinic.org or call 204.947.2422 ext. 113. The Birth Centre is located at 603 St. Mary’s Rd.