Better Beginnings for Babies

Sending positive thoughts and prayers for all of those effected by the fires in California! Please remember to practice social distancing, even while evacuating! Here are some great pointers:https://socoemergency.org//staying-safe-in-emergencies-du/

Wonder how breast pumping works for most moms? Need some advice? Come and join us on zoom! It is free!

Breastfeeding needs to be thought as the "normal" way babies are fed....while there are alternatives, breastfeeding is the normal way! Here are 19 Children's Books That Normalize Breastfeeding! https://www.huffpost.com//childrens-books-normalize-breast

Do you have an interest in maternal child health? We need more midwives! Think about attending this free introduction to Midwifery done by the Frontier School of Nursing https://fnudigitalsummit.com//its-the-year-of-the-midwife/

When you are pregnant, your basic human rights do not change!

This is good news! In person visits with your midwife or doctor appear to be unlikely to spread COVID, but What is wrong with this picture??? Where are their Masks!!

Nurse-Midwives need your support! SB 1237 will be in the Assembly for vote as early as today! The bill will help nurse-midwives to be able to practice with out the restriction of physician supervision. This is already in place for non-nurse midwives. Currently it is very difficult for nurse-midwives to set up private practices and birth centers. The bill will not solve all of the problems, but will be a step in the right direction! Go to : https://www.cnma.org/today Call or e-mail today!

August is Breastfeeding Month for the USA and Better Beginnings is continuing to support families through the Breastfeeding Cafes, Baby Weigh Stations and the My Navigator Warm line. Call 707-902-3031....we can help!

The CDC guidelines (updated Aug. 3, 2020) now clearly spell out that the ideal setting for a healthy, term newborn is to be with their mother while in the hospital. Current evidence suggests the risk of a neonate acquiring SARS-CoV-2 from its mother is low, the guidance reads. Further, data suggests that there is no difference in risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection to the neonate whether a baby is cared for in a separate room or remains in the mother’s room. Additionally, the CD...C has: Updated guidelines emphasizing the importance of the mothers rights in the medical decision-making process. Similarly, the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) now explicitly recommends that every effort be made to support breastfeeding for all who are COVID-19 positive or suspected of having the virus. The CDC’s recommendation govern what is likely considered best practice in the hospital setting, while the AAP’s guidance supports pediatricians providing direct care to breastfeeding infants or infants whose mothers desire to breastfeed. This means that there is now a continuum of guidance in support of mother’s own milk being the best source of exclusive nutrition for infants, regardless of their or their birthing parent’s COVID-19 status. In a health care crisis, such as presented by COVID-19, policies and practices often struggle to keep up with the fast pace of changing recommendations. So, please communicate the new guidance in your doctor, midwife and community!

Healthy People 2030 has set two new goals for the next 10 years to improve infant and child health! 1) Increase the proportion of infants who are breastfed exclusively through age 6 months (in 2015 this was less than 36% of US babies) 2) Increase the proportion of infants who are breastfed at 1 year (in 2015 this was less than 25% of US babies)... We are doing our part....if you need help or have questions call 707-902-3031 any day!

All human babies need human milk...no matter how small!

Many parents are worried their children's development is being slowed by the shelter in place. You can take this free on line screening and see!

Tell First Five about your needs as parents! Summer Parent Support Survey First 5 would like to know more about the changing needs of parents during the different stages of COVID-19. Please share your experience with First 5 Sonoma County in the Summer COVID Parent Support Survey! The information you provide is completely confidential and will be used to inform First 5 of the needs and experiences of families in Sonoma County during this difficult time. Thank you for taking... the time to share your experience with us! Take Survey here: https://bit.ly/2Db0lxk _______ First 5 del condado de Sonoma quiere saber más sobre las necesidades de los padres durante las diferentes etapas de COVID-19. ¡Por favor comparta su experiencia con First 5 en esta encuesta de Verano Apoyo para Padres! La información que proporcione es completamente confidencial y se utilizará para informar a First 5 de las necesidades y experiencias de las familias en el Condado de Sonoma durante este momento difícil. ¡Gracias por tomarse el tiempo de compartir su experiencia con nosotros! Tome encuesta aqui: https://bit.ly/314cmwA