Resources to Empower You
Pregnancy, birth, and parenting feels easier when you have the support you need. We are passionate about connecting you with local resources for your journey through labor, birth and postpartum. Your village is here, with local perinatal professionals, classes, and parent support groups. Contact us for additional resources in your area.
Below are some quality resources to help answer questions about COVID-19 and pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding.
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-pregnancy-childbirth-and-breastfeeding
Center for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/pregnancy-breastfeeding.html
Evidence Based Birth: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/covid19/
Aviva Romm (MD, midwife, herbalist): https://avivaromm.com/category/covid-19/
Propublica Article: https://www.propublica.org/article/coronavirus-and-pregnancy-expecting-mothers-q-and-a
Many services for new and expecting families are being provided virtually during these times of social distancing.
Birth Education Online - Please look under the Childbirth Education Tab as this year all educators have taken their classes to a virtual platform.
Online Prenatal Yoga
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- Rebecca Winter - at Strong Mama Yoga
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- Brigitte Arle is offering a prenatal yoga class on Tuesday at 5:30pm. www.rootedboston.com/classes She also kindly offers free meditation and breath work and movement to destress and keep our immunity up on her facebook group.
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- Barrett Reinhorn is offering prenatal yoga classes on her fivepointsyoga.com
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- Emily Masnoon has some wonderful online prenatal yoga options!
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- Bec Conant also teaches prenatal yoga and baby an me yoga classes as well as prenatal yoga classes at Down Under School of Yoga who will have online prenatal yoga classes available next week.
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- Marissa Farrell at Laughing Dog Yoga
Virtual Therapy
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- Maria Dolorico https://www.mariadolorico.com
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- Divya Kumar at the Leggett Group
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- Justine Leach at Resilient Birth Justine works with parents with anxiety about birth or a history of trauma to co-create birth support plans. She helps people find their internal resources and communicate their needs to their partner and healthcare team.
Virtual New Parent Groups
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- Jeannette Mesite Frem's Breastmilk & Conversation group now happens Wednesday evenings at 7pm and Friday mornings at 11:30am. Birth Circle is Saturday at 6:30pm. https://www.babiesincommon.com
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- Rachel O'Brien holds an Emotional Wellbeing after Baby group through Zoom
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- Rachel Simpson - Virtual Parent Circle
If you are considering a birth outside of the hospital we highly recommend talking with one of the following Certified Professional Midwives who attend birth at home.
Central Mass Midwifery | Dina Fraize, CPM | Northborough, MA
Metrowest Midwifery | Kim Lueders, CPM | Framingham, MA
New Life Blessings | Vanessa Lewis, PMUS | Southbridge, MA
Birth Services | Joyce Kimball, CPM | Central Mass
Midwifery by Marianne | Marianne Pellitier | Central Mass
You can find a list of home birth midwives at Massmidwives.org
Birth is nothing like the movies and there is so much you don't know you don't know. We only have so much time in our prenatal sessions to discuss the ins and outs of labor and birth so we encourage you to dedicate some time to take some Childbirth Education classes. Below are some local out-of-hospital childbirth education classes we recommend. Each have their own flavor - see which one resonates with you.
Currently Most Birth Education Courses are Online
Hypnobabies Boston | Kelly Keenan | Wellesley Hills, MA
The Loved Child | Belmont, MA
Childbirth Education at Newton Wellesley Hospital | Shari McBurney | In-hospital exception
Mindful Birthing Boston | Danielle Schuman-Oliver | Cambridge and Medford, MA
Babies in Common | Janette Mesite Frem | Northborough, MA
WellPregnancy | Julie Brill | Bedford, MA
HypnoBabies | online
Resilient Birth | Justine Leach | Online
Joyful Birthing & Beyond - Ellie Lindenmayer
Birth Care Midwifery - Paige Eastman Dickinson
Birth Baby Blessing - Martha Widing
Preparing for your and baby's breastfeeding relationship in pregnancy builds your foundation for success. We highly recommend taking a breastfeeding preparation classes. In addition, consider adding a professional lactation consultant to your postpartum support team. Along with supporting you by email/text or phone an IBCLC can come to your home to help with feeding difficulties and are typically covered by insurance.
Out-of-Hospital Breastfeeding Classes
Babies in Common | Jeannette Mesite Frem, IBCLC | Northborough, MA
WellPregnancy | Julie Brill, IBCLC | Belmont, MA
International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs)
WellPregnancy | Julie Brill | Belmont, MA
From Birth | Michelle Stolow | Maynard, MA
Rachel O'Brien | Sudbury, MA
Shelly Taft | Worcester, MA
Babies In Common | Jeannette Mesite Frem | Northborough, MA
Boston Area Lactation Connection | Kira Kim | Greater Boston
Boston Lactation | Heather Bingham | Arlington, MA
Christine Fischer-Rothman | Jamaica Plain, MA
Whether this is your first, second or tenth child, its important to reach out for support when needed. Pregnancy, birth and postpartum are the center of a host of transitions and changes. Here are some counselors who specialize in these areas. Please let us know if one of these are full and you need additional recommendations.
Concord Therapy | Lauren Brown | Concord, MA
Leggett Group | Framingham and Roslindale, MA
Emily Wing | Holliston, MA
Kaitlynne Vazquez | Sudbury, MA
Strong Roots Counseling | Mara Acel-Green | West Newton, MA
Maria Delorico | Boston, MA
Lois Freeman | Boston, MA
Throughout pregnancy, labor and postpartum your body goes through endless changes. Its important to go to classes and see professionals who specialize in woman's bodies and has a full knowledge of the changes our bodies go through during these great transitions. The right professional can make all the difference in the world for your body, your baby and your mind.
Prenatal Yoga
Revolution Community Yoga | Acton, MA
be the LOVE | Maynard, MA
Synergy Wellness | Hudson, MA
Emily Masnoon | Maynard, MA - Also offers Online Birth Design Course
Samara Yoga | Somerville, MA
Coolidge Yoga | Brookline, MA
Down Under School of Yoga | Boston, MA
Prenatal Massage
Wellness in Bloom | Rebecca Susi | Bolton, MA
Synergy Wellness | Melissa Angel | Hudson, MA
Rachel Blessington | Worcester, MA
Integrative Wellness | Joy Mandler | Stow, MA
Mahina Massage | Somerville, MA
Acupuncture
Nurture Whole Health | Libby Horesh | Concord, MA
Silver Leaf Acupuncture | Margo Voskanian | Southborough, MA
New Moon Acupuncture | Ece Yildrim | Watertown, MA
Angie Bell | Cambridge, MA
Chiropractic Care for Pregnancy and Children
Kopleman Family Chiropractic | Dan Kopelman (webster certified) | Acton, MA
Worcester Family Chiropratic | Brittany Falcone (webster certified) | Worcester, MA
Community Chiropractic of Acton | Lauren Yeager | Acton, MA
Northeastern Chiropractic | Melissa Diaz | Framingham, MA
LiveWell Chiropractic | Jackie Bouley | Wellesley, MA
Wholesome Healing Chiropractic | Lizzie Sobel | Boston, MA
Perinatal Bodywork Centers
Life Gate Holistic Living Center | Groton, MA
Online and Private Perinatal Bodywork Support
Kara Coffin | Hopkinton, MA
Rooted Boston | Brigitte Arle | Boston, MA
After having your baby you are now in the "postpartum period", a time when many transitions are taking place. You are adjusting to a bigger family, your body is healing, and there's a new little on the outside who is solely dependent on you (and your partner). The local resources below are to address the physical and emotional needs of you and your family during the unique time.
Postpartum Doulas
Postpartum Doulas provide a host of services to you in the first few months after baby has arrived. They take care of you so you can take care of baby. Most help with everything from newborn care and tidying up to breastfeeding and bottle feeding. Most importantly they help with the emotional and physical aspects of postpartum recovery.
Heather Chiancola | West Concord, MA
New Family Needs | Hilary Witcher | Needham, MA
Three Birds | Emily Lindbland (multiples) | Hudson, MA
Nightingale Night Nurses | Everywhere MA
Hip to Heart | Everywhere MA
Baby Bean Boston | Emily Newberg | Boston, MA
Pelvic Floor Therapist and Diasis Recti Resources / Perinatal Fitness
Below are some professional resources to help your body heal from carrying and birthing your baby.
Bespoke Movement & Wellness | Kara Coffin | online
Inspire Motion | Natasha Neitman | Acton, MA
Emerson Hospital, Physical Therapy | Judy Curless, Teri Halio, Eileen Maloney | Westford, Concord, and North Chelmsford MA
InHara System | Marissa Farrell | Wellesley, MA
Marathon Physical Therapy | Newton, Dedham, Boston (and other locations), MA
Pelvic Health Support | Kathy Kates | Brookline, MA (also does home visits)
Women’s Health Physical Therapy at Mt. Auburn | Cambridge, MA
Women's Journey Physical Therapy | Karlene Salguero | Cambridge, MA
Mutu System | Online
Sleep Specialist
Expect to Sleep Again | Arielle Greenleaf | Everywhere, MA
Below are professional photographers and videographers who capture the beauty, love, and awesomeness of your pregnancy, birth and/or newborn.
Shirley Anne Photography | Littleton, MA
Elaine Freitas Photography | Acton, MA
Newborn Documentaries | Katie Bourgeois | Leominster, MA
Knit Together Photography | Rhiannon Byler | Boylston, MA
New parents' groups are a place to forge members of your local tribe. These new parents are talking a similar language and walking a similar path as you! In new parents groups folks often share solutions to parenting challenges, celebrate each other's parenting moments, share local resources, and make new parent friends.
New Parents Hangout | Hudson, MA | Hang out with Bethany and new parents at the New City Microcreamery every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month! On Hold with COVID
First Connections | Acton, MA
First Concern Pregnancy Resource Center | Clinton, MA
Newton Wellesley Postpartum Group (free)
Wednesdays 10-11:30am
Rachel Hess Parent Group Tuesdays starting June 16
Babies in Common Breastmilk & Conversation group Wednesday evenings at 7pm and Friday mornings at 11:30am
Babies in Common Videocast Series (free) Variety of topics, times, and guest speakers
Surviving New Motherhood (free) Mondays 11-12 with postpartum doula Amanda Hemm and LICSW Liz Sarantopolous
Virtual Parent Circle Fridays 3-4 with Rachel Simpson IBCLC
Mommying is Hard is a safe non-judgmental peer support group for moms to talk about the joys and challenges of motherhood.
Mondays or Thursdays 7:30-9 pm
Emotional Wellbeing after Baby Thursdays 10-11:30 am - RSVP hobrien@jri.org
Diaper Lab's Weekly Postpartum Parents Group and Lactation drop in online
Rachel Simpson - Virtual Parent Circle
Wednesdays 10-12 - RSVP Caitlin Inglis
Center for Early Relationship Support - JF&CS (free)
The Baby Mavens (free) Tuesdays 3-4pm
South Shore Perinatal Health offers "It's Not Easy Being Pregnant" for expectant folks, and "It's Not Easy Being Mom" for new parents. Times/days vary
Educational Resources for Pregnancy and Birth
Check out our COVID-19 Blog for a host of online resources
Evidence Based Birth | On this website you'll find summaries of birth research topics written by an RN/PhD just for parents! Ask us for access to articles on topics that are relevant to you.
Spinning Babies | This website shares movement and positional techniques that create space for baby to get into the optimal position for an easier birth.
Other Local Providers and Resources
NAMMA Families | This website shares perinatal professionals in the Nashoba, Assabet, and MetroWest regions of Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Birth Connections | This website shares pregnancy, birth, and postpartum resources and professionals throughout Massachusetts.
