Birth & Postpartum Resources

Participating in an informative evidence-based childbirth class is one of the top things I recommend to my clients. Independent childbirth classes (as opposed to hospital-based) are usually the best. Here are a few that I personally observed and can vouch for:

Babies in Common
Northborough, MA

Resilient Birth
Waltham, MA

Breastfeeding can be hard sometimes, but it doesn't have to feel impossible. I believe that women don't fail to breastfeed - we fail to support them. Here are a few excellent resources, from lactation consultants to support groups:

Shelly Taft, IBCLC
Holden, MA

Jeanette Mesite Frem, IBCLC
Northborough, MA

Teresa Coyle Airey, IBCLC
Ashburnham, MA

Lo Nigrosh, IBCLC
Athol, MA

Michelle Stolow, IBCLC
Maynard, MA

Babies in Common
Northborough, MA
They have excellent feeding support groups

La Leche League of MA, RI, VT

kellymom.com

Zipmilk.org 

Global Health Media
Short, practical breastfeeding videos

These are a few local chiropractors certified in the Webster Technique (meaning they are skilled to take care of pregnant women):

Dr. Brittany Falcone at Worcester Family Chiropractic
Worcester, MA

Dr. Jackie Debs at inBalance Chiropractic & Wellness
Shrewsbury, MA

Dr. Karen Griffin
West Boylston, MA

Dr. Jen Connors at Cafe of Life Sturbridge Family Chiropractic
Sturbridge, MA

Massage is a wonderful way to soothe your nervous system before giving birth while simultaneously easing a variety of aches and pains. The following massage therapists are truly wonderful:

Christina Pears, LMT at Embody Health Massage
West Boylston, MA

Revitalize Massage Therapy
Worcester, MA

The midwifery model of care operates from the perspective that birth is normal unless proven otherwise. Midwives are an option worth exploring for all women, particularly those that are low-risk and seeking a natural, physiological birth experience:

Joyce Kimball, CPM
Worcester, MA

Vanessa Lewis, CPM
Trinity Midwifery, Oxford, MA

Sarah McRell, CNM
Embrace Midwifery, Worcester, MA

Sue Smith, CPM
Uxbridge, MA

Massachusetts Midwives Alliance
A list of all homebirth midwives

AFA Midwives
Emerson Hospital
Concord, MA

Below are several local moms' groups (dads are often welcome, too!) that range from very informal to quite organized:

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)
First Baptist Church in Holden, MA
Meets 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month

Supported Mom Initiative
Grafton, MA
Several in-person support groups

Worcester Family Partnership
Free playgroups
Monday-Friday 9:30-11:00 am

First Concern
Clinton, MA
Free Moms' Group on Tuesday mornings

MOMS Club of Worcester & Surrounding Towns
Informal meetups

Visiting Moms Program
Central Mass
This is a free home visiting program. Trained volunteers visit new parents weekly, as they adjust to parenthood.

Maternity photographers, newborn photographers, and family photographers are worthwhile investments for those who are interested in capturing these special, fleeting moments in time:

Shirley Anne Photography
Littleton, MA
Maternity, birth, newborn photography

Elaine Freitas Photography
Acton, MA
Maternity, birth, newborn, family photography

Carissa Lyn Photography
Spencer, MA
Maternity, newborn, family photography

Mental health is equally important to physical health, and speaking with a mental health professional can make all the difference when one’s immersion into new parenthood isn’t as smooth as they had hoped:

Jennifer Gorham, Psy.D.

121 Lincoln Street, Second Floor
Worcester, MA 01605
774.312.6667
jennifergorhampsyd (at) gmail.com

Melissa Ayantola, LMHC
https://www.mayantolalmhc.com
Worcester, MA

Jill Tonelli, LMHC
Worcester, MA
508-845-6855

Everyone who had a baby (either 10 months or 10 years ago) can use a little help with their pelvic floor, no matter how it is they gave birth:

Laura Rosbach, BS, MPT
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
Reliant Medical Group in Worcester, MA

The Core Connection
Northborough, MA

My favorite books for new moms and dads.

Birth:

Pregnancy, Childbirth, And The Newborn by Simkin, Whalley and Keppler
This is an excellent book that covers everything.

The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
How to help a woman through childbirth, from the partner's point of view.

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
Good for hospital birth preparation.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
This book has wonderful, empowering birth stories and information.

Breastfeeding:

Dr. Jack Newman's Guide to Breastfeeding
The best breastfeeding book, in my opinion.

Baby Care:

The Baby Book by William Sears
Gentle and informative.

The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp
The 5 S's work like magic.

Parenting Resources:

Janet Lansbury
Respectful parenting advice

Raised Good
Parenting by Nature Blog

If the unthinkable happens, you are not alone.

The TEARS Foundation
Massachusetts Chapter

Empty Arms Bereavement Support
Florence, MA

The Compassionate Friends
Worcester, MA

A few resources that didn't fit under the above categories...

Birth Statistics for MA
You can find each hospital's Cesarean birth rates in Table 20.

Evidence Based Birth
An excellent resource if you have a question about any birth-related options.

The VBAC Project
Evidence-based information about vaginal birth after cesarean. VBAC Facts is excellent, too.

The Business of Being Born
A documentary about how the American health care system approaches childbirth.

Family-centered (or gentle) Cesarean birth video
Shows options that you might want to ask for your birth.