Labor Doulas
For doulas who are primarily childbirth support experts. They are not necessarily trained or certified in massage. Go to http://www.dona.org

Exercise
http://www.yogaheartsong.com ~ Heartsong Yoga offers a prenatal yoga class weekly and is hoping to add a mom and baby class in January. See their website for a current class schedule.

http://www.sunsetyoga.com ~ We offer Iyengar Yoga classes for all abilities levels, prenatal, rejuvenation and back care classes, plus workshops, community events and retreats.  Our teachers are experienced, committed yoga practitioners, ready to start you on your yoga journey.  We are convenient to Beaverton, Tigard and the Portland West Hills.

 http://www.mcyoga.com ~ Building a strong foundation in hatha yoga through breath awareness and asana. We offer classes for all levels, as well as prenatal and postnatal yoga.

Swimming is a great way for pregnant women to get exercise and gravity relief!

 http://www.ymca-portland.wbees.com/page/page/977597.htm ~ Check the YMCA website for a location with a pool near you.


Support Organizations
http://www.attachmentparenting.org/ ~ The mission of Attachment Parenting International (API) is to promote parenting practices that create strong, healthy emotional bonds between children and their parents. We believe these practices nurture and fulfill a child's need for trust, empathy, and affection, providing a lifelong foundation for healthy, enduring relationships.

Go to the Nursing Mothers Council of Oregon website for more services. A great local resource!

http://www.mothersandmore.org ~ Get connected with like-minded women in your community and across the globe. This is an international not-for-profit organization supporting sequencing women-mothers who have altered their career paths in order to care for their children at home.

http://www.sidelines.org ~ Sidelines is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization providing international support for women and their families experiencing complicated pregnancies and premature births.

http://www.lalecheleague.org ~ The La Leche League International mission is: To help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.

http://www.lamaze.org/Default.asp ~ Founded upon six care practices that support normal birth, the Lamaze Institute for Normal Birth is an evidence-based resource for new and expectant parents and childbirth professionals. Use this site to find credible, relevant and useful information and discover how to come together with normal birth advocates in your community.

Books
Gentle Birth Choices, by Barbara Harper, and Suzanne Arms
One of the most comprehensive, comforting books about normal childbirth out there. Very pro-natural without being pressuring, this book provides good medical research in support of avoiding unnecessary interventions.

Birthing From Within, Pam England and Rob Horowitz.
A guide to creative tools for pain relief in birth, including art and visualization.

The Birth Partner, by Penny Simkin
A great aide to partners looking for ways to help, support, and participate in the birth experience.

Taking Charge of your Fertility, Toni Weschler
An incredibly informative guide to women’s health and reproduction. If you are having trouble conceiving, this is a good place to start.

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley, Ann Keppler
It covers all aspects of childbearing from conception through early infancy. It includes information on what to expect during pregnancy and birth and how you can work with your caregivers to make childbirth a happy and healthy experience. It is well organized for easy reading and quick reference. There are more than 45 charts and 150 photographs and illustrations to clarify the information -- more graphic aids than any other childbirth book. It includes the latest information on clinical tests and procedures in pregnancy, childbirth, and early infancy. It also covers concerns regarding the emotional aspects of childbearing, the partner's role, comfort measures, high-risk pregnancies, medications, vaginal birth after cesarean, breastfeeding, and understanding infant behavior.

The Birth Book, by William Sears & Martha Sears
In this helpful resource guide, the authors cover the gamut of possibilities, and teach readers what they need to know to take control of their own birthings. The Birth Book is divided into three parts: "Preparing for Birth," "Easing Pain in Labor," and "Experiencing Birth." You'll find details about vaginal births; cesareans; VBACs; water births; home births; best birthing positions; drugs; pain; how to design your own birth plan; the humor, chemistry, and sexuality of birth; and pages and pages of birth stories.

 The Fussy Baby: How to Bring Out the Best in Your High-Need Child by William Sears, Martha Sears

This book covers:
•         Why babies fuss and what to do about it
•         How to comfort a colicky baby
•         How fathers can keep mothers from burning out
•         What to do about discipline as your child grows older
•         What you can do to make sure your baby doesn’t become a fussy baby in the first place
•         And much more

(Note: I love everything by William & Martha Sears)

Touch by Tiffany Field Ph.D.
Field, a leading authority on touch and touch therapy, begins this accessible book with an overview of the sociology and anthropology of touching and the basic psychophysical properties of touch. She then reports recent research results on the value of touch therapies, such as massage therapy, for various conditions, including asthma, cancer, autism, and eating disorders. She emphasizes the need for a change in societal attitudes toward touching, particularly among those who work with children. Tiffany Field is Director of the Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami School of Medicine.

The Vital Touch by Sharon Heller, Ph.D.
How intimate contact with your baby leads to happier, healthier development. Using a lively array of anthropological and sociological sources, The Vital Touch presents a provocative examination of the reasons why, now more than ever, we need to make consistent physical connections with our infants and children.

For a list of additional resources, go to http://www.pregnancy-place.com/

Looking for an art studio for you and your children?
Check out http://www.mymasterpieceartstudio.com/ . My daughter and I love it!