Modern Mama Winnipeg opened for business this January and is now holding a free launch party to celebrate…looks like lots of fun! All the details are below, and learn more about visit Modern Mama Winnipeg at their website, http://www.modernmama.com/winnipeg/.

“Great Big Adventure is hosting us for a FREE evening of fun!  You and your entire family can join in on the fun!  Kids can take advantage of the indoor play structure-just in time to wear them out before bed- while you socialize, meet Modern Mama Winnipeg, and some of our perks partners!

Along with Winnipeg Parent Magazine, we are going to be holding a Cover Photo Contest at our party!

Throughout the night, local photographer Leilanie Clayton will be snapping photos!  These photos will be uploaded to Facebook, and the photo with the most likes will be featured on the August Cover of Winnipeg Parent Magazine!

Speakers:

6:00pm:

Dr. Suzanne, The Ingredient Detective. Investigating How To Live Clean In a Toxic World.

Many of our common household products are full of very dangerous chemicals even the products that claim to be “organic and natural”. Join Dr. Suzanne as she reveals the dangers these chemicals pose on our family and how she shows us to read through all of the marketing hype with natural product labeling. Learn how to make healthy purchases to keep your family safe and toxin free!

6:30pm:

Dr. Jared Buffie – Raising Healthy Families

Many health experts say this is the first generation the parents will outlive their children. The health of our children is declining rapidly with more cases of asthma, allergies, obesity, hyperactivity and sickness than ever seen before. Dr. Jared will discuss why this is happening and will teach you what you can do to change this. Discover how to raise healthy families, in a not so healthy world.

While your kids play their hearts away, you have the option to sit and listen to these great speakers in between visiting our vendors!

**This event is free, but does require a pre-registration!  Make sure to pre-register and bring either your ticket or your confirmation email!  We also want to be able to give you a special gift, so only those who have registered will receive a goody bag!**”

Women’s Health Clinic is offering a free class on June 16th as part of their spring 2014 Maternal Health and Wellness workshops:

Taking Care of Your Health in Pregnancy 

6:30 – 8 pm Monday, June 16th at The Birth Centre (603 St. Mary’s Road)

A great opportunity to meet other pregnant people and discuss how to be in the best possible health during and after pregnancy.  Discussion includes: healthy food, managing stress, stretching, body alignment, and exercises to prepare for birth, early parenting, and pelvic floor health.

Registration preferred. Drop-ins welcome.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Alison Ritchie, the lovely lady behind Sacred Pregnancy Winnipeg. Alison’s classes are kind of hard to describe, but essentially, they are about exploring the emotional journey of pregnancy and the wisdom and strength of mamas. The classes also provide an excellent opportunity to meet other pregnant women, and previous participants have gone on to be a huge support to each other throughout their pregnancy and postpartum seasons. I just love what Alison is doing and hope someday to take a class with her!

Anyway, coming up at the end of June is Alison’s 2-day Sacred Pregnancy mini-retreat. Held on June 28 & 29 at St Norbert Arts Centre, this event costs $300 and is “All the beauty and magic of the 8 week pregnancy journey class condensed into 2 days”. It includes:

• “Mindfully prepared meals and snacks by Kalee Mund… Ayurvedic Goddess
• Prenatal yoga
• A pregnancy portrait
• A henna belly
• An intimate experience with other pregnant women
• An opportunity to transform your pregnancy experience and grow
• Art and group projects you can take home”

Plus lots of goodies, info and discounts from various businesses around town.

Sounds pretty amazing to me. Space is limited so register soon!

Villa Rosa, a wonderful local non-profit organization that helps young pregnant women along with new moms and their babies, is looking for donations of tickets or opportunities for their residents this summer. Can you help this very worthy cause, or know of a business or organization who can? See the details in the request below.

“We are writing on behalf of the young women in the prenatal and postnatal residential programs at Villa Rosa Incorporated. We are requesting a donation of tickets for any event possible. The donation of these tickets will provide these women with a chance to have an enjoyable and exciting outing.

Villa Rosa is a non-profit United Way Agency whose mandate is to serve young women, who are pregnant, as well as new moms and their babies.

When the academic year ends, activities are organized by the Summer Activity Coordinators in order to keep the young ladies both physically and mentally active. Unfortunately, lack of funds limits the number of outings the ladies may engage in. Therefore, your assistance in the form of free or reduced tickets would be greatly appreciated. Your generous contribution would provide our women with an opportunity that would otherwise not be possible.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us either by phone: 786-5741 ex. 228, or by email atvillarosa784@gmail.com. We are looking forward to your favourable response.

Respectfully,

Jacqueline Waluk
Summer Activities Coordinator”

You’ve probably heard the stat before: an estimated 80% of child car seats are installed incorrectly. Yikes.

Though you can get your car seat installation checked any time at a fire station or MPI, there’s a car seat clinic happening this Saturday, May 31st, at Elmwood High School at 505 Chalmers. The folks from St John Ambulance will be providing free inspections, and there will also be free refreshments, giveaways and prizes.

-hat tip to The Herald.

The 2014 Manitoba Moms and Kids Show is coming up in just a few weeks on June 14 & 15, and this is an event that’s truly worth supporting – tickets are just $5 (kids 12 and under are free!) and all proceeds from guest admission will be donated to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.

This show looks  awesome. In addition to tons of exhibitors, there will be various seminars…

• Healthy Pregnancy Workshop — presented by Bonjour Bébé
• Maternity and parental benefit — presented by Service Canada
• Help your child sleep better — presented by Baby Sleep 101
• Read, Sing and Watch…Together! — presented by the Together Time Company
• Do YOU Kegel? Prenatal Core Workshop — presented by Fit 4 Two

… as well as gift bags, prize draws, bouncy castles and other kids’ entertainment and lots more. I was glad to see there will also be a mother’s nursing lounge/baby change area – such a nice thing for anyone with a baby!

Presented by Bonjour Bébé, the Manitoba Moms and Kids Show will be held June 14 and 15th, 10am to 5pm at the Centre culturel franco-manitobain (CCFM), 340 Provencher Blvd.

Are you a new mama in the North West area of the city? If so you might be interested in Women’s Health Clinic’s Coping With Change series that’s starting this Friday at Seven Oaks Health and Social Services at #3-1050 Leila Ave. (behind Shoppers Drug Mart).  The session runs from May 16 to June 20th from 10-11:30am, and is free! Registration is preferred but drop-ins  are welcome. Call 204.947.2422 ext. 113 or email register@womenshealthclinic.org for more info or to sign up.

Coping with Change is a terrific class that helps you cope with all the changes that happen when a baby enters your life. I highly recommend it to every new mother I meet.

When I was pregnant with my first, my wise and Winnipeg-born cousin M took me out to a bunch of community garage sales… I had a blast and got some great deals! I think buying used is the absolute best way to save money when you are having a baby, and garage sales are a major source of good deals.

Here are a couple of the upcoming community garage sales in Winnipeg – where there are sure to be a lot of houses participating in one particular area. If you know of others, please leave a comment and I’ll update the list.

Whyte Ridge Community Garage Sales: Saturday, May 10, 2014

Sage Creek Community Garage Sale: Saturday, May 31st, 2014 from 8:30am to 12:30pm

Linden Woods Garage Sale: Saturday, June 7 from 9am to 1pm

Glenelm Neighbourhood: Saturday, June 7

Island Lakes Garage Sale: September 6, 2014

May 5th is the International Day of the Midwife!

In Winnipeg, supporters of midwifery are encouraged to celebrate the occasion with the Manitoba Midwives Day Annual Picnic, at noon on May 5th at the front lawn of the provincial legislature building. Bring your picnic lunch and join the tradition – this has been an annual event since 1991!

“While some years are cold or even snowy and some hot and sunny… the picnic (like birth) happens whatever the weather.   The informal noon-hour picnic is open to all. There are often stories and games, and in some years music, face-painting or other activities. “

From the Facebook event: “Please join the UCN class of 2014 at the UCN Midwifery Campus @ 491 Portage following the picnic at the legislative grounds. There will be presentations from the Virtual Day of the Midwife, Midwives returning from Haiti and a poster presentation from the graduates.”

P.S. Let’s make May 5th our official National Day of the Midwife! Head on over to http://peggynash.ndp.ca/midwives to make your voice heard – over 2500 others have signed this petition so far!

The March/April 2014 issue of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority magazine, Wave, has two articles that caught my eye.

One is about pelvic floor dysfunction (page 28), and features an interview with Dr. Kelli Berzuk, a pelvic floor physiotherapist and director of the Incontinence & Pelvic Pain Clinic. This article contains a ton of really useful (and eye-opening) info about pelvic floor health and is a most-read for anyone who has given birth or expects to, and overall important information for women to have.

The second article (page 44) talks about the benefits of staying active during pregnancy, dispels some myths surrounding the issue, gives tips on how to get started, and includes a neat photo guide to some prenatal exercises and stretches you can do at home, courtesy of Aileen Hunt of Fit4Two.