October 13, 1999
Coalition holds parenting conference
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
The Northern Michigan Breastfeeding Coalition hosted a Parenting from the Heart conference Saturday morning offering resources and support for new, experienced or expecting moms.
The half-day conference was held at the Faith Reformed Church and the keynote speaker was Pallas Hupe of TV 7&4. Sessions ranged from nutrition for older babies and going back to work while breastfeeding to caring for a high-need baby and sorting out parenting advice. The morning wound up with a mini-La Leche League meeting to introduce moms and babies to the decades-old breastfeeding support group.
Approximately 40 moms attended the conference, many bringing their young babies along. Many attendees left with a greater sense of confidence and an understanding of where to turn if they had questions.
"This conference was great, very helpful," said Denise Rusinowski of Traverse City, who attended the conference with her son, Paul, four months. "Just to find out what supports are out there and where to go if you have questions is wonderful."
Even experienced mothers found value in the conference.
"This is my third child," said Jennifer Reid, whose son, Peter, is three weeks old. "I wish this support had been here with the first ones."
Organizers of the conference were encouraged by the turnout and enthusiasm for information from the participants. Members of the Breastfeeding Coalition had been hoping to host a conference of this type for some years and this year they finally decided to create it. The Parenting from the Heart theme was chosen to fit with their commitment to encourage moms to breastfeed as the best choice for their babies and families.
"We wanted to bring all the resources together in one place so moms could see the faces of these people," said Marsha Conlon, one of the conference coordinators. "If they ever had a question and had to call and talk to an anonymous person it can be harder to make a connection. This way they can put a face to a name."
A dozen different vendors also came to the conference to including area service agencies, such as Healthy Futures and the Grand Traverse County Health Department, plus children's book and toy distributors.
Two area labor assistants, known as Doulas, each hosted an information table about their services and the benefits of a low-tech, natural birth. They related studies showing a Doula's presence during the birth lowered cesarean section rates and other technological interventions, and produced a more satisfying family atmosphere for the birth.
Having a woman act as a professional labor assistant to a birthing mother is a newer concept to Traverse City. While many times friends or relatives may have informally helped out when asked, a formal, trained Doula relationship was not available to area women. But the idea is catching on and 15 area women are signed up to complete an upcoming Doula training course scheduled for November in Traverse City.
"I had two totally different birth experiences, one with a lot of intervention and one very fast and easy at home," said Dianne Lopez-Wild, who is studying to be a Doula and a childbirth educator. "This made me realize that women can have incredible, empowering birth experiences and I want to be a Doula because every women deserves the support to have that."